Wetlands in Makwanpur at high risk with encroachment

By Our Correspondent,Makawanpur, Nov. 3: A recent study has shown that the wetlands in Makawanpur district are now under threat, primarily due to encroachment, the effects of climate change and the adverse impacts of the 2015 earthquake.

Based on an assessment and study of the wetland areas in the north-western part of the district, it was found that these crucial ecosystems are at risk.

According to the study report, the Division Forest Office, Rapti Manahari, covers an area of 4,242.79 hectares, with a total of 966 wetlands.

According to the report prepared by the Division Forest Office Rapti Manahari in Makawanpur regarding the identification, documentation, prioritisation, protection, and management of wetlands in seven local bodies within the district, about two-thirds of the wetlands are situated below 737 metres above sea level.

Bishal Bhattarai, the Forest Officer of the Division Forest Office Rapti Manahari in Makwanpur, who was in the study team, said that a total of 99 wetlands were visited and thoroughly examined during the research.

According to him,  more wetlands fall under the jurisdiction of the Kailash Sub-Division Forest Office within the Rapti Division Forest Office. The Chitlang Sub-Division had the lowest number of wetlands.

Within the working area of the Rapti Division Forest Office, among the 966 wetlands,  20 are ponds or lakes, 115 rivers and 831 wetlands.

Likewise, the study revealed that there are 227 wetlands in Kailash Rural Municipality while the fewest wetlands are found in Manahari Rural Municipality, with 83.

Additionally, there are 144 wetlands in Bhimphedi Rural Municipality, 149 in Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City, 120 in Indrasarovar Rural Municipality, 150 in Raksirang Rural Municipality and 93 wetlands in Thaha Municipality.

The estimation indicates that about two per cent of these wetlands are comprised of lakes or ponds, 13 per cent are rivers or streams, and the remaining 85 per cent are categorised as wetlands. Within this classification, 11 per cent of the wetlands are under private ownership while the vast majority, 89 per cent, are situated on government-owned land.

According to the estimation, Manahari Rural Municipality encompasses about 258.95 hectares of wetlands. Lakes are found exclusively within Hetauda Sub-Metropolitan City and Indrasarovar Rural Municipality. However, rivers, streams, and smaller wetlands are distributed at all local levels of the district

The study showed that among river or stream wetlands, Indrasarovar Rural Municipality boasts the highest area with 342.96 hectares while for stream wetlands, Raksirang Rural Municipality has the largest area covering 773.83 hectares.

The largest wetland area within the jurisdiction of the Rapti Division Forest Office measures 851.66 hectares and is located in Raksirang Rural Municipality.

Forest Officer Bhattarai emphasised that these wetlands serve as habitats for a diverse range of plant and animal species and play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of the local community. He noted that a significant number of these wetlands have undergone alterations in their function or physical state, with many of the originally wet or marshy areas having dried up, vanished, or been encroached upon.

According to Bhattarai, about 39 per cent of the 99 wetlands that have been studied in detail are at high risk. He emphasised the need to give priority to preserving the wetlands that are at risk.

In order to ensure the effective conservation and management of wetlands, it is important to undertake a multifaceted approach that encompasses the protection and restoration of wetlands, control of invasive species, enforcement of relevant laws, sustainable utilisation, comprehensive surveys, and the implementation of community-based wetland management practices, he added.