Countries - forest facts by country

Forests and the forestry sector

Resources
Nepal has 27.3 percent forest cover (3.9 million hectares), although at least one-quarter of the forest area is heavily degraded. Although most of Nepal lies within the subtropical monsoon climatic region, the wide range of topographic conditions allows for a variety of forest types. The distribution of natural forests generally follows altitudinal zones. The most common, below 1 000 m, are tropical sal forests, predominantly of Shorea robusta.

Subtropical forests occur between 1 000 and 2 000 m, and may be coniferous or broadleaved. The principal coniferous species is chir pine (Pinus roxburghii). The broadleaved forest is a mix of mainly chestnuts, alders and chilaune (Schima wallichii). Temperate forests, between 2 000 and 3 000 m, include a mix of oak, pine and rhododendron. Sub-alpine forests are found from around 3 000 m up to 4 200 m, with a mix of firs, beech, rhododendron and juniper.

Nepal has a modest area of plantation forest (133 000 ha). Almost 15 percent of the country¿s land area is in national parks, wildlife reserves or conservation areas.

Products
Domestic fuelwood is a major source of domestic energy. Mills producing sawnwood and wood-based panels are small and labour intensive and face material shortages. The paper industry uses non-wood fibres, mainly sabai grass and straw.

Nepal¿s important non-wood forest products include medicinal and aromatic plants, lotka paper, pine resin, fodder, grasses for thatching, matting and rope making, lemongrass and essential oils.

Community forestry
Nepal has been a global leader in community forestry for the past 25 years. More than 10 000 forest user groups have been formed in the country, and more than 1.1 million hectares of forest have been ¿handed over¿ to the user groups under this progressive approach.

Although the country¿s forest cover declined by 1.8 percent annually between 1990 and 2000, some studies have indicated an increase in the number of trees, explained by the progress in community forestry, farm forestry and agroforestry.

Last updated: April 2002