Preparation of District Environment Profile – Ilam Final Report PART I Situation Profile 1.1 Introduction Ilam is one of the easternmost districts lying in the Mechi zone in the Eastern Development Region (EDR) of Nepal. It shares its eastern border with the Darjeeling district of West Bangal state of India. To the north lies Panchthar district, to the south Morang district and Jhapa district of Mechi zone. It extends from 26040’N to 27008’N parallels of latitude and from 87040’ to 88010’ east meridians of longitude in global position. The total area of the district is 1703 sq. km. with 50 km from the east to the west extension and 38kmfrom to the north to the south. Mechi highway passes through the Ilam district headquarter. It crosses this district from south Jhapa border to northwest border (Ranke) with Panchthar district. This highway connects this district with strtgic road net work (SRN). Similarly, it joins this district toward north with Panchthar and further north with Taplejung district. It is divided into 45 VDCs, two municipalities. Those are divided into 11 Ilakas and three electoral constituencies.The headquarter of Ilam district is in Ilam municipality GIS Map 1.1: Location Map of Ilam District Eco TRANS Consult and Shrestha Consultant (Pvt.) Ltd. (JV) Page | 1 Preparation of District Environment Profile – Ilam Final Report GIS Map 1.2: Administrative Division of Ilam district Eco TRANS Consult and Shrestha Consultant (Pvt.) Ltd. (JV) Page | 2 Preparation of District Environment Profile – Ilam Final Report 1.1.1 General Background Different infrastructural, socio-cultural or the economic development activities are being conducted at the high pace within Ilam district. This creates a variety of environmental problems, including deforestation, soil erosion, desertification, water shortages and increasing degradation of the quality of existing water sources, poaching and domestic as well as industrial pollution.Agricultural cash products and unique environmental services and ecology are key driving engines for its development. This can be crippled any time due to environment degradation and growing climate risk. It not only undermines human health and well being but also holds backing economic development. The major occupation of the people is agriculture focused on cash crops like Tea, Ginger, Cardamom, Amliso, Potato, etc. Apart from agriculture, people are engaged in tourism industry, government/ non goverment organization services and even in foreign employment. 'GIS Based Map' also refers to a map that provides easily understandable information on physical phenomena (inundation, landslides, debris flow and erosion etc.) and other information in an easily to understandable form with the aim of minimizing damage in the event. The purpose of preparation of GIS based District Environment profile of Ilam is to help minimize damage and to promote non- structural measures for damage mitigation according to regional characteristics. Hence, the DDC, Ilam has prepared GIS Map based District Environment Profile to address the need to integrate environmental issues and concerns in development plan, policies and ultimately in projects to ensure sustainable development.lt helps to reduce extra time, cost and human resources through GIS technology by effective project planning, designing, management and evaluation in the proposed and ongoing programs/activities as envisaged by district level Action Plan. 1.1.2 Objectives The overall objective of the project is to prepare GIS based District Environment profile (DEP) and clearly present district environment situation and relationship in a way relevance to the local development Decision makers, Policy makers. Managers and all related stakeholders in district development domain. The main objective of the project is to prepare GIS based District Environment profile (DEP): to conduct field works together the relevant data and information regarding District Environment Scenario; to analyze the above data and information, (not to be only descriptive and a mere collection of data but also analytical with development management value); to provide firm basis for informed discussion and consultation to draw a development path that with best fit local environmental opportunities and constraints, and, to prepare GIS maps based District Environment Profile using the findings of the desk study and field study. Eco TRANS Consult and Shrestha Consultant (Pvt.) Ltd. (JV) Page | 3 Preparation of District Environment Profile – Ilam Final Report 1.1.3 Scope of Work The following sectoral components with current status and trends in the following areas are included while preparing the DEP-Ilam: Physical Environment: Location, Air and Climate, Land and Water, Geology and Mineral resource, Hydrology & Meteorology Biological Environment: Biodiversity, Ecosystems, Biological resources of cultural, social, or economic importance, Forest & Vegetation Socio-economic Environment: Administrative divisions, road networks and other social services, Energy produced and used, Hydro-power, Key economic & development sector, Industries Environmental issues: Key environmental problems, environment and Socio-economic relations The scope of the GIS based District Environment Profile includes the following specific information: i. Land degradation, land use planning and practices; ii. Water resources (water quality, waste discharge) - Use and management; iii. Biodiversity and Wildlife; iv. Deforestation and fuel wood consumption, Use and management practices; v. Tourism Management and impacts vi. Urban areas - The environmental conditions (air and water quality, sanitation, waste management, health) Public behaviors and practices. As far as possible the driving forces influencing above mentioned patterns will be identified, such as, economic incentives, Demographic pressure, access right to natural resources and land tenure systems. Additionally, the more specific focus on the identification of problems which are undesirable due to their current socio-economic consequences, future consequences or contribution to global environmental problems are studied. The indicators selected and reviewed facilitate future monitoring and evaluation of the state of the environment and be useful for future environmental assessments. 1.1.4 Methodology For the execution of the above mentioned tasks of the study, following methodologies and approaches were applied by the consultant. 1.1.4.1 Official Report Collection Various data were collected from district level government line agencies like District Development Committee, District Forest Office, District Vegetation Office, District Livestock Service Centre, District Agriculture Office, District Office of the Small and Cottage Industries, District Public Health Service Centre including hospitals and nongovernment organizations in the district. Some required information was also collected from Office of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Area, and Department of Soil Conservation.Various reports, Meteorologies and Hydrological statistical data, and other information were also collected from related office. Eco TRANS Consult and Shrestha Consultant (Pvt.) Ltd. (JV) Page | 4 Preparation of District Environment Profile – Ilam Final Report 1.1.4.2 Field data collection Field data were collected visiting various parts of the district. During field survey, maps checklist and questionnaire were used for Key Informants’ Survey and Focus Group Discussion. During the discussion with local people various environmental aspects were discussed. Information about landslide, flood hazard, deforestation, solid waste situation, wildlife, vegetation, herbs etc was collected and discussed. Observation of various environmental aspects was made and located using GPS from the field directly.The current study on the condition of waste generation and management practice in the major urban areas (market centers) of Ilam district is mainly based on the direct observation of the concerned field and an estimation made from the Focus Group Discussion (FGD), conducted with the Chairman and members of the concerned Market Management Committee (MMC), Locally Organized Environment Conservation Committee (LOECC), Drinking Water and Sanitation Institution (DWSI), Officials of the Environmental Section of the Ilam Municipality, Secretaries including other staffs of the Concerned VDC, the old and knowledgeable persons of the concerned locality, waste handlers and other stakeholders in the major sampled market centers located in the different parts of the district. The volume and the types of waste being generated in the sampled market centers, and its ongoing management practices and other related information have been assessed and drawn from the FGD and direct observation. Photographs of the various environmentally significant scenes and the attendance of the FGD participants have been taken for the supporting documents. Nine tea industries out of 20 major industries of Ilam district were visited for industry level data collection. Similarly, nine major market centers were visited for market center level information collection. 1.1.4.3 GIS Map Preparation Required digital data were prepared on the basis of Topographic map with scale 1: 25000. Contour, drainage, road network, landuse and, water body were taken from the base map. Separate thematic maps also were prepared. Required maps were prepared linking with attributes and spatial information collected from the field and reports. Proper map designing