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Nepal has abundant natural assets which underpin the economy and a very diverse ethnic and cultural heritage
. These provide a strong platform for sustainable development. But the country suffers from the pervasive degradation of its environment and there is widespread poverty. As Nepal emerges from a period of conflict, the opportunity has emerged to safeguard and manage the environment wisely and build the future on a sustainable basis, and in this way secure a transition to a green economy. This report, produced by leading Nepali thinkers, explores efforts over the past twenty years to mainstreaming the environment in planning and decision-making, and presents case studies which can act as springboards for further action. It also examines the drivers and challenges to such mainstreaming and makes recommendations for further action. The evidence presented makes a compelling case for change and investing in the environment
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- Urban and rural environment suffer from adverse impacts of various activities
- Urban air pollution is rapidly increasing in Afghanistan
. Households, municipal activities, small scale Industrial enterprises and transport are major sources of pollution, as well as deforestation, land, water and forest degradation Municipal solid waste poses risks for human health as well as water quality in urban areas. Significant increase in extreme weather patterns are also underscores the need for resilience initiatives and better disaster management. Deforestation continues to threat biodiversity, adding to greenhouse gas emissions, and undermining ecosystems.
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This research examines the impact of forest management regimes, with various degrees of restriction, on forest conservation in a dry deciduous Indian forest landscape
. Forest change is mapped using Landsat satellite images from 1977, 1990, 1999, and 2011. The landscape studied has lost 1478 km2 of dense forest cover between 1977 and 2011, with a maximum loss of 1002 km2 of dense forest between 1977 and 1990. The number of protected forest areas has increased, concomitant with an increase in restrictions on forest access and use outside protected areas. Interviews with residents of 20 randomly selected villages indicate that in the absence of alternatives, rather than reducing their dependence on forests, communities appear to shift their use to other, less protected patches of forest. Pressure shifts seem to be taking place as a consequence of increasing protection, from within protected areas to forests outside, leading to the creation of protected but isolated forest islands within a matrix of overall deforestation, and increased conflict between local residents and forest managers. A broader landscape vision for forest management needs to be developed, that involves local communities with forest protection and enables their decision-making on forest management outside strict protected areas
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The workshop was organized to fulfill the specific objectives of sharing evidence-based knowledge on PES from different sectors and deliberate on issues related to PES for conducive policy options and planning
. It sought to identify major opportunities and challenges in the implementation of PES in Nepal, and suggest potential research options and priorities on PES. The workshop also aimed to explore possible partnership and collaboration on PES implementation in Nepal
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The Karakoram-Pamir Landscape (KPL) initiative is a regional programme for enhancing cooperation among countries for biodiversity management and sustainable development in the China-Pakistan border region of the western Hindu Kush Himalayas
. The initiative began with an agreement signed in Beijing for bilateral collaboration between the governments of China and Pakistan to ensure the protection of Marco Polo sheep and other endangered species in two adjacent transboundary protected areas – the Khunjerab National Park in Pakistan and the Taxkorgan Nature Reserve in China – and focuses on maintaining the sanctity of the protected areas on both sides of the border. Emphasis is placed on creating sustainable economic opportunities for the people in the region and improving their quality of life by mobilizing them to protect the environment, which could in turn enhance the local economy
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There are ample opportunities for conservation and development in the KTWR
. A holistic and integrated approach should be applied to increase both ecological and socioeconomic resilience
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With that, the exchange of knowledge around the topic of how to manage a protected area gained importance
. Not only the communication of knowledge itself is crucial, but also the international and therefor very divers cultural backgrounds influence the process intense. The research project, investigated which knowledge is relevant for the management of protected areas regardless of the respective cultural context. Furthermore, it identified the most appropriate ways of knowledge exchange between different cultures. Hohe Tauern, Donau-Auen National Parks in Austria, Chitwan National Park and the Annapurna Conservation Area in Nepal have been selected as case study sites. A detailed analysis of the four parks provided a glimpse into the similarities and differences of the management approaches in Austria and Nepal
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