An Overture for eCAM: Science, Technology and Innovation Initiation for Prosperous, Healthy Nepal

Nepal the “Shangri-La” in the lap of the Himalayas is gearing up for modern times as it starts rebuilding after a decade of senseless violence and destruction. The nation one of the poorest in the global development index is rich in natural resources and biodiversity. Reports of medicinal plants far exceeding those recorded and reported so far are encouraging and at the same time concerns for medicinal plants under threat as a result of overexploitation are emerging from Nepal. The harsh mountain terrains, lack of industrialization and harnessing potentiality of its areas of strength; water; natural resources and tourism make it poor in per capita income which averages ~ 300 US$, with half the population living under >1$ a day. Nepal is beginning to realize that the way ahead is only possible through the path of Science and Technology (ST). Nepal Academy of Science and Technology formerly known as Royal Academy of Science and Technology organized the fifth national conference held every 4 years that took place in the capital Kathmandu during November 10-12, 2008. The ST initiation event saw the participation of ~ 1400 people representing over 150 organizations from the country and experts from abroad. The theme for the fifth national meet was “Science, Technology and Innovation for Prosperous Nepal”. Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) was an important theme in the event as the realization for the need of ST research focused in CAM for harnessing the chemo diversity potential was univocally approved

The COVID‐19 Pandemic Not Only Poses Challenges, but Also Opens Opportunities for Sustainable Transformation

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted social, economic, and environmental systems worldwide, slowing down and reversing the progress made in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). SDGs belong to the 2030 Agenda to transform our world by tackling humankind's challenges to ensure well-being, economic prosperity, and environmental protection. We explore the potential impacts of the pandemic on SDGs for Nepal. We followed a knowledge co-creation process with experts from various professional backgrounds, involving five steps: online survey, online workshop, assessment of expert's opinions, review and validation, and revision and synthesis. The pandemic has negatively impacted most SDGs in the short term. Particularly, the targets of SDG 1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 13 have and will continue to have weakly to moderately restricting impacts. However, a few targets of SDG 2, 3, 6, and 11 could also have weakly promoting impacts. The negative impacts have resulted from impeding factors linked to the pandemic. Many of the negative impacts may subside in the medium and long terms. The key five impeding factors are lockdowns, underemployment and unemployment, closure of institutions and facilities, diluted focus and funds for non-COVID-19-related issues, and anticipated reduction in support from development partners. The pandemic has also opened a window of opportunity for sustainable transformation, which is short-lived and narrow. These opportunities are lessons learned for planning and action, socio-economic recovery plan, use of information and communication technologies and the digital economy, reverse migration and “brain gain,” and local governments' exercising authorities

Development Perspectives of Manufacturing Industriesin Nepal

This article aims to study relationship between national accounts with industrial growth in Nepal. Qualitative and Quantitative model was used. Timeline data were analyzed to test hypothesis between variables. Data were taken through Key Informant Interviews (KII) and Secondary Review. MS-Excel, and SPSS 21 version were used to enter and analyze data. New terms-inclusiveness, equality and sustainability were clearly undertaken in national development plans since 1956. Newer plans were found undertaking fancy global perspectives without considering national resources and capacity to implement. 74% variability in total industrial employment was brought about by manufacturing with Pearson coefficient 0,865 at 99 % CI. Manufacturing has decreasing trend in its sectorial contribution to GDP, however found positive strong correlation of 0,737 with the GDP growth and per capita GDP. Manufacturing sector have scope to drive national development goal of Nepal. Keywords:  Manufacturing industry, industrial growth, development perspectives, economic development, regression.Este artículo tiene como objetivo estudiar la relación entre las cuentas nacionales con el crecimiento industrial en Nepal, a través de un estudio de enfoque cualitativo y cuantitativo. Los datos de la línea de tiempo se analizaron para probar la hipótesis entre las variables, los cuales se tomaron a través de entrevistas con informantes clave (KII) y revisión secundaria, y se analizaron por medio de los programas MS-Excel y la versión SPSS 21. Los términos inclusión, igualdad y sostenibilidad se asumieron claramente en los planes nacionales de desarrollo desde 1956, a su vez que se encontraron planes  nuevos que adoptaban perspectivas mundiales sofisticadas sin considerar los recursos nacionales y la capacidad para implementarlos. La industria manufacturera, medida con el coeficiente de Pearson 0,865 al 99% CI produjo una variabilidad del 74% en el empleo industrial total. Adicionalmente, la industria manufacturera tiene una tendencia decreciente en su contribución sectorial al PIB, sin embargo, encontró una fuerte correlación positiva de 0,737 con el crecimiento del PIB y el PIB per cápita. Por último, el sector manufacturero tiene alcance para impulsar el objetivo de desarrollo nacional de Nepal. Palabras claves: Industria manufacturera, crecimiento industrial, perspectivas de desarrollo, crecimiento económico, regresión

Responses of Montane Forest to Climate Variability in the Central Himalayas of Nepal

Climate changes are having dramatic ecological impacts in mid- to high-latitude mountain ranges where growth conditions are limited by climatic variables such as duration of growing season, moisture, and ambient temperature. We document patterns of forest vegetative response for 5 major alpine forest communities to current climate variability in the central Himalayas of Nepal to provide a baseline for assessment of future changes, as well as offer some insight into the trajectory of these changes over time. We used mean monthly surface air temperature and rainfall and the monthly averaged normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) to compare relative vegetation productivity among forest types and in relation to both climatic variables. Because changes in temperature and precipitation are directly manifested as changes in phenology, we examined current vegetative responses to climate variability in an effort to determine which climate variable is most critical for different alpine forest types. Our results show that correlations differ according to vegetation type and confirm that both precipitation and temperature affect monthly NDVI values, though more significant correlations were found with temperature data. The temperature response was more consistent because at the maximum increased temperatures, there was still an ongoing increase in vegetative vigor. This indicates that temperature is still the major limiting factor for plant growth at higher-elevation sites. This part of the Himalayas has abundant moisture, and some forest types are already saturated in terms of growth in relation to precipitation. Clear increases in productivity are documented on the upper treeline ecotones, and these systems are likely to continue to have increasing growth rates

Land-use change under a warming climate facilitated upslope expansion of Himalayan silver fir (Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Spach)

Global warming is triggering some species to shift towards the poles or higher elevations, but spatial translocation is also influenced by land-use regime or intensity. The Himalayan climate is getting warmer and land use has changed, reducing in intensity in some areas. We estimated the upper species limit (USL) and tree limit of Abies spectabilis (D. Don) Spach and assessed whether these have changed over recent years. We hypothesise an upslope shift in response to enhanced temperature and changes in land-use intensity. Our four transects were located in treeline ecotones of two protected areas in Nepal, namely Manaslu Conservation Area (3 transects) and Gaurishankar Conservation Area (1 transect). Transects (20 m wide) ran from the USL of A. spectabilis down towards the treeline and beyond to the forest line. Length of each transect varied depending on local conditions. Co-ordinates, elevation, height and age of each A. spectabilis individual along the transects were recorded. We noted an upward shift of both the USL and the tree limit. The rate of shift was ca. 20 m per decade for the USL and 12 m per decade for the tree limit in the area of reduced land-use intensity and in the area with no change in land use, 5 m per decade for the USL, but almost nil for tree limit. The seedling density was higher below the treeline than above. Reduced intensity of land use was the dominant factor in upslope shift of A. spectabilis at both the USL and the tree limit