Tony Burdon, deputy head of DFID Nepal, has recently announced 50 million pounds aid to help Nepal fight against the adverse impacts of environmental problems caused by climate change and deforestation. “We do not think it is sufficient but it is a start,” Burdon told at a press meeting in Kathmandu.

Out of the total amount, 40 million pounds will be spent on defense of forests by helping local people to use sparingly a living. Climate Change Officer at DFID Nepal, Simon Lucas said, “We would like to ensure participation of maximum local people in our reforestation program. DFID claims that in the past it has contributed towards reforestation in Nepal by at least 10 percent via various programs.

The remaining amount of the fund will be spent on helping local people to enhance their flexibility power to the impacts of climate change which consists of improving emergency warning systems, guarding endangered people from natural disasters and supporting community water schemes.

DFID’s aid about 172 million pounds to Nepal over the next three years which is already broadcasted comes as a part of the international initiative. In response to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s appeal earlier this year for an international financial scheme worth $100 billion to help developing countries to fight climate change, the European Union (EU) issued the amount with increase in the figure to $135 billion.

Dressed in full scuba gear, President Mohamed Nasheed conducted the meeting which was 30 minutes long and was at a depth of 20 feet off the coast just north of Male. Among the 14-member cabinet, only 11 ministers took part in the under see meeting, as one of them were currently in Europe while two of them were not well enough to attend the meeting.
A horseshoe-shaped table was arranged on the seabed for the ministers, and the c communication during the meeting was via white boards and hand signals.

The Divers Association of Maldives had trained the ministers from over past two months and it said the ministers, felt confident about the extraordinary convention.

The co-ordinator of the event was Aminath Shauna who said that the ministers have signed their wetsuits, which would be auctioned on the protectthemaldives.com website to accumulate fund for coral reef protection in the atoll-chain.
In 2007, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on climate change warned that a rise in sea levels of seven to 24 inches by 2100 would be enough to make the country nearly uninhabitable. Therefore, Maldives, located southwest of Sri Lanka, has become a vocal campaigner in the battle to stop the progress of rising sea levels.

The country can be divided into three main geographical regions:

Himalayan Region

The altitude of this region ranges between 4877 meters and 8848 meters with the now line running around 488848 meters. It includes 8 of the existing 14 summits in the world which exceed the altitude of 8000 meters. They are: (1) Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) – 8848 m (2) Kangchenjunga – 8586 m, (3) Lhotse – 8516 m, (4) Makalu – 8463 m, (5) Cho Oyo – 8201 m, (6) Dhaulagiri – 8167 m, (7) Manaslu – 8163 m, and (8) Annapurna – 8091 m.

Mountain Region

This region accounts for about 64 percent of total land area. The Mahabharat range that rises upto 4877 meters forms it. To its south lies the lower Churia range whose altitude varies from 610 meters to 1524 meters.

Terai Region

The lowland Terai region, which has a width of about 26 to 32 kilometers and an altitude maximum of 305 meters, occupies about 17 percent of total land area of the country. Kechanakawal, the lowest point of the country with an altitude of 70 meters lies in Jhapa District of the eastern Terai.

All this adds up one interesting fact that there is no seasonal constraint on travelling in and through Nepal. Even in December and January, when the winter is at its severest, there are compensating bright sun and brilliant views. Winter days often begin in mist, which can last until noon. Then suddenly, as if by magic, the fog disappears bringing in to views snowy peaks, glistening white and fresh against the large blue sky.

The Kingdom of Nepal covers an area of 147,181 square kilometers, and stretches 145-241 kilometers north to south and 850 kilometers west to east.

The country is located between India in the south and China in the north. At latitudes 26 and 30 degrees north and longitudes 80 and 88 degrees east, Nepal is topographically divided into three regions: the Himalaya to the north, the hills consisting of the Mahabharat range and the Churia Hills in the middle, and the Terai to the south. Elevations are varied in the kingdom.

The highest point is Mt. Everest (8848 m) in the north and the lowest point (70 meters above sea level) is located at Kechana Kalan of Jhapa District.

Altitude increases as you travel south to north. In the north temperatures are below -40°C and in the Terai, temperatures rise to 40°C in the summer. During June, July and August, the kingdom is influenced by monsoon clouds.

Bird Watching

About 850 species of birds are found in Nepal. With the opening of Koshi Tappu Reserve, bird watching is gaining grounds in Nepal. Koshi Tappu alone has recorded over 250 species of birds.

Rare birds include Impeyean pheasant, the national bird, snow cock, snow pigeon, giant horn-bill, saras crane and babblers. The spiny babbler is a rare endemic variety found only in Nepal.

Every year migratory birds from Tibet, Siberia and the northern mountains fly to the lowlands and Terai of Nepal. The Koshi Barrage is one of the most important migratory habitats. Bird watching is a very pleasant experience during late autumn and early spring when the migration occurs. Other parks and reserves also attract more birds and birdwatchers.

Flower Tour

Nepal is rich in vegetation. The country’s diverse terrain provides ideal conditions for varieties from tropical to hill plants and flowers. Some orchids and certain varieties of rhododendron are very rare and found only in Nepal.

Lali Guras or the red rhododendron is the national flower of Nepal. During the right seasons most visitors who come to explore the natural beauty of the country, are fortunate to have a glimpse of spectacular sights of hills covered with rhododendron flowers. Spring and autumn are the best seasons for flowers in Nepal.

The climate is varied ranging from the sub-tropical Terai to the cool dry temperate and alpine climate in the northern Himalayan ranges. In the Terai, the hottest part of the country, summer temperatures may rise as high as 40°C. The climate is hot and humid. In the midmountain region, the summer climate is mild with temperatures around 25°C – 27°C.

The winter temperatures range from 7°C to 23°C in the Terai and subzero to 12°C in the mountain regions and valleys. The northern Himalayan region has an alpine climate. The valley of Kathmandu has a pleasant equable climate with average summer and winter temperatures of 19°C – 27°C and 2°C – 12°C respectively.

Eco Everest 2008 is unique in the way it combines mountaineering with scientific research. The expedition will climb Mount Everest in the spring of 2008, and in parallel scientific research will be conducted on glacial lakes and melting glaciers. The initiative aims at raising awareness on the impact of climate change in the Himalayas. Dawa Steven Sherpa of Asian Trekking will lead the climbing expedition. The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) will be responsible for the research and will provide technical support and carry out scientific studies in Khumbu, specially focusing on the Imja and Dig Tsho glacial lakes. Eco Everest is conducted in partnership with Asian Trekking, ICIMOD and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Accompanying the expedition is Ken Noguchi, famous Japanese alpinist and conservationist who acts as the senior advisor to Eco Everest Expedition 2008. The expedition is also supported and endorsed by the pioneering US mountaineer Conrad Anker.

Eco Everest 2008 will especially highlight the threats Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) pose to the local communities and environment in the Khumbu region. As part of the initiative a Trust Fund has been set up for community development in Khumbu and financing further research and monitoring of glaciers and glacial lakes. Plans are also underway to develop a ten point recommendation for an “Eco-Code of Conduct” (ECC) which will be field-tested during the Eco Everest Expedition 2008. This code has been developed in close liaison with different internationally renowned mountaineers and various alpine associations around the world.

Eco Everest Expedition 2008 partners

Trees

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.

Rhododendrons

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 -

Nepal has 30 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.

Orchids

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.