GIS shape file of Nepal with District | Nepal GIS Map | Nepal Shapefile

Nepal GIS map file is available for download. 

Download Link

Click to Download

General terms of Geographic Information System(GIS) | Terminology of GIS

Glossary of Terms (Part -I)

1. Spatial Data – data with a geographic location, representation, or reference point that it describes. 

2. Cartography – the science of map making, including data inclusion, layout, elements, colors, and design. As much as it’s a science, it’s an art form.

 

3. Shapefile – an Esri proprietary data format for storing geographic data. Very cross-GIS compatible, but limiting in many aspects. Often misused to mean any geographic dataset as in “could you send me that shapefile?” 

4. Layer – multiple meanings in a GIS context: a. The distinct data elements that compose a map document, ordered one on top of the next for GIS drawing order (top is drawn last and seen first) b. A single data element, saved into a GIS file format along with its associated symbology.

5. Scale – the ratio of the size of elements on screen or in print on the map to their size in the real world 

6. Raster – spatial data that stores location based upon a single origin point and a data stream of known width, height, and resolution. Often used for continuous surfaces. a. DEM – Digital Elevation Model. A specific use case of raster data where the pixel value represents the elevation of areas covered by the pixel. Sometime called a DTM (digital terrain model) or DED (digital elevation dataset). 

7. Vector – spatial data that stores location using Cartesian coordinate locations. a. Point – A single spot in (usually) two dimensional space. Attributes represent only that location (and sometimes are inferred to represent nearby locations). b. Line (Polyline) – Multiple points connected to represent all locations in between along the connection. c. Polygon – Multiple polylines connected to create a boundary. Polygon zones are generalized representations where all locations contained within the boundaries are considered to have the same property.

 

8. Coordinate System/Spatial Reference – defines the origin point, coordinate space, and geoid for a dataset’s spatial data a. Datum – the origin point of the coordinate system and information required to accurately define an origin, like a surface model b. Geographic Coordinate System (GCS) – A coordinate system that specifies latitude and longitude as coordinates c. Projected Coordinate System – similar to and includes a GCS. “Projects”/transforms coordinates into a new coordinates system to display a map in 2D space. Sometimes referred to as “the projection” of a dataset. 

9. Resolution – the density of data of a raster dataset or rasterized map document. Sometimes used to mean the density of data in any dataset. For raster datasets, this value is expressed as the length of the side of a pixel (eg: 10m pixels). For rasterized graphic formats, it is most commonly expressed in pixels per inch of paper (ppi) or dots per inch of paper (dpi) and a good target to reach is 300 dpi for clear prints.

10. Geoprocessing – the practice of using GIS tools to process, transform, filter, and query GIS data

Eco-Tourism in Protected areas | Protected areas in Nepal | Economy of protected areas

Protected areas are the designated sites for sustainable management of natural resources. They are cornerstones of conservation in the face of growing global challenges. Th e International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines protected areas as “a clearly defined geographical space, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values” (IUCN). IUCN recognizes six different categories of protected areas, ranging from Strict Nature Reserve and Wilderness Areas (categorized as IUCN category I protected areas) to Protected Areas with Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (categorized as category VI protected area). Th e degree of restrictions is gradually loosening from category I to category VI. Tourism can provide the positive force for the conservation within all these categories of protected areas. Th e protected area is one of the prime destinations for ecotourism in most part of the globe. Protected areas-based ecotourism are initiated with the aim of establishing mutually beneficial relationship between the local people, park authority and tourism. Complex natural, social and economic background appears as a challenge to the establishment of an ideal relationship where all the three fronts of the environment are balanced and there appears the discrepancy between theoretical and real field scenarios. Complexity level is determined by the ability of the local people to harmonize their livelihoods with the development and conservation needs considering the long-term relationship between those issues. In such issues, the government can play an important role to develop the harmonious relationship between different actors involved in protected area-based tourism through policy intervention.

 

Ecotourism

Ecotourism, the nature-oriented niche of tourism, is defined differently by various scholars. The definitions of ecotourism in many cases have been equated with nature-based tourism, support for conservation, sustainable management of the resources and environmental education. According to the Québec declaration on ecotourism adopted in 2002, any form of tourism can be attributed as ecotourism on the basis of five distinct characters viz. nature-based products, minimal impact management, environmental education, contribution to conservation, and contribution to the community (UNEP, 2002). Ecotourism has been recognized by the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP) as one of the sustainable green economy sectors owing to its role in the conservation of local natural, cultural and built resources while maintaining and enhancing the quality of life along with the enhancement of visitors’ experience at destinations. Generally, ecotourism deals with living part of the natural environment with major focus to travel in destinations where flora, fauna or cultural heritages are the primary area of attraction. As ecotourism is taken as the sustainable form of modern tourism, policy guidance plays a key role in making the tourism industry sustainable (World Tourism Organization & United Nations Development Programme, 2017).

Nepal, though small nation is blessed with extreme natural beauty nestling in the lap of mighty Himalayan mountain continuously making it’s effort to develop itself as one of the famous eco-tourism destination of world. This form of tourism is regarded as environment friendly and protection of nature and its habitat. It is powerful tools to engage, encourage and educate local people, tourists, government and private agencies or tourism entrepreneurs to be aware and learn to protect natural resources of the country.

Ecotourism is activities that ensures direct economic benefit to local community and should focus on minimum impact on natural environment and protect the conservation. It also teaches the tourist something about the nature and culture of the area which they visit.  The main focus of Eco-tourism is on those areas which are rich in biodiversity, wildlife and respect cultural heritage.

 

Protected areas of Nepal

The protected areas of Nepal cover mainly forested land and are located at various altitudes in the Terai, in the foothills of the Himalayas and in the mountains, thus encompassing a multitude of landscapes and preserving a vast biodiversity in the Palearctic and Indomalaya ecozones. The protected areas of Nepal cover mainly forested land and are located at various altitudes in the Terai, in the foothills of the Himalayas and in the mountains, thus encompassing a multitude of landscapes and preserving a vast biodiversity in the Palearctic and Indomalayan realms. Nepal covers 147,181 km2 (56,827 sq mi) in the central part of the Himalayas. Altitudes range from 67 m (220 ft) in the south-eastern Terai to 8,848 m (29,029 ft) at Sagarmatha within a short horizontal span. This extreme altitudinal gradient has resulted in 11 bio-climatic zones ranging from lower tropical below 500 m (1,600 ft) to nival above 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in the High Himalayas, encompassing nine terrestrial ecoregions with 36 vegetation types. Botanists recorded 1,120 species of non-flowering plants and 5,160 species of flowering plants. Nepal ranks 10th in terms of richest flowering plant diversity in Asia. Zoologists recorded 181 mammal species, 844 bird species, 100 reptile species, 43 amphibian species, 185 freshwater fish species, and 635 butterfly species. In recognition of the magnitude of biodiversity the Government of Nepal has established a network of 20 protected areas since 1973, consisting of ten national parks, three wildlife reserves, six conservation areas and one hunting reserve.In 2017, the Shuklaphanta and Parsa Wildlife Reserves were upgraded to National Parks. Additionally, nine Ramsar sites were declared between 1988 and 2008.

Ecotourism in Nepalese Perspective

Nepal, a country of cultural and environmental diversity is prime destination for ecotourism. In Nepal ecotourism focuses on meeting the demands of major three dimensions which includes conservation of biodiversity, poverty reduction and promoting the local business using sustainable principles and practices. However, tourism in Nepal is more concentrated towards mountain tourism. Th e government of Nepal has placed emphasis on mountaineering tourism and hence receives more and more tourists day by day for mountaineering purposes, but the most needed things are: the government should focus on sustaining the environment and tourism has to follow the principle of ecotourism.

Table 1: Protected Areas of Nepal

SN	Name		Estd. (AD)	Area Covered (Km2)	Buff er G Zone (Km2)		eographic region	Major Attraction
1	Chitwan NP		1973	952.63	729.37		Terai	Megafauna such as Tiger, Rhino and Birds along with tharu culture
2	Bardia NP		1976	968	507		Terai	Megafauna such as Tiger, Rhino & other mammals and Birds along with Tharu Culture
3	Sagarmatha NP	1976		1148	275		Mountain	Landscape Highest Mountain: Sagarmatha, Scenic Mountain, Himalayan tahr
4	Langtang NP	1976		1710	420		Mountain	Landscape, Musk Deer and other mammals, Trek to Gosaikunda, Helambu and Langtang valley
5	Rara NP	1976		106	198		Mountain	Rara Lake, landscape
6	Shey Phoksundo NP	1984		3555	1349		Mountain	Phoksundo Lake, Shey Monastery, Landscape, Snow leopard, blue sheep
7	Khaptad NP	1984		225	216		Mountain	Landscape,
8	Makalu Barun NP	1991		1500	830		Mountain	Landscape,
9	Shivapuri NP	2002		159	118.61		Midhills	Birds
10	Banke NP	2010		550	343		Terai	Tiger
11	Sukhlaphanta NP	1976 (2017*)		305	243.5		Terai	Barasingha
12	Parsa NP	1984 (2017*)		627.39	285.30		Terai	Tiger
SN	Name		Estd. (AD)	Area Covered (Km2)	Buff er Zone (Km2)		Geographic region	Major Attraction
13	Koshi Tappu WR		1976	175	173		Terai	Wild water buff alo
14	Annapurna CA		1992	7629	-		Mountain	Mountain range, Gurung culture, Snow leopard, blue sheep
15	Dhorpatan HR		1987	1325	-		Mountain	Wildlife hunting, landscape,
16	Manaslu CA		1998	1663	-		Mountain	Landscape
17	Kanchanjunga CA		1997	2035	-		Mountain	Landscape, Snow leopard, blue sheep
18	Api Nampa CA		2010	1903	-		Mountain	Landscape
19	Gaurishankar CA		2010	2179	-		Mountain	Redpanda, Landscape
20	Krishnashar CA		2009	16.95	-	Terai		Blackbuck

* Upgraded to National Parks, NP : National Parks, HR= Hunting Reserve, WR= Wildlife Reserve, CA= Conservation Area

 

 

Tourist in Protected areas of Nepal

Majority of the tourist arriving in Nepal visit the protected areas. Th e proportion of the tourist visiting the protected areas of Nepal with reference to total tourist entering the country was found to be 48.48%. Th e proportion of total foreign visitors to the visitors visiting the protected areas of Nepal was found to increase gradually. In Nepal, twenty protected of different categories are established but tourist flow in three different protected areas outnumber rest seventeen protected areas by a million mile.

Table 3: Summary of Tourist flow in Selected protected areas

Chitwan Bardia Langtang Sagarmatha                                NP          NP          NP              NP					Shivapuri Nagarjun NP	Annapurna CA
Mean	127000	9019	9496	31700	129800	90760
Std. Deviation	39920	4966	3450	6599	48320	31530
Range	123800	16570	10090	25010	161900	108400
Minimum	54450	1394	4230	20100	43800	36000
Maximum	178300	17960	14320	45110	205700	144400

NP= National Park, CA= Conservation Area (Data source: Annual Report 2018,

DNPWC)

 

References

Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. (2016). Sagarmatha National Park and Its Buff er Zone Management Plan 2016-2020.

Ecotourism in protected areas chances and threats, Aleksandra Machnik, 2006

Tourism in Protected Areas and Appraisal of Ecotourism in Nepalese Policies, Chandramani Aryal, Bina Ghimire, Narayan Niraula, 2019

Research on Internet based Google search.

Corona virus and It's impact on Environment

Generally, virus are the small microscopic parasites much smaller than bacteria. They have tendency to replicate only inside the living host. They are the small piece of organic material that causes diseases in humans, animals, and other living creatures. At first, they infect cells and gets multiply only inside infected cells. Normally, Antibiotics don't show any positive reaction towards the virus illness.

          It brings infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Although, much more information can't get about it, it takes many years to say confidently that what type of virus is it and what's the main characteristics of it. The research takes many years to find out the real fact about it. Now it's going to be the epidemic all over the world. It brought a much more serious condition in many developed countries. Many people died because of the corona virus. It is said that, corona virus is the family of virus, that ranges from common cold to Middle East Respiratory syndromes(MARS) and Severe Acute Respiratory syndromes (SARS) corona virus.

          It is assumed that, corona virus is originated from china, from the avian and mammalian species (I.e: Bat). Then it is circulated to humans through the animals. Corona viruses generally causes Respiratory Syndromes. So, we should keep ourselves healthy and adopt the basic hand hygiene such as: washing the hands with soap and detergents, and maintain the social distance from anyone to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Transmission takes place generally via: airborne droplets to the nasal mucosa. Then it causes the cell damage and inflammation. Incidence peaks in the winter season. This virus is difficult to isolate. Now, polymerase chain reaction(PCR) are being introduced.

  

        

             Now, we have seen that many people have died. it's pandemic has affected human life very badly. The hospitals are going to be crowded, there is no much more space and safety equipment to treat the large suffering infected people. In developed countries, the peoples, who are newly adopted are going to be jobless due to the unsecure life and the government also said that, they don't take responsibility of those peoples. And, in under-developing countries, like-Nepal, the people are facing the famishment or starvation due to the poverty and poor condition of family background. In most of the country, it brings economic disaster, depression in most of the citizens. Many people are not allowed to go to their proper destination due to the fear of spreading of the viruses. All the schools, colleges, universities are closed, this will result obviously delay in the education system of the country. Almost all the government related offices, institutions, factories, industries, works are also remain closed, this will also hamper in the revenue collection or brings economic imbalance in the country. It is believed that, significant drop of the virus has been noted in many parts of the world. So, lockdown and self -quarantine have been developed to slow down the spreading of the virus, which brings the stress in many peoples. Besides the negative impacts, somewhat it has also the positive aspect in the environment. Due to the closedown of the schools, factories, industries and vehicles, there is the low emission of the carbon, which is the main element for the greenhouse gases. people can get fresh air and can view the clean environment in the most crowded cities living inside the home. The natural resources remain non degrade due to the closedown of all the economic sources.

Guest Post by Sreejana Panthi

Environmental Education In Nepal

‘Environmental Education’ is a term that has gained much currency in academic institutions in Nepal over the past decade. Young students are introduced to it early in school and scholars go on to pursue it for a doctoral degree. But the words in this term, used in conjunction with each other, have barely acquired meaning in the real world; they ring empty when we think of the stench of our streets and the complaining but inactive citizens that walk upon them.

Environmental Education is meant to promote education through and for the environment, with a main objective to garner protection and conservation. The teaching of the subject at various levels in schools, however, does not seem to have evinced such interests.

Students find better avenues instead through eco-clubs and annual campaigns on World Environment Day where they participate in recycling, tree planting, cleaning localities, essay competitions and animal-feeding programs.

But these may not be enough, for it is apparent that complex issues such as conservation of resources, consequences of climate change and global warming have prominently emerged; a school curriculum for secondary education that does not address these is surely a matter of concern.

Environmental Education 

What is the scope of environmental science in Nepal?

Environment science is no doubt one of the good interdisciplinary science subject.

In this topic I want to lighten on one of the branch of undergraduate engineering degree with least of student awareness in Nepal “Environmental Engineering” related to Environmental science. The field focuses on design of technology for improving environmental quality.

Basically Environmental engineering includes study of pollutants fate and transport in environment , on basis of engineering technique and knowledge about environmental parameters they design of air pollution control system and modules pollutants flow behavior and chemical exchange in air and water, recycle and upcycle of waste water into its natural form, converting waste as source of energy, analysing proper site for hazardous waste management and monitering environment hygiene, municipal water supply design, optimization and treatment , wastershed management, toxic contaminated site remidiation , disaster risk assessment and prediction, study of impact in Environment due to any new project and product’s life cycle, …etc. climate dynamics, ozone depletion, alternative energy are some of the new on going research falls under realm of environmental engineering.

The major task of this profession is to protect public health by preserving and enhancing the Environment.

Those who have a strong commitment to the environment can make a successful career in this field. Environmental engineers are broadly educated and technically trained in the environmental field to address the spectrum of issues facing the environment.

The curriculum subjects of study includes not only mathematics, physics, chemistry and engineering design but a range of disciplines like biology, microbiology, ecology, public health, geology, meteorology(atmospheric science) and computer modeling that provide interdisciplinary knowledge to combat complex environment problem.

Career Prospects

Ample job opportunities are available for environmental engineers and their duties vary depending on the project and may include collecting and analyzing data using scientific procedure.

These professionals are recruited as central and state pollution control boards and several NGOs in every state who are up in arms against all forms of environmental pollution.

Environmental engineers can work as consultants, helping their clients to comply with regulations and to clean up hazardous sites. Distilleries, fertilizers plants, textile mills, water treatment industries, refineries, mines, cement industries, oil and gas company,.. etc. are industries use the service of environmental engineers. They also work and assist many other engineers to make there design environmental sustainable.

Therefore, I think environmental science has a lot of scope in Nepal. You may be able to find employment in the government, in non-government organizations (NGOs), or in the private sector (with environmentally responsible companies). You can also start your own NGO.

Institutions providing degree in Environmental Science:

School of Environmental Science and Management (PoU)

Department of Environmental Science and Engineering (KU)

Central Department of Environmental Science (CDES) TU

Masters in Environmental Administration and Management(PU)

Source / Reference:

1.    Shahi, Pragati and Raut, Sukriti(2011),"Textbooks of yore", The Kathmandu Post, 10 June 2011

2.    Study Experience and Internet Research