Population and Environmental status of Nepal

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