Healthy Wetlands, Healthy People: Educating and Mobilizing Youths for Reducing Water Pollution and Sedimentation in Lakes of Pokhara Valley, Nepal

Abstract

Pokhara valley consists of nine sub-tropical lakes, with high diversity of flora and fauna. These lakes are used for irrigation, drinking water, fishery and eco-tourism purpose. But the water quality of these lakes is degrading gradually by the intense human activities and their impacts. These lakes are plagued with multiple problems: sedimentation, eutrophication, pollution, encroachment and fish poisoning. The upstream catchments of these lakes have many degraded areas, which serve as sources of sediments in the water body. Wetland Friends of Nepal (WFN) has started healthy wetlands healthy people project since February 2008 to deal with these issues in its capacity.