KATHMANDU: Though it appears to be a small country in the globe, Nepal boasts of more than 5,300 lakes, if a recent study of researchers is to be believed.

The study was conducted by the researchers of Nepal Lake Conservation Development

Committee (NLCDC) — a government body established under

the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation in 2006. Experts from Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and National Trust for Nature Conservation were also among the researchers.

“The initial study showed altogether 5,358 lakes across the country,” said Ukesh Raj Bhuju, one of the researchers, adding that the same was hitherto unknown due to lack of comprehensive research.

“In fact, this is the major

work we have done in these three years. It’ll be a milestone for the baseline data of lakes in Nepal,” said Shailendra Pokhrel, programme coordinator, NLCDC.

“Although lakes comprise just three per cent of available water

in the country, the conservation

efforts are far from satisfying,” added Pokhrel.

In 2001, a report published by the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) had stated that there were 2,323 glacial lakes in Nepal. While, the exact number of lakes in hills and the Tarai was missing.

“The status of lakes in the mid-hills was unknown as no research was conducted in the past,” said Bhuju, explaining that the present study seconded the same ICIMOD data of the high mountain. “While, our study also discovered more than 2,200 lakes in the Tarai and about 800 in Mid-hills.”

The research is part of government plan to prepare a National Lakes Conservation and Development Strategy. “Lake Conservation Strategic Plan will result in a five-year work plan with a long-term vision within the framework of the country’s National Development Plan and the Nepal Biodiversity Strategy,” added Bhuju.

Nine of the lakes — Rara, Beeshhazari, Koshitappu, Gokyo, Gosainkunda, Shey Phoksundo, Jagdishpur, GhodaGhodi and Maipokhari have already been designated as Ramsar Site. The convention held in 1971 at Ramsar of Iran aims for protecting the lakes all over the world which was ratified by Nepal in 1987. Altogether 1,847 sites have been enlisted under Ramsar Site, which is also known as The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to purpose the lakes of Pokhara to be listed on Ramsar site. “All the nine lakes of Kaski district will be purposed for the Ramsar site as the cluster,” said Pokhrel, adding that necessary efforts were already underway for the same.