In a bid to ensure the sustainable management and conservation of Phewa Lake and its watershed area, a strong emphasis has been placed on the establishment of an ecological payment mechanism. This recommendation was highlighted during a workshop organized by Innovative Vision Pvt. Ltd., in coordination with Pokhara Metropolitan City, addressing the “Establishment of an Ecological Service Payment Mechanism for the Sustainable Management of Phewa Lake and its Watershed Area.”
Participants of the workshop underscored that only through environmental protection and maintaining ecological balance can the future of Phewa Lake be secured. Pokhara Metropolitan City’s Mayor, Dhanaraj Acharya, stressed that the conservation of Phewa Lake is crucial for future generations, urging all stakeholders to take the issue seriously. He pointed out that uncontrolled human activities are causing the lake to fill up with sediment, calling for effective coordination among all concerned parties to address the issue.
“The lake is filling up with sediment carried from the upper catchment areas,” Mayor Acharya stated. “The metropolitan city has plans to construct sediment control dams in the upper reaches of the lake to prevent further sedimentation.”
Acharya also noted that residents of the lower basin are benefiting more from the lake, suggesting that they should contribute to the conservation of the upper watershed area to ensure environmental protection and livelihoods in the region. During the workshop, Keshal Khanal and Dil Bahadur Bhattarai, members of the study team, presented on the necessity of establishing an ecological service payment mechanism.
They emphasized that implementing such a mechanism could help maintain the balance of the ecological system. Factors such as rural roads constructed without environmental risk assessments, traditional farming methods, unregulated development, increasing pollution, and the growth of invasive species like water hyacinth were identified as key contributors to the shrinking of Phewa Lake.
The workshop concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to work collaboratively toward the sustainable preservation of Phewa Lake through innovative and balanced ecological practices.
