Short note: Major environment issues of Nepal

Nepal faces serious environmental problems due to its fragile geology, monsoon climate, poverty and unplanned development.

1. Deforestation – fuelwood, encroachment and road building (though forest cover has improved to about 45% due to community forestry).
2. Soil erosion and landslides – steep slopes, haphazard bulldozer roads, Chure degradation.
3. Air pollution – in Kathmandu Valley from vehicles, brick kilns, dust and waste burning; PM2.5 often far above WHO limits.
4. Water pollution – sewage in Bagmati and other rivers; arsenic in Terai groundwater.
5. Solid waste – poor segregation and landfill problems.
6. Climate change – glacier melt, GLOF risk, erratic rain, drying springs.
7. Biodiversity loss – poaching and habitat loss.
8. Unplanned urbanisation and riverbed mining.

Mitigation: enforcing the Environment Protection Act, 2076, EIA for projects, clean energy and electric transport, sewage treatment, waste management, community participation and awareness.