World Wetland day 2008"Healthy Wetland, Healthy People"

WETLAND MANAGEMENT AND SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD IN POKHARA VALLEY, NEPAL

Presented by:

Ramesh Raj PantLecturer of Environmental Science

Janapriya Multiple CampusSimalchaur, Pokhara

Introduction

WetlandNatural or artificially created areas, such as swamp,

marsh, riverine, floodplain, lake, water storage area and agricultural land containing water from underground resource or atmospheric precipitation that may be permanent or temporary, static or flowing and fresh water or saline” (IUCN, 2004)

Wetlands are the sites that are distinguished by the presence of water, caves of marsh, fen, peatland, Fresh water lakes, ponds, rivers having temporary or permanent water sources.

Wetlands comprise 6.2% of world's total land area In our country, Nepal it covers about 5% land area. Out of The total wetland area of Nepal • 53.1% is occupied by rivers. • 0.7% by lakes. • 0.2% by reservoirs. • 1.6% marshy lands • 0.7% village ponds • 43.7% Paddy fields. (IUCN, 2004) These wetlands support •26 species of flowering plants. •17 species of vertebrates. •193 species of birds. •10 species of mammals. •183 species of fishes •100 species of herpetofauna (Nepal Biodiversity Strategy, 2002)

Major Wetlands from Pokhara Valley

Pokhara valley is a beautiful of natural paradise in western Nepal having Area of 200 sq km.

It extends between 25°7' and 28°10'N latitude.

83°50' and 84°50' E longitude

Phewa lake, Begnas lake, Rupa lake, Maidi lake, Dipang lakem Khaste lake, Kamal pokhara, Gunde Lake, Neureni lake

Phewa Lake

It is the biggest lake of the Pokhara valley and second biggest among the lakes in the country. The area of this lake is 4.18 sq km., extends North to south 6.4 km., length of this lake is about 50 to 2 km width and the depth is 19 meter. The two major sources of its sources water body is - Harpan Khola and Andhari Khola. The out let called Pardi Khola which ultimate joins the Seti River. Altitude 742 meter from the sea level.The water of Phewa lake is used for various purposes for example boating, fishing, irrigation and generating income by the local people by busing it in various purposes.

2. Begnas Lake: Second biggest lake in Pokhara valley. The altitude of this lake is about 650 meter from the sea

level. It is about 2.4 km in area. Depth of this lake is 7.5 meter. The main feeding source of the lake is syankhudi Khola,

a small perennial. It has single outlet called Khudi Khola.

3. Rupa Lake: It is the third largest lake in Pokhara valley.

It is situated in the 600 meter above from the sea level.

The area of the lake is 2 sq. km.

2.4 km in length, 0.8 km in width and 4.5 meter in depth.

The main feeding source for this lake is Talbesi khola.

The out let of this lake is Tal Khola which also joins the Kotre Khola down wards which ultimately joins Seti River.

4. Maidi Lake: This small lake is situated in the eastern

part of the Pokhara valley, near Begnas lake. The area of this lake is 0.64 km2

The depth is about 1.5-2 meter This is entirely over grown by aquatic macrophytes having swampy shores. Inlet-Kadam Khola, outlet Deurali Khola.

5. Dipang Lake: Situated eastern part of the Pokhara valley

near Begnas lake. The area is about 0.6 km The depth is about 1.5-2 meter It is cleared of the macro vegetation for fish cultivation.Inlet Padam KholaOutlet Deurali Khola.

6. Khaste Khola It is situated in the eastern part of the Pokhara valley.

The area of this small lake is about -0.64 sq km.

The depth is about 1.5 to 2 meter. The inlet of this lake is Thado Khola The outlet of this Tal Khola.

7. Kamal Pokhari: It is situated in the Pokhara sub-metropolitan

city. The area of this lake is 0.20 km2 in the area the

average depth is about one meter. It is also entirely grown by aquatic macrophytes. A small canal from Kanhu Khola feeds the lake. It has single outlet, the Khand Ko Kulo, which

joins Vijaypur Khola.

8. Gunde lake: This is small lake situated in the eastern

Part of the valley near the Khaste lake. The area of this lake is 0.15 Km2 and the depth is about 0.5 meter.

The lake is overgrown by agnatic vegetation and swampy shore.

9. Neureni lake: It is situated in the eastern part of the valley.

The area of the lake is 0.15 sq km. The depth of the lake is about 0.5 meter. This lake is also over grown by aquatic

macrophytes and swampy shore.

Lotic water ecosystem in Pokhara Valley

Seti River Seti River is originates near the base of Mount

Annapurna and mount Machhapurchhre. The several tributaries mix up in the Seti River and it

passes through the heart of the Pokhara valley forming a deep gorges.

The catchments area of this river is about 600 sq km and the total length is about 112.6 km. It joins Trisuli River at Gaighat

The major tributaries are Mardi Khola, Phusre Khola, Vijaypur Khola, Minor tributaries area Sardi Khola, Bhurjung Khola, Yamdi Khola, Kali

Khola, Kotre Khola

Livelihood of People Nepal’s wetlands support the traditional livelihoods of over 11% population of the

country. Majority of them, are landless and illiterate without any alternate options. They

remain unchanged in their traditional culture, occupations and lifestyles, despite the changes take place around them.

In absence of enough livelihood alternatives these people are forced to continue unsustainable harvesting of wetland resources to fulfill their daily basic needs, which accelerating the process of biological resources depletion.

According to the report of IUCN, (2004) every year Nepal's Wetland prodecures2294300 metric tons rice from the paddy fields and 35000 metric tons fishes from the aquatic environment.

Society is benefited from the wetlands in a different manner by sustaining the economic stability and ecological balance of the ecosystem.

According to James (1995), wetlands are the nature's kidney because they perform the ecosystem function.

Nepal's wetlands provides habitat for a number of endemic and threatened biological species as well as for humans.

Many ethics groups rely on wetland resources for their livelihood. Therefore wetlands are valuable for the overall socioeconomic development of

Pokhara valley also. Wetland also provides habitat for migratory birds.

The major ethnic groups directly depends on wetland resource are Sunaha, Mallah, Bote, Mushahar, Gongi (mallah), Mukhia/Bihin, Dushad, Sahani, Kewat, Danuwars, Majhis, Darai, Kumal, Barhamus, Kushar, Kachhare, Dhangar, Tharus, Bantar/Sardr, Pode/Kumal (IUCN, 2001).

Their major occupation of wetland dependent people are : Catch fish, provide ferry services, collecting motes, provide ferry service, Pottery, Craft making using bamboo straw, wheat straw and other materials, snail collecting, boating, rafting etc.

Major Impacts in Wetland Areas

Growing population demands variety of products and services which causes over use and misuse of wetland resources.

The Threat includes siltation, eutrophification, over exploitation of wetland resources, over fishing, hunting and poaching, overgrazing, illegal harvesting of wetland resources, Encroachment, water pollution, development activities in the adjoining areas, drainage system, introduction of invassive species, flooding in the lakes etc.

The another major causes of threatening wetland ecosystem is conflicts among the local people in claiming the resources in and around the wetlands, the major problems in Pokhara valley is Agriculture activities.

Conclusion and Recommendations

The tradition knowledge and users right, the wetland people should be an integral part during decision making and management of wetland ecosystems.

Wetlands are the important ecosystems for the ecological and economic point of view so they should be conserved properly.

For the improvement of livelihood of wetland people the proper management is necessary and wetland resources should be used in proper way.

The research should be conducted to improve the livelihood of people and for the ecological balance.

The government should make the special policies and plans for the management of wetland ecosystem

Thank You