ADB_book_18 April.qxp - Himalayan Document Centre - icimod

Time Series InformationGenerally two types of information are needed: thefirst is the baseline condition and the second ismonitoring data to determine changes from baselineconditions. Developing monitoring networks oftenrequires considerable investment in infrastructure;for example, investments in monitoring instrumentsor computer networks. For a developing country likeNepal, such investments are difficult and their useneeds to be carefully evaluated in terms of costs andbenefits in relation to policy objectives andprograms. They should provide reliable, harmonized,and comparable environmental information formonitoring purposes.In Nepal, monitoring information is often hard toobtain and difficult to compile due to lack ofsystematic data collection and monitoring systems.The monitoring of natural resources is particularlyimportant, since that sector makes major contributionsto the economy. Other environmental problemsrequiring monitoring include air quality in KathmanduValley and other major urban centers. Thisproblem has been aggravated by heavy migration ofpeople to urban centers due to the prevailinginsurgency, although exact figures are unavailable.Information ScaleEnvironmental planning and management are ofteninfluenced by particular geographic conditions andrequire spatial (map) information on naturalresources, including major hydrology, topography,soil characteristics, and human activities. Scale ofinformation suggests the amount of generalizationthat has taken place in compiling a map. The scale ofmaps is a critical but often overlooked factor forenvironmental assessment and monitoring. In Nepal,most maps are at different scales and have differentcoordinate systems, making it difficult to makeoverlays and integrate them into a commongeographic information system (GIS) platform(Shrestha and Pradhan 1999). Data related toenvironmental problems requiring large-scale mapsare unavailable or difficult to compile. Satellitetechnology (remote sensing imagery) is analternative source for such information, but oftenassociated with high costs, and its uses are limiteddue to lack of adequate technical expertise.Institutional issuesBecause resources and environmental informationtends to be sector specific, institutional considerationssurround information collection, processing,and dissemination. Because baseline data iscommonly unavailable, database development isoften carried out on a project basis with little focuson the generic uses of the data, leading toduplication of effort and data redundancy (Shresthaand Pradhan 1999). Seemingly comparable datagenerated by different agencies may in practice beincompatible as a result of differences in dataformat, reporting schedules, or the ultimate purposefor which the data were collected. Further, due topoor understanding of the processes involved andweak technical capabilities, datasets are often of lowquality and lack standards. Little attention is paid tosharing data. An institutional mechanism is neededto encourage coherence while allowing forparticipation by a variety of institutions involved inenvironmental issues, taking into account their ownspecific needs and the need for a national vision.This institutional mechanism should aim for costeffectivenessin funding and allocation of resources,and for policy relevance of the information. Such aninstitutional mechanism is yet to be seen in Nepal,though there is increasing awareness amongprofessionals and scientists of the need for it.Data QualitySince baseline data will likely be used by many users,they must be of the highest quality. Sensitivity testingshould be carried out, and each ministry and agencyshould reassess data quality standards and the data’sability to address their purpose. Generally, qualityassessment procedures are weak in Nepal (ICIMODand UNEP 2001) and the user communities mustmake do with the information that is available.Data Standards and MetadataData standards ensure the quality of data andeffective data interchange. No comprehensiveenvironmental data standards have been developedin Nepal except for some specific applicationdomains (ICIMOD and UNEP 2001).Metadata is a process of documenting existingdatabases that provides information about data foraccess and use by the user community. Metadata isintended to provide as much information as possibleabout the data, its history, use, quality, and otherassociated information to the users. Such documentationof data or creation of a metadatabase has notbeen done in Nepal due to lack of know-how andstandards, which will make future use of data difficult.Status of Environmental Data andInformation in NepalThere is a need for a strong information base on allaspects of Nepal’s environment and naturalresources; this must be collected systematically from196 Environment Assessment of Nepal : Emerging Issues and Challenges