Scope of Payment for Ecosystem Services Mechanism for ... - icimod

CHAPTER 33 STUDY AREA3.1 Bhaktapur DistrictBhaktapur is located in the easterm rim of Kathmandu Valley; it is 13 km east ofKathmandu capital of Nepal, and also known as Bhadgaon or „ the city of devotees‟. Itlies between 85 o 21‟ to 85 o 32‟ E longitude and 27 o 36‟ to 27 o 44‟ N latitude on Nepal, hasan area of 119 km. The topography of Bhaktapur is with high hills in east and low land inwest respectively so the origin of rivers is east hills. The district is surrounded byKavrepalanchowk in east, Kathmandu in west and north and Lalitpur in south (CBS,2001).3.1.1 Administrative DivisionBhaktapur District covers an area of 119 sq. km and comprises of two municipalities viz.Bhaktapur Municipality (6.88 sq. km) and Madhyapur Thimi Municipality (11.47 sq. km)and 16 Village Development Committees. Bhaktapur Municipality has 17 Wards out ofwhich Ward 4 is the largest and Ward 9 is the smallest. On the basis of the nature of land,it has been divided into two district geophysical zones viz. hills and valley floor. Thepopulation of the district is 3, 03,027 in 2011(CBS, 2011). In 2001 the population was 2,25,461 (CBS, 2001), with an urban population of 1, 20,294. In the last 10 years, thedistrict population has grown by about 34%.3.1.2 ClimateThe climatic condition varies to a greater extent in view of several geographical factors.The district falls under the subtropical climatic region where the climate is fairly pleasant,generally rainy season starts in June and ends in September, average precipitation is 1400mm. The general climatic condition is cold in winter and hot in summer with averageminimum temperature of -2 o C and average maximum temperature is 35 o C (CBS, 2001).3.1.3 Land useEighty percent of land of the district is suitable for agriculture; irrigated paddy productionis dominant, in terraces up the slopes. The natural vegetation is dictated by the climaticconditions and vegetation zone of Kathmandu valley fall under the Deciduous MonsoonForest Zone. The dominant species under this zone comprises of oak, elm, beech, mapleand so forth with coniferous trees at higher elevation (CBS, 2001).17