Koshi Tappu Wetlands:Nepal's Ramsar Site"The bible of the spot.......it's
got everything you could ask aobut Koshi Tappu........."
-
Ramsar Convetion
Bureau Bulletin |
|
Wetlands are important ecosystems, which are rich in biodiversity. Their values in terms of direct and indirect use, functional values and bequest values are now widely appreciated. Their importance at the global level was first appreciated at the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat, held at Ramsar, a city in Iran in 1971. Since then several wetlands of international importance have been listed as Ramsar Sites. All the countries, which are signatories of the convention, are obliged to designate at least one wetland in their respective territory as a Ramsar Site. Nepal acceded to the Ramsar Convention on 17 April 1988, and Koshi Tappu region was included on the Ramsar list of Wetlands of International Importance, commonly called as Ramsar Site.
The book, entitled ‘Koshi Tappu Wetlands: Nepal’s Ramsar Site’ is the detailed account of the Ramsar site in Nepal. The book, which is based on the author's field research, has 10 chapters, such as Introduction, Present status of conservation, Ecological Physiognomy, Biological Resources, Land Use Change, Human Settlements, Economic Activities, Utilization and Conservation of Wetland Resouces, People’s Awareness and Attitude and Management Recommendations. The first chapter introduces the general concept of wetlands, status and history of wetland conservation in Nepal and the background of Koshi Tappu region. The second chapter is devoted to general conservation practices in Koshi Tappu region, especially Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, which is one of the Protected Areas in Nepal, managed by Department of National Parks and Wildlife Reserve (DNPWC). The physiography, climate, soil, wetland types and the importance of Koshi river in Koshi Tappu region are described in third chapter. The impact of the barrage, constructed on the Koshi River, has clearly been described. The detailed account of flora, vegetation types and fauna of the region, given in chapter four, can provide the glance that how rich can be a wetland in biodiversity. The author, by using Geographic Information System (GIS), has determined the land use change in 32 years, from 1959 to 1991, in two steps. One from 1959 to 1978 (before the establishment of the reserve) and the other from 1978 to 1991. The following three chapters are devoted to the population trend, education level, socio-cultural activities, agricultural practices, livestock rearing, and conflicting use of the wetland resources by the people living in the adjoining villages around Koshi Tappu. The conditions are well illustrated with the help of photos, graphs and charts. People’s awareness level and their conservation attitude, based on household survey with the help of the questionnaire, have been described in chapter nine. Various indices have been used to compare the conditions in the eastern and western sides of the reserve and among the people of different socio-economic status. Finally, a list of recommendations with possible impacts for the sustainable management of the site are made in chapter ten. Appendices that include several tables, including the list of plants, fish and bird, found in Koshi Tappu region will also be helpful to the reader to be familiar with wetland flora and fauna.
This book is helpful to develop a detail management
plan for the Ramsar Site and can also provide guidelines to conduct research
in similar regions, which are ecologically and economically important.
Sah, J. P. 1997. Koshi Tappu Wetlands: Nepal’s Ramsar Site. xiii + 254 pages. IUCN (The World Conservation Union), Bangkok, Thailand. ISBN: 2-8317-0237-2.
Available from:
IUCN South-East Asia Regional
Office
or
IUCN-Nepal Country Office
Assian Institute of Technology
P. O. Box 3923, Jhamsikhel
GPO Box 4
Kathmandu
Klong Luang, Bangkok 12120
Nepal
Thailand
Email:
info@iucn.org.np
Questions on Koshi Tappu Wetlands, the only Ramsar Site in Nepal?
Your are welcome!
sahj@fiu.edu
Home