Integrated Watershed Conservation and Management Plan: Sardu Watershed, Dharan, Sunsari, Nepal

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Published by: IUCN Nepal Country Office

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ISBN: 978-9937-8222-8-2 Editing, Design & Layout: Amit Pradhan Available from: IUCN Nepal, P.O. Box 3923, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel: (977-1) 5528781, Fax: (977-1) 5536786 E-mail: [email protected], URL: http://iucnnepal.org

Front.pmd 3 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM Front.pmd 4 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM Study Team

Steering Committee Rajendra Khanal, IUCN Nepal Banshi Moktan, CETD Nepal Arjun Niraula, APEC Nepal Deepak Paudel, Lead Consultant

Fulltime Technical Team Deepak Paudel, Watershed Management and Climate Change, Hydrologist Prakash Karn, Environmental Economist Dambar Singh Pujara, GIS Sanjeeb Dhungal, Social Data Management Sachin Shrestha, Social Data Management

Thematic Team Dil Kumar Limbu, Biologist V.N. Jha, Livestock Management Sharmila Ranabhat, Gender & Social Inclusion

Management Logistic Team Indira Kandel, Meteorologist Rajendra Rimal, Field Coodinator Kedar Neupane, Logistic Management & Field Coordinator Keshab Rijal, Logistic Management & Field Coordinator Balandu Hamal, Logistic Management & Field Coordinator Ananda Shrestha, Logistic Management & Field Coordinator Rajendra Mishra, Gauge Reader

Front.pmd 6 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM Table of Contents

Acknowledgements ...... i Study Team ...... ii Table of Contents ...... iii List of Photos ...... viii List of Figures ...... ix List of Tables ...... xi List of Annexes ...... xii Acronyms and Abbreviations ...... xiii Chapter 1: Introduction ...... 1 1.1 Background ...... 1 1.2 The need for the Study ...... 2 1.3 Objectives of the Study ...... 3 1.4 Scope of the Study ...... 3 1.5 Methodoloy...... 4 1.5.1 Desk Work: Literatures Review, Watershed Delineation , Mappings, and Questionnaire Preparation ...... 5 1.5.2 Field Work: Thematic Map Verification, Sampling, Household Survey, Multi-stakeholder Consultations, Key Informants Interviews ...... 6 1.5.3 Office Work: Data Entry, Processes, Analysis and Report Preparation Stakeholder Consultation Meetings and Report Preparation ...... 9 1.6 Expected Outcome ...... 9 1.7 Sardu Watershed Management Plan: Vision, Mission, Guiding Principles and Objectives ...... 9 1.7.1 Vision ...... 9 1.7.2 Mission ...... 9 1.7.3 Objectives of the Plan ...... 10 1.7.4 Principles of Watershed Management...... 10

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Front.pmd 7 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM Chapter 2: Study Area: Sardu Watershed...... 11 2.1 Introduction ...... 11 2.2 Physiography ...... 11 2.3 Geology ...... 11 2.4 Climate, Drainage Network and Hydrology ...... 13 2.4.1 Climate...... 13 2.4.2 Drainage Networks and Drainage Density: Sardu River System ...... 14 2.5 Socio-economic Profile and Responses ...... 17 2.5.1 Demography and Population Projection ...... 17 2.5.2 Economic Activities, Production, and Food Sufficiency ...... 19 2.5.3 Energy Consumption and Fuel wood Demand Projection...... 23 2.5.4 Awareness and Responses...... 23 2.6 Conclusions ...... 27 Chapter 3: Physical Assessment: Land use, Land capability, Risks and Water Status ...... 29 3.1 Introduction ...... 29 3.2 Land Use Change and Land Capability ...... 29 3.2.1 Landform and Land systems of the Watershed ...... 29 3.2.2 Slope Classes of the Watershed ...... 31 3.2.3 Existing Land use and Land cover (LULC) and Practices ...... 34 3.2.4 Land Use Changes...... 35 3.2.5 Soil loss Prediction from the Watershed ...... 39 3.2.6 Land Capability Classification...... 40 3.3 Climatic Trends and Risks to Disasters ...... 42 3.3.1 The Context ...... 42 3.3.2 Climatic Trends ...... 43 3.3.3 Vulnerable System/Sectors ...... 44 3.3.4 Risks Specific ...... 44

Front.pmd 8 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM 3.3.5 Integration of DRR and CCA ...... 49 3.4 Water Status...... 50 3.4.1 Specific to Water Availability...... 50 3.4.2 Specific to Existing Water Supply System from the Watershed ...... 52 3.4.3 Water Demand and Supply from Sardu Watershed ...... 54 3.4.4 Specific to Water Quality ...... 54 3.5 Conclusions ...... 56 Chapter 4: Bio-diversity Condition in the Watershed ...... 58 4.1 Introduction ...... 58 4.2 Floral Diversity ...... 58 4.3 Fauna Diversity ...... 59 4.4 Conclusions ...... 59 Chapter 5: Economic Valuation of the Services and Major Benefit-Costs...... 60 5.1 Introduction ...... 60 5.2 Economic Valuation: Lessons Learned...... 60 5.2.1 Valuing Goods & Services ...... 61 5.2.2 Valuing Water as a Goods...... 62 5.3 Economic Value of Water and Other Resources from Sardu...... 62 5.4 Major Benefits & Costs...... 63 5.5 Conclusions ...... 64 Chapter 6: Services Management: Gender and Social Inclusions Aspect ...... 65 6.1 Introduction ...... 65 6.2 Gender Role in the Watershed in Different Aspects ...... 65 6.2.1 Household Activities ...... 65 6.2.2 Land Management ...... 66 6.2.3 Conservation and Preservation of the Resources...... 66 6.2.4 Economic Activities ...... 66 6.2.5 Decision Making Process ...... 67

Front.pmd 9 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM 6.3 Reproduction and Health Situation ...... 67 6.4 Land Ownership Situation...... 68 6.5 Ownership of Livestock...... 68 6.6 Involvement in Social Organization ...... 69 6.7 Conclusions ...... 69 Chapter 7: Problems Identification and Analysis of Issues in View of Conservation Aspect ...... 70 7.1 Introduction ...... 70 7.2 The Problems ...... 70 7.3 The Issues ...... 70 7.3.1 Lands, Land Use and Planning ...... 71 7.3.2 Water Source Conservation and Water Supply Management...... 73 7.3.3 Forestry and Bio-diversity ...... 74 7.3.4 Agriculture ...... 75 7.3.5 Disaster Risks Reduction ...... 76 7.4 Conclusions ...... 77 Chapter 8: Proposed Programmes: Locations, Policy, Strategies and Activities ...... 78 8.1 Thoughts ...... 78 8.2 Purpose of the Program...... 78 8.3 Proposed Land use ...... 80 8.4 Proposed Programmes...... 81 8.4.1 Improved Environment forForest Conservation and Rich Biodiversity and for Sediment and Solid Waste Management ...... 81 8.4.2 Soil Conservation, Landslide Control and Flood Management and Land Utilizations...... 83 8.4.3 Stream & Rainwater Harvesting...... 85 8.4.4 Capacity Development Programme (Livelihood Enhancement Program - Poverty Reduction - A Multi-pronged Approach) ...... 86 8.4.5 Open Space and Bare-land Management Programme ...... 87

Front.pmd 10 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM 8.4.6 Tourism Development ...... 88 8.4.7 Promotion Bio-Industrial Watershed ...... 89 8.4.8 Institutional Development, Monitoring and Research...... 91 8.5 Conclusions ...... 92 Chapter 9: Collaborative Approach for Sustainability of the Sardu Watershed Management Through Innovative Scheme...... 93 9.1 Introduction: Major Innovative Financial Mechanisms for Conservation ...... 93 9.1.1 Public Payment Schemes (PPS) ...... 93 9.1.2 Voluntary Contractual Arrangements (VCAs) Named as PES ...... 93 9.2 Local Experience - Nepal’s Initiatives ...... 94 9.3 PES in Sardu Watershed: Results and Discussions ...... 95 9.3.1 General Criteria for PES ...... 95 9.3.2 Feasibility of PES in Sardu Watershed:...... 96 9. 3.3 Discussions ...... 97 9.4 A Framework for PES like Scheme for Sardu Watershed Management ...... 99 9.4.1 Conservation Fund (PES like Scheme) ...... 99 9.4.2 Execution Mechanism for PES like Scheme ...... 100 9.5 Conclusions ...... 101 Chapter 10: Conclusions and Recommendation...... 102 References ...... 103

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Front.pmd 11 5/5/2011, 3:04 PM List of Photos

Photo 1: Watershed Demarcation and Verification Using GIS Maps & GPS, Transect Walk and the Local Consultations ...... 6 Photo 2: Discu