Forest presence is one of the main indicators of a healthy ecological system. For instance, after the forest restoration in Lamahi bottleneck area by the Department of Forest Leaded Terai Arc Landscape and community, the greenery was revived. As a result, more than 30 water sprouts have been recovered and maintained. On the other hand, Ratu river and Badhahari river in Dhanusha district are in critical conditions, as their widening has reduced the fertile agricultural land of Lalgadh settlement.
It is well-known that Churia is a young mountain, a fragile landmass which plays a vital ecological role for the millions of people residing there. It was formed in mid-miocene to Pleistocene geological age. It extends from the east to west of Nepal with an altitudinal gradient from 70m. to 2100m above sea level.
The western part of Churia has more natural resources and ecological functions than the eastern part in terms of forest presence, forest intactness and connectivity, wilderness, biodiversity, volume of water recharge. It is also less prone to vulnerability due to lesser population density, more protected areas, and community protection and restoration efforts. Artesian zones and water sprouts are found more in western than eastern Churia. Ghodaghodi Lake, Jagdishpur and Bishhazari Lake are some prominent examples.
The Churia has been providing the best habitat for some iconic wild species like tiger, elephant, rhino, reptiles, bird, aquatic species, deer species etc. These species are directly connected to the Churia’s ecological functions. It has tropical and subtropical forest resources (Sal and mixed hardwood), savanna type grassland, fertile top soil, water regulation, storage of boulders and sand for the future large infrastructure construction, non-timber forest product, and unique anthropogenic and cultural value. Moreover, oil and gas blocks, lime stone and other mines are distributed in the Churia region.
Churia’s forest area amounts to 656,115 ha in twenty Terai districts. The rate of deforestation in Churia is higher in plains than in hills. Parsa has the highest rate of deforestation. A large number of deer species, gharial, dolphin, tiger, rhino and elephant are found in Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardia, Banke and Dang, while Nawalparasi, Chitwan, and Parsa are richer in tiger, rhino, elephant, blue bull, deer species, gharial and pythons. Bara, Rautahat, Sarlahi Mahotarri and Dhanusha still hope to restore and maintain the forest connectivity and biodiversity in the east. Siraha, Sarlahi, Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa have very little forest cover.
Churia forests play a critical role in the regulation of stream flow and maintaining of water quality and discharge throughout the year in the lowland plain. This aids the survival of millions of people. Most people are associated with this ecological service despite living in areas where perennial sources of water are available.
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Almost 80 percent of the domestic consumption and commercial activities are dependent on the area. For instance , animals, compost fertilizer, fuel-wood, fodder, drinking water, irrigation, sand and gravel, timber, are the most extracted resources form the Churia. Once these resources are extracted unscientifically, haphazardly and unsustainably then desertification in Terai is obvious. Deforestation, river widening, siltation, increasing river bed, hiding runoff water in lowland surfaces, landslides, top soil erosion, lack of water recharge and storage, haphazard resettlement, shifting cultivation, easy access to market for timber and other products are the major reasons for the degrading of the Churia.
Being a Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote Sensing expert and analyst, I have found many micro and landscape changes in the Churia over the years, including in natural resources and anthropogenic aspects. Churia’s ecological functionality, sustainable availability and regulation are very important for millions of lowland residents. The major issues which need to be addressed from the national level are sustainable extraction, maintaining minimum area of natural resources, and scientific and environment-friendly infrastructure construction.
Due to lack of proper land use and implementation plans, Churia is degrading and losing its main ecosystem services. The lowland inhabitants are facing water scarcity. Churia is becoming more fragile and vulnerable day by day, which causes increasing number of landslides, high trend of river bank cutting (10 meter in both sides annually), flash floods, riverbed increments, conversion of fertile land into barren or fallow land, decreasing of water tables, minimum discharge of water, as well as significant and measurable erosion of top soil.
Churia cannot be conserved merely through ad hoc strategic plans or even with time, effort, money and human resource. It is a matter of hardcore policy decisions and scientific logic. It is mandatory that Churia region should have a minimum of 50 percent forest cover for the proper maintenance of ecological services. A participatory approach could be the best way to resume these services and maintain minimum forest cover area, regulate biodiversity, water recharge and scientific harvesting of timber.
Conservation of Churia is an agenda of national concern. Those responsible for policy formulation should go to the local communities with logic and scientific messages for the restoration of Churia’s ecological services. People residing in Churia and Bhabar area should be aware that their activities could be cause of Terai desertification, landslides, water crises, and ultimately migration elsewhere, which is undesirable.
The conservation and management plan of Churia should address all local concerns and be implemented in the field with the help of local community. Those in authority need to identify critical areas where immediate intervention is needed, both for short and long term. A scientific management zone should be identified. A handy plan should be prepared by combining the expertise of experts of different disciplines. The consent of Department of Forest (DoF) and Department of National park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Multi Stakeholder Forestry project, and Terai Arc Landscape should be taken for all conservation projects. Only this will help in restoring the vulnerable Churia region and help it resume its ecological functions in the future.
The author is a Geographer and GIS and Remote Sensing Expert
gjthapak@gmail.com
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