वातावरण तथा दिगो विकास

Natural resources found in the rural areas of Nepal include:

1. Forests and timber – covering hills, mountains and Terai, providing fuelwood, fodder and timber.
2. Water resources – rivers, streams, springs and lakes used for irrigation, drinking water and micro-hydro.
3. Agricultural land and soil – fertile land for crop and livestock farming.
4. Minerals – limestone, slate, copper, iron, and building stones in hill and mountain areas.
5. Pasture/grazing land – highland pastures (kharka) for livestock grazing.
6. Wildlife and biodiversity – medicinal herbs, non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and wild animals.

Interrelationship between the Environment and Sustainable Development

1. Meaning of the two terms. The environment is the sum total of all living and non-living things (air, water, land, forests, wildlife) that surround and support us. Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission, 1987).

2. Environment as the base of development. All development activities — agriculture, industry, energy, transport, tourism — draw their raw materials, land, water and energy from the environment. A healthy environment therefore supplies the natural capital on which development depends. Without fertile soil, clean water and forests, production itself becomes impossible.

3. Development affects the environment. In the reverse direction, the process of development affects the quality of the environment. Rapid industrialisation, deforestation, overuse of chemical fertilizers, unplanned urbanization and excessive use of fossil fuels cause pollution, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity and climate change. Thus development carried out blindly destroys the very resource base that supports it.

4. Environment and development are complementary, not conflicting. The two are two sides of the same coin. Environmental protection is not an obstacle to development; rather, it is a precondition for long-term development. For example, community forestry in Nepal has simultaneously conserved forests and supplied fuelwood, fodder and income to local people. Similarly, organic farming and eco-tourism protect the environment while creating employment.

5. Need for balance (the core of sustainability). Sustainable development tries to strike a balance between three pillars — economic growth, social equity and environmental protection. It means using renewable resources at a rate lower than their regeneration, using non-renewable resources efficiently, and controlling pollution within the environment's carrying capacity. If the present generation overuses resources, future generations will be deprived; if the environment is protected by stopping all development, present needs will remain unmet. Hence the environment and sustainable development are mutually dependent and must go together.

Conclusion. In short, the environment provides the resource base and life-support system for development, while development must be planned so that it does not damage that base. The interrelationship is one of mutual dependence — development can be truly sustainable only when the environment is conserved.

Forests are one of the most important natural resources of rural Nepal. Most rural households depend on them directly for livelihood, and they also protect the environment on which farming depends.

1. Source of basic needs. Rural households collect firewood, timber, fodder, leaf litter, bedding material and wild foods from forests. Firewood is still the main cooking fuel in many villages.

2. Support to agriculture and livestock. Fodder and leaf litter feed animals, and the resulting farmyard manure fertilises the fields. Forests also regulate water flow, so springs and streams that feed irrigation keep running.

3. Income and employment. Timber, medicinal herbs, non-timber forest products (resin, bamboo, honey, broom grass), forest-based enterprises and eco-tourism give jobs and cash income to rural people, especially in remote areas.

4. Soil and water conservation. Tree roots hold the soil and reduce erosion, landslides and floods in the hilly and mountain regions. Forests recharge groundwater and protect watersheds.

5. Environmental balance. Forests absorb carbon dioxide, keep the climate moderate, support biodiversity and give habitat to wildlife.

6. Community participation and local revenue. Community forestry user groups manage forests themselves, spend the funds on schools, roads, drinking water and support for the poor, and build local leadership and cooperation. Royalties and forest-based tourism also add to local development funds.

7. Cultural and recreational value. Forests are linked to religious beliefs and rituals, and provide places for recreation, research and education.

Hence, when forests are conserved and managed sustainably, they strengthen the rural economy, reduce poverty and make rural development lasting.