Population Distribution by Ecological Region:
- Lowest population and thinnest population density in the Himalayan region.
- Highest population in the Terai region.
- Plainland, fertile soil, better health services, and employment facilities of the Terai region pull people of other regions to it.
Ecosystem and Environment:
- Interaction between the living and non-living things in the environment.
- Based on two factors, nutrient cycle and flow of energy.
1. Components of Ecosystem:
- The ecosystem is formed by the interaction of biotic and abiotic components.
- Non-living things like air, water, soil are abiotic components.
- Living organisms like human beings, plants, animals, etc, are biotic components.
- The diversity of ecosystems in Nepal is contributed by diverse topography and climatic condition.
2. Aspects of Ecosystem:
- The physical aspect, biological Aspect, Environmental aspect, and socio-economic aspect.
- Physical Aspect includes biotic components.
- Physical Aspect includes biotic components.
- Environmental Aspect includes the environmental features.
- The socio-economic aspect includes social and economic activities.
Ecosystem of Different geographical regions of Nepal:
1. Himalayan Region:
- Snow-capped mountains and cold climate.
- Ranges from 4878 to 8848 meters above sea level.
- Occupies 35% of the total area of the country.
a. Physical Aspects:
- Includes climate, water bodies, topography, temperature, and other abiotic components.
- The cold climate and less annual rainfall.
- 8 among 14 mountains above 8000 meters are found in Nepal.
- Occupies 35% of the total area of Nepal.
b. Biological Aspects:
- Includes vegetation, animal, birds, and other biotic components.
- Rich in biodiversity and valuable herbs like Yarsagumba, Jatamasi, Pachaune, etc/
- Low production and grown crops are barley, maize, wheat, potato, etc.
- Snow leopard, Blue sheep, wild boar, Lophophorus are found.
c. Socio-economic Aspects:
- 6.73% of the total population resides.
- Lowest population density
- Unfavorable agriculture due to low fertility
- Sherpas, Thakali, Lhomi, Mugali, Ghale, etc are the major castes.
- Gosaikunda, Muktinath, etc lies in this region.
2. Hilly Region:
- Situated between 611 metros to 4877 metros above sea level and occupies 42%area of Nepal.
- Landforms are plateaus, steep hills, deep gorges, etc.
- Mid-hilly areas hold 52 ecosystems.
a. Physical Aspects:
- Occupies 42% area of Nepal.
- Many valleys, basins, peaks, plateaus, and gorges
- Favorite climate neither very hot nor very cold.
b. Biological Aspects:
- Rich in biodiversity as three sub-geographic regions have diversity among themselves.
- Trees like chicane, khasru, kaoro, etc can be found, crops like rich, maize, oilseed, sugarcane, etc can be grown; animals and birds like leopards, tiger, sparrow, pheasant, etc can be found.
c. Socio-economic Aspects:
- 43% of the total population resides.
- Brahman, Chhetri, Magar, Gurung, Rai, Limbu, Newar are the major inhabitants.
- Festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Vbauli, Budhha Jayanti, Lhosar, etc are celebrated.
- Religious places like Pashupatinath, Swagambhunath Halesimahadev, Palanchowk Bhagwati, etc are located.
- Agriculture, trade, tourism, and service are major occupations.
3. Terai Region:
- Situated 58 meters to 600 meters above sea level, occupies 23% area of Nepal.
- Highest population density, fertile land, huge diversity in flora and fauna.
a. Physical Aspects:
- Lies at a lower altitude from sea level, a plain extension of the land.
- Fertile land, Transport, and other facilities found and adequately.
b. Biological Aspects:
- Rich in biodiversity with evergreen forest.
- Trees like Sal, Sishan, Khayar, papal, Chilaune, etc are of und.
- Animals and birds like Tiger, elephant, rhinoceros, dove, pigeon, crow, giant hornbill, etc are found.
- Crops like, rich, moiré, wheat, sugarcane is grown.
c. Socio-economic Aspects:
- 50.27% of the total population resides.
- Agriculture, industry, trade, service, and tourism are major occupations.
- Tharu, Rajput, Rajbansi, Danuwar, Majhi, Dhimal, etc are the major casts.
- Festivals like Dashain, Tihar, Chhat, Id, Holi, Etc are celebrated.
- Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christian, Kirat, and Sikh are major religions followed.
Effects on Ecosystem and Mitigating Measures:
Development activities, pollution, solid waste, deforestation, climate change, overhunting, etc. affect ecosystem/affects Ecosystem.
1. Effects on Ecosystem of Himalayan Region and mitigate measures:
a. Deforestation:
- Major effects on the ecosystem.
- Afforestation, on, use of alternative fuel sources, public awareness, etc are mitigating measures.
b. Effect on Livestock farming:
- Overgrazing curses the destruction of valuable herbs and plants.
- Stop grazing in a single place over and over again, create public awareness.
c. Soil erosion and misuses of lands:
- Barren land, Haphazard use of hazardous fertilizers, growing similar crops in the same field.
- Cultivation on barren land, Rotation of crops, stopping the use of hazardous pesticides, and fertilizers are mitigating measures.
2. Effects on Ecosystem of Hilly region and mitigating measures:
a. Deforestation:
- The collection of firewood, construction of houses, overgrazing causes deforestation.
- Afforestation programmes, use of alternative fuel/sources are mitigating measures.
b. Depletion of Quality of Land:
- The use of harmful chemical pesticides, the same crops for a long time causes depletion.
- Use of compost and other organic manure restore quality.
c. Developmental Activities:
- Causes loss of habitat of animals and birds, pollution, solid waste, etc.
- Proper planning and proper management required.
3. Effects on Ecosystem of Terai Region and Mitigating Measures:
a. Deforestation:
- Affects the ecosystem forest and surrounding.
- Public awareness, Afforestation programme required.
b. Depletion of Quality Land:
- Using harmful chemicals, overexploitation, etc causes depletion of land quality.
- Treatments of soil, reducing chemical fertilizers use, etc preserve the quality of the land.
Major steps for the conservation of the environment:
a. Conservation of Forest:
- Afforestation programmes, public awareness, the formation of the community forest, etc. should be conduct.
b. Conservation of Land:
- Tree plantation, terrace farming, conservation of pasture land, use of organic fertilizers, etc. preserve the quality of the land.
c. Solid Waste Management:
- Burial, sanitary fills, incineration, and composting manage biodegradable wastes.
- 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) controls biodegradable wart.
d. Control of Pollution:
- Proper disposal of solid wastes, controlling the emission of harmful gases from industries and automobiles, reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers, etc
