Protected Areas of Nepal

Sagarmatha National Park

Sagarmatha National Park, is located in eastern Nepal, containing parts of the Himalayas and the southern half of Mount Everest. The park was created July 19, 1976 and in 1979 was inscribed as a Natural World Heritage Site. Sagarmatha is Sanskrit for "Sagar = sky (not to be confused with sea/ocean) and matha = forehead or head " and is the modern Nepali name for Mount Everest.
The park encompasses an area of 1,148 km² and ranges in elevation from its lowest point of 2,845 m (9,335 ft) at Jorsalle to 8,850 m (29,035 ft) at the summit of Everest. Barren land above 5,000 m (16,400 ft) comprises 69% of the park while 28% is grazing land and the remaining 3% is forested. Most of the park area is very rugged and steep, with its terrain cut by deep rivers and glaciers. Unlike other parks, this park can be divided into four climate zones because of the rising altitude. The climatic zones include a forested lower zone, a zone of alpine scrub, the upper alpine zone which includes upper limit of vegetation growth, and the Arctic zone where no plants can grow. The types of plants and animals that are found in the park depend on the altitude. The park contains the upper watershed of the Dudh Kosi river basin system.
The park's visitor centre is located at the top of a hill in Namche Bazaar, also where a company of the Nepal Army is stationed for protecting the park. The park's southern entrance is a few hundred metres north of Mondzo at 2,835 m (9,300 ft), a one day hike from Lukla.

Flora and fauna:
In the lower forested zone, birch, juniper, blue pines, firs, bamboo and rhododendron grow. Above this zone all vegetation are found to be dwarf or shrubs. As the altitude increases, plant life is restricted to lichens and mosses. Plants cease to grow at about 5,750 m (18,690 ft), because this is the permanent snow line in the Himalayas.
Forests of pine and hemlock cover the lower elevations of the national park. At elevations of around 3500 meters and above, forests of silver fir, birch, rhododendron and juniper trees are found. The forests provide habitat to at least 118 species of birds, including Danphe, Blood pheasant, Red-billed chough, and yellow-billed chough. Sagarmatha National Park is also home to a number of rare species, including musk deer, wild yak, snow leopard, Himalayan black bear and red panda. Besides, many other animals such as Himalayan thars, deer, langur monkeys, hares, mountain foxes, martens, and Himalayan wolves are found in the park. However, their numbers are not very large and many visitors may not be able to see them.
The partial pressure of oxygen falls with altitude. Therefore, the animals that are found here are adapted to living on less oxygen as well as a cold temperature. They have thick coats to retain body heat. Some of them have shortened limbs to prevent loss of body heat. The Himalayan bears go into hibernation in caves during the winter when there is no food available.

References:

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sagarmatha National Park
http://www.wcmc.org.uk/protected_areas/data/wh/sagarmat.html
Official UNESCO website entry
Park Regulations
Mount Everest National Park: Sagarmatha Mother of the Universe by Margaret Jefferies
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagarmatha_National_Park"
Categories: IUCN Category II National parks of Nepal World Heritage Sites in Nepal Mount Everest

Trees of Nepal

Nepal has a variety of beautiful trees, of which the Banyan and the Peepul are associated with Hindu and Buddhist holy sites, frequently found beside temples and shrines. It is considered that the original tree under which Maya Devi gave birth to her son Gautama Siddhartha was not a peepul tree, but probably a Sal; it may have survived into the 6th or 7th century AD.

The Eucalyptus were introduced into Nepal from Australia in the 19th century, and in Kathmandu can be smelt as you walk along a street after rain has fallen. The Spruce, an evergreen, coniferous pine tree which took its name from Prussia where it traditionally came from; the Juniper another evergreen is a crucial ingredient in the flavouring of gin, and in medicines it is used as a diuretic. Laurel, or bay tree, is well known, and, The Cedar and Deodar are found throughout Nepal, with the cedar often used to make incense, and in west Nepal there is an indigenous Cypress called Himalayan Cypress. The treeline in Nepal is at 5,000 metres, and above this no trees are found.

In the Annapurna Conservation Area are Alpine Pasture, Alpine Meadow, Trans-Himalayan Steppe, Fire-Blue Pine Forest, Birch Forest, Rhododendron Forest, Sub-alpine Juniper Forest, Hemlock and Oak forest, Cypress Forest, East Himalayan Oak and Lauren Forest, Alder Forest, and Schima-Castanopsis Forest.

In the Kanchenjungha Conservation Area are Dwarf Rhododendron Scrub, Rhododendron shrubberies, Fir and Larch forest, Mixed broad leaved forest, East Himalayan Oak and Laurel, and Schim-Castanopsis Forest.

In the Khaptad National Park are Fir, Oak and Rhododendron Forest, West Himalayan Fir and Hemlock forest, Mountain oak, Mixed oak and laurel forest, Chir Pine and broad leaved forest.

In the Langtang National Park are Alpine pasure, juniper scrub, alpine meadow, dwarf rhododendron, juniper shrubs, fir and larch forest, mixed blue pin and oak forest, laurel and chir pine forest.

In the Makalu-Barun Conservation Area are alpine pasture, alpine meadow, and dwarf rhododendron scrub, fir and birch forest, and rhododendron shrubberies, temperate mountain oak, oak and laurel forest, Hill Sal Forest.

In Rara National Park are alpine mats and scrub, rhododendron and juniper shrubland, fire forest, mountain oak, upper temperate blue pine forest, and spruce. Mixed oak and laurel forest.

In the Shey-Phoksundo National Park are alpine pasture, alpine mats and scrub, trans- himalayan steppe, blue pine, birch, rhododendron forest, larch, mountain oak, cedar and cypress forest, deciduous walnut, maple, alder forest, steppe with Euphorbia, Royleana, Grasses and Artemisia.

Source:http://www.welcomenepal.com/brand/aboutnepal_nature_biodiversity

Medicinal Plants of Nepal

Medicinal plants, Ayurveda and the Himalayas are intertwined in a very special manner and Nepal, right in the centre of the Himalayan region, has special significance. Medicinal plants are used in traditional rural remedies, Ayurveda medicines , Homoeopathic medicines, and many of them are also included in allopathic pharmacopeas.

The resource strained health services of Nepal, further complicated by an ever-unabated population growth, is said to serve only 15% of the 20 million population of the country giving only this small group access to modern health facilities. A large section of the population, mainly the rural people, still depend on primitive care such as traditional Ayurveda or herbal practitioners.

The use of locally available medicinal plants in the health care system of Nepal is a necessity, not a luxury.

The conservation, protection, cultivation and utilisation of this resource is a prime need of the country, of which thousands of species are available most of which are only available in the Himalayan Zone. The demand for these herbs is high and they can be cultivated on a large scale, but rare species of medicinal plants also need to be preserved.

Medicinal plants are an important component of the vegetation of Nepal, and the distribution pattern of medicinal plants has been found to be approximately 49.2% in the tropical zone (up to 1,000 meters), 53.96% in the sub-tropical zone (1,000 - 2,000 m), 35.7% in the temperate zone (2,000 - 3,000 m), 18.9% in the sub-alpine zone (3,000 - 4,000 m), and 7.14% in the alpine zone (4,000 m upwards). There are about 1,400 kinds of medicinal plants utilized by Ayurveda and traditional healers in Nepal.

Some of the important and wellknown medicinal plants follow: Alpine & sub-alpine medicinal plants: Aconitum Spp., Picrorrhiza scrophularaeflora, Swertia multicaulis, Rheum emodi, Nardostachys jatamansi, Ephedra gerardiana, Cordyceps sinensis, Dactylorhiza hatagirea.

Tropical and sub-tropical medicinal plants: Terminalias, Cassia fistula, Cassia catechu, Aegles marmelos, Rauwolfia serpentina, Phyllanthus emblica, Ricinus recemosus, Acorus clams, Acacia concinnity, Butte monster.

Temperate zone medicinal plants: Valeriana wallichii, Berberis, Datura, Solanum, Rubia, Zanthoxylum armatum, Gaultheria fragrautissima, Dioscorea deltoidea, Curulligo orchoidies.

Some of the regions where medicinal plants are abundantly found are, the Terai region of Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Bardiya, Dhanusha, Mid-hilly Region of Makawanpur, Syangja, Kaski, Lamgjung, Dolakha, Parvat, Ilam, Ramechhap, Nuwakot, and the Himalayan region of Dolpa, Mugu, Humla, Jumla, Manang, Mustang and Solukhumbu.

The institutions manufacturing Ayurveda medicinal products include Singha Durbar Vaidhya Khana Vikas Samiti, Kathmandu; Gorkha Ayurveda Company, Gorkha; Arogya Bhavan, Kathmandu; Siddha Ayurveda Pharmacy, Butwal; Pashupati Ayurveda Bhavan, Sarlahi; and Classical Herbal Group, Kathmandu Nowhere does nature manifest herself so vividly in all her playfulness as she does in the world of orchids. In their flowering pattern orchids are capable of mimicking a part of man as well as the animal world, at times, making us laugh. Monkey Face, Swan Neck, Little Bull, and The Velvet Bee are among the few names they have been given for their peculiar looks.

Source:http://www.welcomenepal.com/brand/aboutnepal_nature_biodiversity

Orchids of Nepal

In ancient Rome, Theophrastus, a student of Plato, was intriqued by the sight of a plant with a pair of roots. Orchis was the name he gave them, the Greek word for testicles.

The world abounds with some 500 to 600 genera and some 20,000 to 35,000 names, the largest of all plant families, and out of this, Nepal has 57 genera (27 Terrestrials and 30 Epiphytic) with a few Lithophytes. Wide spread into different ecological zones, from the foot hills of the Himalayas to the plains in the Terai, the orchid-world in Nepal is immensely interesting for nature lovers and horticultural experts.

Some terrestrial orchids which flower during July-August have a stem with only two leaves and purple flowers; another orchid from the same genera in west Nepal flowers during February-March and is orange-green.

In March-April in Godavari there are orchids with greenish fragrant flowers, and in Shivapuri and Kakani orchids with white or pale yellow flowers. During September-October Sundarijal has green orchids streaked with purple, and on the way to Daman in November pale mauve orchids line the banks of the road. All of the above areas are accessible in a couple of hours or less from Kathmandu, with Dhankuta and Hetauda a little further away sporting yellow flowers, and in Khandbari purple-brown with pale borders.

Nepal is indeed endowed with an incredible variety of orchids scattered all over the Himalayan kingdom. Dedrobium is the largest species, followed by Habenaria and Bulbophyllum. Anthogonium, Hemipilia and Lusia are some of the other varieties amongst the nearly two dozen single species families.

No destination in Nepal is devoid of orchids including most of the trekking routes, and near Kathmandu the areas to visit are the Godavari Botanical Gardens to the south, Sundarijal to the north, Nagarjun to the west and Dhulikhel to the east. You will find orchids at one or more of these areas all year round.

Source:http://www.welcomenepal.com/brand/aboutnepal_nature_biodiversity

Rhododendron of Nepal

During Spring - March to May - Rhododendron blooms can be seen in all the hilly regions of Nepal above 1,200 m altitude. More specifically, the mid mountain vertical belt between 2,000 and 4,000 m serves as the 'wild' preserve of the Rhodododendron, or GURANS and CHIMAL, the two words used in Nepali.

There are four major areas for Rhododendron treks -

Milke Danda-Jaljale Himal, a transverse mountain range which separates the two river systems of the Tamur and the Arun
Upper Tamur River Valley
Makalu-Barun National Park
Closer to Kathmandu - the Langtang Valley inside Langtang National Park
Nepal has 32 indigenous species of Rhododendron, and one which is endemic to Nepal and not found elsewhere, is R. lowndesit. It has lemon or creamy yellow flowers, which are short well-shaped and are solitary or in pairs on the stem. It grows in the drier areas of western Nepal near Muktinath and Phoksundo.

A Rhododendron trek to the Upper Tamur River would consist of a flight to Bhadrapur then a drive to Ilam. Ilam is the well-known tea production centre and could include some interesting side trips to tea plantations. From Ilam a trek can start to the south-west side of the Kanchenjunga area and the upper side valleys of the Tamur River system. Very grand sightings of Rhododendron can be assured in this region.

And closer to Kathmandu, Dhunche at 2,000 metres is a 5/6 hour drive away. Trekking can start here to the upper areas of the Langtang Valley. Nine species of Rhododendron can be seen in this region.

The best time is late March to mid June, and in addition to the Rhododendron, spring blooms of wild poppy, magnolia and primrose will make the trek a memorable one. Botany or flora trekking requires the same equipment, guides, porters and fitness as normal trekking in Nepal. The usual precautions need to be taken, and respect for the environment needs to be uppermost in the minds of the trekkers.

Source:http://www.welcomenepal.com/brand/aboutnepal_nature_biodiversity_rhododendrons.asp

Pictures of Mount Everest

Source:www.letsgodigital.org,www.topnews.in,blog.teampages.com,www.thetravelpeach.com,www.everest-2002.de

Physiography and Climate of Nepal

Introduction:
Two main classifications of Nepal into physiographic regions are currently in use: a broad, three zone scheme, and a more refined system of seven regions. Both of these classifications are summarised here, although those studying biodiversity are encouraged to use the more detailed Seven-region system.
Seven zone topographic classification (based on Hagen, 1960):
Terai – a narrow strip of flat, fertile alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain of India up to 40 km wide that runs along the southern border of Nepal. Altitudes range from 60 m (Dhanusha) to 330 m, with an average ca. 200 m. Tropical forests predominate, but these have suffered greatly through lopping and felling of trees for agriculture. Little remains in eastern and central Nepal, but fine forests can still be found in the west. Most of Nepal’s arable land is found in this narrow belt of about 21,000 km², giving rise to its reputation as the 'granary of Nepal'.
The Terai was once highly esteemed for big-game hunting in the cold season, but shunned for the rest of the year as a virulent form of malaria was prevalent in the dense, steamy jungles. In earlier times this malaria belt was considered an important asset in the defense of Kathmandu, and actively maintained. However, following improvements in relations between Nepal and India at the start of the twentieth century, efforts were made to clear the land for cultivation. This was accelerated in the mid 1950’s when malaria was eradicated by a government program of widespread DDT spraying. With the fear of the disease removed, mass migration from the hills ensued, dramatically increasing pressures on the environment.
Five protected areas have been established to conserve the rapidly disappearing lowland forests and wildlife, and all ten of the Terai ecosystems are well represented within these.

Siwalik Hills (including the Chure Hills)
Rise abruptly from the Terai plains from about 120 m to almost 1800 m (average ca. 1000 m) and are comparatively sparsely populated because of lack of water in the dry season. This zone is wider in the western and far-western development regions of Nepal and narrower in the east. The underlying rocks are young sedimentary deposits (sandstones and conglomerates) overlaid by porous soil low in organic matter. The area has serious problems with soil erosion, degradation of water catchment areas and diminishing agricultural productivity.
This region includes the Bhabar which comprise a narrow (8-12 km wide) but continuous belt of forest, known locally as Char Kose Jhadi. The Bhabar is formed by the accumulation of gravel, boulders and alluvium washed down from the foothills. This area is very dry for most of the year, except in monsoon when large, seasonal streams carry the surface run off down into the plains.
The Dun (Doon) valleys [also known as the Inner Terai or Vitri Madhesh] are long, broad, gently sloping valleys, and are generally more populated than the rest of the Siwalik Hills region. As for the Terai, the Dun valleys lost much (but not all) of their forest cover following the eradication of malaria and mass migration in the 1950’s. Important Dun valleys are Dang Valley in western Nepal, Chitwan Valley in central Nepal, and Trijuga Valley in eastern Nepal. Dun valleys have very fertile soil and plentiful water and so are under intensive cultivation. However, due to the removal of forest cover they have suffered serious soil erosion in recent years. [note: Hagen recognised the Inner Terai as a separate zone in his eight-zone topographic classification.]
Four protected areas have been established, but only five of the 13 Siwalik Hills ecosystems are included. The environment outside these protected areas remains under great pressure from exploitation and agriculture, and so the protected area network needs to be extended to provide more coverage in the Siwalik Hills.

Mahabharat Lekh (Mahabharat Mountains/Range):
It lies to the north of the Siwalik Hills, occupying the central part of Nepal. The mountain ranges run east to west, are up to 2750 m, and are composed of hard, metamorphosed, sedimentary and igneous rocks of different ages (e.g. granite, quartzite and limestone). The climate is cool and humid, and the soils are water-retentive, allowing cultivation on the characteristic terraced steep hillsides. The mountains are sparsely populated above 2000 m, but deep valleys (some down to 200 m) cut by the few major south-flowing rivers are more densely populated and were the main trade routes before the road network. Small settlements ('garhis') dot the hills where traditional trade routes crossed the range. Originally established for defensive purposes, the garhis with their stone buildings with slate roofs have also served as custom posts and check points. Most human development is in this zone is in eastern and central Nepal.

Midlands (or Pahad):
It lie to the north of the Mahabharat Lekh, at the heart of the country, and contain the important high valleys of Kathmandu (ca. 1400 m altitude, ca. 780 km²), Pokhara (ca. 900 m altitude, ca. 390 km²), Trisuli and Banepa. This is the most heavily populated part of nepal where almost half (44.2%) of Nepalese live today favouring the mild climate of this region. Elevations range from 600 to 2500 m (average of 1980 m). Geologically the midlands consist of crystalline and metamorphic rocks (granites, gneisses, quartz and schists). The soil is very fertile and agriculture is intensive, particularly in eastern and central parts, with terraced fields to the tops of the hills. Forests have been severely degraded in this region and the rate of soil erosion is alarmingly high.

The Himalaya:
It deriving from the Sanskrit (him snow, alaya abode), the Himalaya consists of a collection of massive mountain ranges rising abruptly from the midlands, extending beyond Nepal across Bhutan in the east, and into Pakistan in the west. Most of the peaks have permanent caps of snow and ice, with glaciers on their flanks, and the gorges that cut this range are some of the deepest in the world. Sagarmatha (Mount Everest), the highest point on earth at 8848 m, is part of this range. The snow line occurs between 4500 and 6000 m, depending on precipitation. Permanent settlements were traditionally found up to about 3900 m (e.g. Khumjung) with seasonal encampments at higher altitudes. Today settlements catering for trekkers and mountaineers are found at higher altitudes (e.g. Gokyo, 4790 m). The regions above 6000 m are considered arctic desert or nival zone.

High Mountain Valleys (or Inner Himalaya):
They are found north of the high Himalaya, before the Plateau of Tibet. The high mountain valleys (e.g. Bheri and Upper Kaligandaki) lie between 1970-4500 m. They are typically orientated east-west, cradled by high mountains, scoured out by past glaciers long retreated. The high Himalaya forms a major barrier to the northern progress of the summer monsoon, and so the High Mountain Valleys lie in rain shadow and are barren, arid areas (see climate below).
Tibetan Marginal Mountains (or Trans-Himalaya) [top] – are found in the north-westernmost parts of Nepal (north of Dhaulagiri and Annapurna Himals), at 6000-7000 m, and line the southern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. They comprise a series of peaks that were the first formed about 45 million years ago at the start of the Himalayan mountain building process. This mountain range laid the foundation for the main watercourses, and forms the watershed between the two great rivers the Ganga (Ganges), to the south, and Brahmaputra (Tsangpo), to the north. The higher, but later formed, mountains of the High Himalaya did not alter the general southward flow of the main rivers. Amonst these rivers the high desert regions of Mustang, Manang and Dolpo can be found. These areas are in deep rain shadow, with stark eroded crags typical of the scenery.

Three zone topographic classification:

Lowlands (Terai and Siwalik Hills) – land below 1000 m, comprising 27% of Nepal's surface area. Below 500 m the vegetation is tropical, and between 500 and 1000 m it is subtropical. These lands are heavily populated and there are great pressures on forest resources. 1885 species of angiosperms, 81 species of pteridophytes, and 61 species of bryophytes have been recorded from the Lowlands ([BBP] 1995), but these areas are comparatively botanically poorly explored and the figures are certainly underestimates.

Mid-Hills (Mahabharat Lekh and Midlands) – land between 1000-3000 m, comprising 30% of the surface area of Nepal. Between 1000-2000 m the climate is monsoonal with warm temperate vegetation, at 2000-3000 m the vegetation becomes cool temperate. The Mid-hills have the greatest ecosystem diversity as well as species diversity in Nepal (see vegetation), and nearly 32% of forest cover occurs in this region. 33 of the 52 Mid-Hills ecosystems are represented in protected areas. Most of the botanical exploration in Nepal has been undertaken in the Mid-Hills, and 3364 species of angiosperms, 16 species of gymnosperms, 272 species of pteridophytes, and 493 species of bryophytes have been recorded ([BPP] 1995).

Highlands (Himalayan mountains, High Mountain Valleys, and Tibetan Marginal Mountains) – land above 3000 m, comprising 43% of the surface area of Nepal. Vegetation is sub-alpine between 3000-4000 m, alpine between 4000-5000 m, and tundra and arctic above 5000 m. Seven protected areas have been established in the Highlands, with another three spanning both the Mid-Hills and Highlands. These include 30 of the 38 Highlands ecosystems. The Highlands are less diverse than the lower zones, but are characterised by a higher number of endemic species. It is estimated that over 2000 angiosperms, 10 gymnosperms, 78 pteridophytes, and 347 bryophytes occur here.

Climate:
Rainfall, winter snow, temperature, aspect and altitude have a profound influence on biodiversity and the composition of the vegetation in Nepal. Nepal has a monsoon climate, dominated by an extended wet season starting in June with the arrival of the South-west Summer Monsoon. The High Himalaya range retains the moist air masses of the monsoon, increasing precipitation in Nepal and keeping the areas to the north in deep rain shadow. These same mountains also act as a barrier to the cold fronts from central Asia, giving warmer winters to Nepal and northern India. Temperatures can vary widely because of the great altitudinal range, from tropical in the Terai to arctic in the high Himalaya. In the Terai the mean winter daytime temperatures are between 22 and 27°C, whilst summer temperatures exceed 37°C. Higher up in the Mid-Hills temperatures are between 12 and 16°C, with a general temperature decreases of about 6°C for every 1000 m gain in altitude. Deforestation, industrialisation, and urbanisation have increased temperatures in recent years, as has global warming (see conservation). Aspect also has important effects, as north-facing slopes receive much less solar radiation than those facing south. The deep river valleys create their own microclimates, and dramatic changes in the vegetation can be seen in relatively small areas with differing aspect and altitude.

Rainfall:
It varies greatly across the country with the general trend of wetter conditions in the east (Taplejung, 1768 m altitude, receives an annual average rainfall of 2024mm) and drier in the west (Baitadi, 1635 m, receives 1037 mm). The average rainfall in Nepal is about 1600 mm, with about 80% of falling between June and September (above 5500 m this falls as snow). The southern slopes of the Himalaya receive the highest rainfall (3477 mm in Pokhara, 850 m; 5550 mm in Lumle, 1642 m), whilst the trans-Himalaya lands north of the main Himalayan range (Mustang, Dolpa, Manang and Jumla) are in rain shadow with a desert-like barren tundra, barely getting 250 mm of annual rainfall (Jomsom, 2650m, receives 255-295 mm).
Precipitation is greatly influenced by the prevailing wind systems which are northeasterly in the winter and southwesterly in the summer. The winter winds bring cold, dry airstreams from central asia, in marked contrast to the warm, wet air masses from the south bringing the summer monsoon. The monsoon is the name given to the heavy rains from storm clouds that originate far to the south in the Bay of Bengal. In the pre-monsoon months of March, April and May the season is hot and dry. A wave of humid air reaches Nepal at the beginning of June, the rains come and they last until the end of September or middle of October. About 80% of Nepal's rain falls during the monsoon. As east Nepal is closer to the Bay of Bengal, the monsoon arrives there first and more rain falls here than in the west (winter rainfall is more common in the western hills). As the rain clouds pass up and over the mountains most of the precipitation is generally shed on the southern slopes, and the northern slopes experience rain shadow to varying degrees. The months from October to March are generally dry and cold. Nepal also recieves a small ammount of winter rain during January and February, most commonly in the western hills. In some local areas (e.g. the Upper Bheri Valley to the north of Dhaulagiri) the winter rains are significant and produce a mediterranean-like micro-climate.