Ecosystem Diversity

The terrestrial ecosystem of Nepal is much too diverse and complex to arrive at a convenient consensus on classification, geographically three broad division of land classification, i.e., mountain, hill, and plain with their associated habitat types would perhaps provide a simple system for classification. The master plan for forestry sector adopted the system prescribed by the land resources mapping project for physiographic classification.

High Himalayas, high mountains, middle mountains, siwalic and Terai stainton classified Nepal into 7 units namely 1. Terai and outer foot hills

2. Western midlands

3. Central midlands

4. East midlands

5. Inner village

6. Humla gumla region and

7. Arid zone.

He identified 35 forest types which includes 6 minor temperate and alpine associations as well. Similarly, dobremez described 40 types of vegetation in has 4 broad phyto-geographic division of Nepal such as western, central, eastern and northwestern region. On the verticality of mountainous regions and their rain shadowed areas.

Wetland habitat in Nepal has not yet been investigated for classification. The flood plains and ox bow lakes in the teria, the glacial ecosystem along river valleys, the mountain lakes ecosystem, and the glacial ecosystem are important areas of wetland biodiversity, and the IUCN. The world conservation union is recently promoting wetlands conservation in its program of national conservation strategy implementation in Nepal.