Plant Diversity Conservation in the Nepal Himalaya: Status, Policies, and Legislative Frameworks

Plant diversity refers to the extent of genetic variability within species, the abundance of different species across all living organisms (including microscopic organisms, animals, and plants) present on our planet, and the wide array of diverse ecosystems (communities of organisms that interact with each other in a specific habitat) that exist in terrestrial, marine, and aquatic environments. The biological classification of organisms would be considered incomplete in the absence of plant diversity. Wild species have a crucial role in supporting the livelihoods of a significant worldwide population, as they provide many benefits such as sustenance, medicinal resources, fiber, energy, income, and other necessary materials. This chapter provides an in-depth review of the philosophical as well as historical underpinnings of conservation, the current state of biodiversity, and the primary factors posing significant risks to it. Additionally, it evaluates the legal structures governing the conservation of plant diversity in Nepal while also addressing the obstacles and potential advantages associated with the implementation of these legislative frameworks. The information was collected primarily from a review of literature, both published and unpublished sources, as well as the authors’ extensive experience working at the science-policy interface. Nepal has positioned itself as a leader in this effort by actively developing and implementing legal frameworks at the country and regional levels. The majority of Nepal’s legislative frameworks for plant conservation are created by the country’s participation in international environmental agreements, such as conventions and treaties. These frameworks are further influenced by the regional geopolitical landscape, transboundary collaborations, and the national socio-ecological and political context. Nepal’s legal frameworks encompass the Constitution of Nepal, along with many statutes, policies, strategies, plans, and associated policy papers at both national and sub-national levels. In Nepal, all provinces have created acts or bills pertaining to sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity, but only a small number of rural municipalities, known as palikas in Nepali, have tackled aspects of biodiversity. Nepal’s three levels of government, as well as many people in society, need to work together and get political recognition in order to protect genetic resources, use them in a way that doesn’t harm the environment, and make sure that everyone gets a fair share of the benefits that come with them. It is recommended to utilize the legal frameworks of Nepal in order to facilitate and advance the execution of international commitments and also national policies, acts, strategies, and action plans by means of integrating them into sub-national levels. Legal frameworks relating to plant biodiversity conservation must also be formulated using traditional ecological knowledge and implemented in accordance with relevant international multilateral agreements. However, full implementation of legal frameworks in plant conservation requires sincere political commitment, mainstreaming conservation issues into relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral thematic areas, the availability of necessary financial resources, and increased collaboration, cooperation, and synergy among international and national stakeholders. This will provide opportunities for biodiversity conservation by addressing technical, environmental, social, economic, cultural, customary, governance, and institutional aspects, as well as promoting international and transboundary regional cooperation.