Emphasis laid on conserving forest wetlands

KATHMANDU: Stakeholders have laid emphasis on the urgent need of conserving and restorative of the forest wetlands.

At the fourth Narayani Water Dialogue and Interaction Programme organized at Gaindakot of Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta East), they stressed on the preservation of wetlands in the forest area and the arrangement of water recharge.

On the occasion, the Mayor of Gaindakot Municipality, Madan Bhakta Adhikari, opined that it was necessary to conserve wetlands as the wetland area protects bio-diversity.

The role of bio-diversity is significant to keep the environment clean, he added, stating wetlands and natural water bodies around our surroundings should be preserved for the same.

Saying different organizations along with the municipality have been supporting the Narayani River Clean-up Campaign, Mayor Adhikari pointed out the need of the participation of communities along with the local government in the conservation sector.

Similarly, the Chairperson of Gaindakot municipality-5, Ratna Prasad Sapkota, shared that restoration of the wetland area and protection of Narayani River is the need of the hour.

He said a group comprising experts has been carrying out activities for the management of garbage produced in the city.

Under the collective efforts and the action plan to conserve the Narayani riverside areas and restore wetlands around, various series of interactions and dialogues on the water with the involvement of local people and conservationists took place, said Homnath Subedi, chairperson of the wetland area restoration and Narayani riverside collective efforts and action plan project.

Work is underway to conserve and protect the wetlands in collaboration with various local forests, said Dinesh KC of the Sub-divisional Forest Office, Gaindakot.

Similarly, Dinesh Bastakoti, the project coordinator, stressed the need for all to join hands for the conservation of wetlands.

On the occasion, he presented a report relating to work to be done in the restoration of wetlands and the protection of the riverside areas and its benefits.

Stating wetlands around the Nawalpur area are drying up, thus resulting in the disappearance of dependent water birds, Bastakoti underscored the need to draw the attention of the respective parks and local forest offices to its protection. “It is increasingly becoming difficult to spot water birds since some years ago. Only the protection of endangered water birds and creatures dependent on wetlands will protect human existence.”

Apart from non-governmental organizations, the state and local communities should play an important role in this regard, he said.