Environment and poverty nexus: context of Nepal

The downward spiral of poverty and environment is reflected in Nepal. Major environmental endowments that attract the poverty analysis include the water, forest and land. The inextricable linkage of the poor with these three environmental endowments determines the entire gamut of relationship. Dependency of poor people in the forest water and land resources for survival strategy has year’s long history. Rural people make survival strategies basically establishing a qualitative relationship with available land, water and forest resources. Poor people are highly dependent on land, water, wood, fuel and clean air. The state of the natural environment is therefore central to the livelihoods, health and security of millions of people living in poverty and therefore to pro-poor growth. The environment of Nepal is characterized by deforestation, over use of limited available lands for agricultural purpose. High population pressure in arable land , increasing congestion in urban centers which are further deteriorated by unplanned growth, and increasing problems of waste disposal and pollution. Environmental degradation for example loss of fresh water and land scarcity increases marginalization of the poor people whose survival strategies mainly depend on these resources. This marginalization has a gender face.