The Alliance for Integrated Development (AID-Nepal) works to protect and manage the resources of Nepal’s largest human-made wetland ecosystem. Organic farming and restoration efforts conserve biodiversity in the area, of birds in particular, and support sustainable livelihood options.

Nature-based Intervention:

The Alliance for Integrated Development (AID-Nepal) works to maintain biodiversity in the Jagadishpur wetland and create sustainable livelihood options for surrounding communities. The main activities implemented include organic farming, riverbank restoration and reforestation, anti-poaching, sustainable livelihoods, and developing ecotourism. The organic farming practices implemented focus on reducing reliance on chemical fertilisers and integrated pest management, providing technical, in-the-field training to support the implementation of these practices. These efforts all serve to support sustainable livelihood options for surrounding communities and have a particular focus on conserving the variety of birdlife in the wetland, including endangered vultures and cranes.

Overview of context and outcomes:

The Jagadishpur wetland is the largest human-made wetland area in Nepal covering an area of 2.25 square kilometres. It was initially constructed in 1972 for irrigation purposes but was later declared a Ramsar site in 2003. The wetland provides important ecological functions and serves as habitat for wildlife, especially birds, while also harbouring water to irrigate more than 6,200 hectares of surrounding agricultural land. The integrity of the wetland is threatened by overexploitation through sand extraction, poaching, land conversion, deforestation, water pollution from inorganic agricultural runoff, and invasive alien species. Furthermore, the wetland is classified as being in a “submerged succession stage,” a stage in a natural transition of open water to swamp to dry woodland. Although part of a natural transition process, this risks disrupting the water security of surrounding farms.