Understanding the state of environmental governance in Nepal

Introduction Nepal is one of the world’s most diverse countries with its unmatched variation in landforms. The Himalayan Mountains rise in the northern-most frontier of the Gangetic Plain and reach the highest point (8,848 metres) on earth within a distance of less than 200 kilometres. This topographical gradient gives rise to distinct physiographic regions with multiple climatic conditions and varied temperature and precipitation order within a small area. About 83 per cent of Nepal’s 26.6 million population lives in rural areas and about two thirds of the population depend on agriculture for livelihood.