Nature in Nepal

Nepal's natural landscapes include the High Himal, High Mountains, Middle Mountains, Churia or Siwalik range and Terai. Forest and other wooded land cover a substantial share of the country, but published figures differ by method: the Forest Research and Training Centre reports 44.74% in its national forest assessment, while a Ministry of Forests and Environment overview reports 46.08% without an identical methodology or reference date. These figures should not be combined as if they measured the same thing. Protected areas include national parks, wildlife reserves, hunting reserves, conservation areas and buffer zones. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation's National Parks Explorer lists 21 protected areas in its 2026 presentation. A Ministry of Forests and Environment and DNPWC baseline lists 12 national parks, one wildlife reserve, one hunting reserve, six conservation areas and 13 buffer zones, covering 34,419.75 square kilometres or 23.39% of Nepal. Chhayanath National Park appears as a newer addition, so the current official total area and category breakdown are not fully consolidated. Wetlands are another major part of Nepal's natural heritage. The country has approximately 242 wetlands covering about 743,500 hectares and 10 Ramsar Sites covering 60,561 hectares. These include Koshi Tappu, Beeshazar, Ghodaghodi, Jagadishpur, Gokyo, Gosaikunda, Phoksundo, Rara, Mai Pokhari and the Lake Cluster of Pokhara. Wetlands support birds, aquatic species, water storage and local livelihoods. Nepal's wildlife includes the greater one-horned rhinoceros, Bengal tiger, Asian elephant and gharial in the Terai, and the snow leopard, blue sheep or naur, musk deer, Himalayan black bear and Danphe in Himalayan regions. Sal, rhododendron, alpine plants and medicinal and aromatic plants are significant examples of Nepal's flora. The Department of Plant Resources documents and identifies plants, supports in-situ and ex-situ conservation, and develops cultivation technology. Protected species and CITES-listed species have additional controls. Nature also provides timber, fuel, fodder, medicinal plants, non-timber forest products, water and soil protection, and income. Access to these resources is not uniform. The applicable protected-area rules, forest or community-forest plan, permit, seasonal restriction and local management arrangement determine what people may collect or use. In buffer zones, local land rights remain protected, while resource access and community development operate through user committees and management plans. DNPWC guidance states that 30% to 50% of protected-area revenue may support conservation, local livelihoods and community development. A protected-area entry permit or written authorization is required for access where the applicable rules demand it. Hunting, wildlife or trophy trade, unauthorized plant or timber collection, blocking or polluting water, construction and other damaging activities are prohibited without the required permission. Protected wildlife receives legal protection subject to statutory exceptions. Current fees and entry arrangements depend on the destination. NTB tables list approximate entry fees of NRs 100 to 150 for Nepali visitors, NRs 500 to 1,500 for SAARC visitors and NRs 1,000 to 3,000 for other foreign visitors, with children under 10 generally free. Payment may be available through the Tourist Service Center at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu or at an entry gate, but the destination's current system determines whether online or walk-in payment is accepted. Nature-based activities include wildlife safaris, birdwatching, wetland observation, hiking, trekking, mountain viewing, nature walks, camping and research visits. Chitwan is associated with safari landscapes and species such as rhinoceros, tiger and gharial. Sagarmatha focuses on high-mountain landscapes and trekking, Annapurna includes community-managed trekking landscapes, Shivapuri-Nagarjun provides Kathmandu-area hiking and birdwatching, and Rara and Phoksundo combine lake environments with high-Himalayan scenery. Activities that primarily concern general leisure belong elsewhere; here the natural landscape, species or ecological process must remain central. Many Himalayan paths require a licensed trekking guide and an agency-issued TIMS registration. The TIMS fee is listed as NRs 1,000 for SAARC visitors and NRs 2,000 for other visitors, with registration and a QR e-card arranged through a government-registered trekking agency. Separate trekking or mountaineering permits may also apply. Access status and seasonal conditions must be checked for the specific destination. October and November and March to May are often more favourable for many mountain areas, while monsoon conditions from June to September and snow and cold from December to February can change access and safety. These patterns do not apply equally across Nepal. Research and education require formal arrangements when protected areas, plants or public research facilities are involved. DNPWC provides a study-permission process. The Department of Plant Resources handles research permissions, herbarium and plant analysis, and botanical-garden work. The Forest Research and Training Centre conducts forest surveys and research and provides training, maps and data. Management plans such as the Shivapuri plan can support school visits, nature day camps and environmental, biodiversity or wildlife events, subject to the relevant application, location, institution and safety requirements. Natural hazards vary by landscape. Floods, flash floods, landslides, debris flows, drought, lightning, heat and cold waves, avalanches, hail, snow and windstorms, forest fires, earthquakes and glacial lake outburst floods can affect Nepal. Monsoon and intense rainfall create particular exposure in the Terai, river valleys and steep slopes. Himalayan areas face glacial, permafrost, avalanche and high-altitude weather risks. Climate change increases uncertainty in several of these hazards. The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology provides flood forecasting, early warnings, weather warnings, rainfall monitoring and flood information, including the toll-free number 1155. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority provides BIPAD alerts and daily bulletins, while local governments carry major responsibility for implementation. Evacuation and general emergency management belong primarily to the disaster topic; here the focus is the natural exposure and preventive information relevant to the landscape. Nature protection also involves conflicts over land and resources. Roads, settlements, hydropower, tourism and extraction can fragment habitats. Households may depend on forests and community forests for wood, fodder, fuel and non-timber forest products. Human-wildlife conflict can involve crop damage, livestock loss, property damage, injury or death. The Wildlife Damage Relief Distribution Guidelines 2080 provide a basis for government relief, with reporting and claims handled through the responsible protected-area or Division Forest structure and assessed by the authorities. NTNC quick relief can supplement assistance but does not replace a state process. Buffer-zone user committees, revenue sharing, livelihood programs and coexistence measures can reduce conflict when they match the local management plan. The responsible institutions differ by issue. The Ministry of Forests and Environment sets national policy; DNPWC manages protected-area functions; the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation oversees forest administration; the Department of Environment handles environmental functions; the Department of Plant Resources covers plant research and conservation; FRTC provides forest research and training; DHM handles weather and flood information; and NDRRMA coordinates disaster-risk management. Provincial and local governments, protected-area offices and buffer-zone user committees carry out important local functions. Nepal's natural systems therefore need to be assessed by landscape, protected-area category, municipality, season, permit status and the specific activity rather than by one nationwide rule.