+443308187254Yubaraj Satyal, Jeevan Thapa and Rojani Manandhar
The research was focused on the conversion and restoration mechanism of Rupa Lake Watershed. The whole watershed conserved for the better protection and conservation of lake. Rupa Lake area was shrinking due to siltation in the inlet. Nearby villages completely isolated from the lake and its natural services as irrigation from lake and fishing. The degrading watershed environment, pitiful condition of Rupa Lake and the low economic condition of the local community has now improved with the intervention of Rupa Lake Conservation and Fishery Development Cooperative and thus recuperated positive changes in their livelihood. The establishment of cooperative has helped lake to gain its natural beauty too. The concept of climate resilience was applied to promote the catchment protection from changing climate and its vulnerability. The cooperative developed a reciprocal benefit sharing mechanism between upstream and downstream members of the co-operatives. Downstream communities used funds raised through the cultivation, fish and other farming products to compensate upstream communities. These includes reforestation of degraded and eroded lands, which helped to reduce the amount of soil erosion and increased soil content for planting; Construction of gabions and loose stone check dams helped to prevent sediment from entering the lake, thereby improving water quality; which helped to retain moisture and organic content in the soil. Similarly, organic farming initiated in watershed farm land to discourage the use of harmful pesticides that has ultimately improved Lake and maintained its floral and faunal biodiversity.
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