STATUS AND MANAGEMENT OF WATERSHEDS IN THE UPPER POKHARA VALLEY, NEPAL

Contributing to the debate on the causes of Himalayan environmental de gradation, the status and management of four watersheds in the Upper P okhara Valley were studied using information available from land use a nalysis, household surveys conducted in 1989 and 1992, deliberations h eld with villagers, and field observations. Accordingly, areas under f orests and grazing lands were found being depleted al relatively high rates between 1957 and 1978 due mainly to the government policy of inc reasing national revenue by expansion of agricultural lands, nationali zation of forests, steadily growing population, and dwindling househol d economy. Despite the steady growth of population, this process had r emarkably slackened since 1978, owing primarily to remaining forests b eing located in very steep slopes and implementation of the community forestry program. Forests with relatively sparse tree density, however , and grazing lands in the vicinity of settlements have been undergoin g degradation due to fuelwood and fodder collection and livestock graz ing. In many instances, this is aggravated by weak resource management institutions. Being particularly aware of the economic implication of land degradation, farmers have adopted assorted land management pract ices. Still a substantial proportion of bari lands in the hill slopes is vulnerable to accelerating degradation, as the arable cropping syst em is being practiced there as well. The perpetuation of the local sub sistence economy is certain to lead to a further deterioration of the socioeconomic and environmental conditions of watersheds. To facilitat e environmental conservation and ecorestructuring for sustainable deve lopment, a broad watershed management strategy is outlined with focus on alleviating pressure on natural resources.