ADB_book_18 April.qxp - Himalayan Document Centre - icimod

Figure 4.1: Protected Areas in NepalRussell’s Viper (Vipera russelli)usage, many species of plants, butterflies, fish,insects, birds, and mammals have been listed asthreatened, vulnerable, or rare (Shrestha and Joshi1996; Suwal et al. 1995). Out of 32 rare plant specieslisted, 8 are already extinct (CBS 2003).Efforts Towards Biodiversity ConservationThe Government has established the Department ofNational Parks and Wildlife Conservation andcreated a network of protected areas. After creationof the protected area network, there has been anincreasing trend in the population of wild animals.The rhino population increased from 60 in the lateIUCNRhododendron Dalhusiae1960s to 612 in 2000, the last year for which reliablestatistics are available (DNPWC 2000). Similarly, acontinued conservation effort in protected areas hasimproved the habitat and increased the number ofwildlife such as endangered tiger, musk deer, andmany other species (DNPWC 2000). Translocationand reintroduction of some species has reduced therisks of loss of these animals from being in only onearea. However, species outside protected areas arestill under great pressure. Wildlife species such asgreater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinocerosunicornis) have been translocated from one park toanother to set up other viable populations.IUCN ICIMODChapter 4: Forestry and Biodiversity43