Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 1

Experts today urged awareness among people on the preservation of wetlands, the only water resource in the country, and stressed the need for identifying other wetland areas in Nepal.

Speaking at an interaction on preservation of wetlands, jointly organised by Nepal Federation of Environmental Journalists and IUCN — the world conservation unit — on the eve of World Wetland Day, Dr Dinesh Raj Bhuju of Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology said wetlands of the Chure Mountain range should be saved.

Expert on wetlands Dr Binod Bhatta said local representation in the conservation of wetlands should be increased and awareness created on the importance of the same. Shyam Bajimaya, an ecologist at the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, said the local people living in the wetland areas have been using land for their personal gains as they lack knowledge on its importance.