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Natural resource degradation in a small watershed in Nepal
Author(s) -
Thapa Gopal B,
Weber Karl E
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
natural resources forum
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1477-8947
pISSN - 0165-0203
DOI - 10.1111/j.1477-8947.1995.tb00621.x
Subject(s) - watershed , land degradation , natural resource , soil conservation , resource (disambiguation) , environmental degradation , land use , overgrazing , geography , soil retrogression and degradation , population , natural (archaeology) , environmental protection , environmental resource management , agroforestry , environmental science , grazing , agriculture , ecology , computer network , demography , archaeology , machine learning , sociology , computer science , biology
Amid growing concern about the conservation of renewable natural resources, the process, extent and symptoms of their degradation are examined with specific reference to the Upper Pokhara Valley. Based on a household survey, field observations, informal deliberations and land use analysis, the results of this study reveal that forests and grazing land have been subject to increasing degradation caused by demographic, socioeconomic and institutional factors. The intensity of degradation varies by watershed. In particular, rainfed pakho land on steep slopes is under the severe threat of accelerating soil erosion, despite the construction of terraces. This calls for the formulation of a comprehensive natural resource conservation strategy which should be based on a framework comprising an integrated population control programme, planned land use changes and institutional reforms .