24.7 terai region of Nepal

Question 1

where is it

Answer 1

the Terai region stretches along Nepal’s southern border with India

Question 2

what is the Terai region defined by

Answer 2

The terai lowlands are defined by a belt of well-watered floodplains

Question 3

describe the Terai region

Answer 3

• hot/humid in the summer
• fertile alluvial soil (rich in plant nutrients)
• extreme biodiversity
• subtropical plants
• large areas of thick forest

Question 4

what has happened to the forests in the Terai region (why?effects?)

Answer 4

• important source of national income
• due to poverty/corruption large areas have been cleared for agriculture of timber
• worsened effects of monsoon flooding = disrupts communities downstream

Question 5

how is sustainable forest management being achieved

Answer 5

through supportive national legislation and the development of local community forestry groups who have their own operational plans, harvesting rules, set rates/prices fro product and how surplus income is distributed/spent

Question 6

what are the successes for the forestry groups (6)

Answer 6

• improvement in the conservation of forested regions (increased area + improved density)
• improved soil and water management
• increase in retail price of forestry products = greater economic input to the region
• employment/income generation due to forest protection and production of non-timber forest products
• sustainable wood fuel sources
• securing biodiversity of forested areas

Question 7

what are the management strategies for sustainable land use (6)

Answer 7

• promoting production of fruits/vegetables in the hills and mountain regions
• improving irrigation facilities (enhance crop production)
• multiple cropping
• growth of nitrogen-fixing crops (enhance soil fertility)
• growing crop varieties resistant to various soil, climatic and biotic challenges by using modern biotechnology/genetic engineering
• improving fertilisation techniques to enhance crop yields