The document discusses environmental management in Nepal, particularly focusing on the challenges of scientific and non-scientific approaches. It highlights issues like deforestation and air pollution, emphasizing that despite scientific efforts, significant environmental problems persist. The text also mentions the role of community forestry user groups and encourages ethical considerations in environmental practices.

1. MAKING A BETTER WORLD… ENVIRONMENTALLY…
AMULYA RATNA TULADHAR
PROFESSOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, GGIC, 2017
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3. MAKING A BETTER WORLD… ENVIRONMENTALLY…ETC
• How ??
• Science
• Non_Science too
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4. Non_Science Environmental Management:
Taudaha Lake Management
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5. My Boyhood Wonder about Taudaha:
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6. Science vs Non_Science Environmental
Management
• Are Scientific Management of Environment ALWAYS BETTER?
• Problem: Forest Management of Nepal:
• 1950-94:
• Nearly 50 years: 1957 Private Forest Nationalization Act to 1993 Forest Act
• Net deforestation, despite all use of Scientific Rationality
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7. State of Nepal’s Forests, DFRS 2015
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8. Scientific Forest Management: 1
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9. Scientific Forest Management: 2
Operational plan: A legal document prepared by user groups for the
management of a particular forest area under their jurisdiction and
approved by the DFO. The plan guides the management of a particular
community forest normally for five to ten years.
Process of handing over community forests to user groups
1. A letter of interest is given to the DFO
2. Investigation for handing over
3. User group formation
4. Operational plan preparation
5. Handing over of the forest
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10. Scientific Forest Management: 3
Latest Government stat: 18000+ Community Forestry User
Groups in 2014,
Source: State of Nepal’s Forests, 2015
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11. Scientific Forest Management: 4 More…
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12. Scientific Forest Management: 5 More…
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13. Latest April 26 Air Pollution: Still too high = 32
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14. Air Pollution Five times more than WHO safety levels, Baisakh 1, 2074
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15. “Killer Pollutant” in KTM
• Causes ~3400 premature
deaths/yr in Kathmandu
Valley (18% of total deaths)
• Impairs visibility
(blue → white sky)
• Alters Earth’s radiative
balance (reg’l climate
change)
• Affects cloud properties &
monsoon (droughts, floods)
Fine Particulate
Matter (PM2.5)
PM2.5 in Smogmandu
• Annual-average concentration = 49.1 µg/m3
• Almost 5× above WHO guideline (ranks #261 in world)
• Except during rainy season, rarely in compliance with Nepal’s
national ambient air quality standard
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16. Drishti Kathmandu
?
Main Sources of PM2.5 in Smogmandu
16Gensets
Photo: Jitendra Bajracharya Vehicles
Photo: Prakash Bhave
Open Burning
Photo: A.K Thaku
Brick KilnsPhoto: www.rfa.org
Construction
& Road Dust

17. Drishti Kathmandu
Recap: What I Can Do
8. Wear a mask
7. Use air filters
6. Buy a newspaper
5. Drive less
4. Organize a neighborhood yard waste pickup
3. Extinguish garbage fires
2. Routinely service a high-emitting motorbike
1. Effect government action

18. Scientific and Non_Science Forest Management: Wonder and Respect…
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19. Scientific and Non_Science Forest Management: Wonder and Science…
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20. Scientific and Non_Science Forest Management: Environmental Ethics…
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21. Environmental Ethics: Expansion of Concern: Self to Universe…
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22. Arne Naess
– Norwegian
philosopher
• “Deep Ecology” Movement – figured
out while wondering about the
dynamics of ecological activism
• Philosophical-sociocultural-political
• 8 main principles: (link)
• Name TWO HIGHLY VALUED SOCIAL
PRACTICES ARE REPRESENTED IN THAT
LINK?
THINK OF YOUR LOCAL WORLD…AND THE WIDER WORLD:
• What is a “vital need?” What isn’t one? Who would
decide?
• Which nations or groups of people will likely be expected
to be the first to reduce the number of children they have
in order to help other species “flourish?”
• What will be the first to go in Economics? Technology?
• How do we change our western standard of living? Do we
aim to become more like other cultures?
ARE WE, therefore, SUBJECT TO THE CONTROLS WE PLACE
ON ANIMALS AT PRESENT?
(gfx.dagbladet.no/kultur/2004/12/06/arne1.jpg)
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23. Master’s Training: Keys (Theories) not Houses (Data)
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24. Masters: Learning to Fail and Experiment…
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