Shree Kumar Maharjan, Ph.D. International Cooperation Studies

Chitwan District: The King of Agritourism Destination Shree Kumar Maharjan M.Sc. Ag. Conservation Ecology Email: skmah70@hotmail.com Introduction Nepal, with its varied landscape, multiethnic composition and culture, variety of fauna and flora, high rugged Himalayan Mountains and numerous lakes and rivers, has attracted travelers since the inception of tourism in 1960. Nepal’s combination of world-class cultural and natural tourism attractions is well suited for international tourism including the seven World heritage sites of Kathmandu valley, Lumbini, Birthplace of Lord Buddha, Royal Chitwan National Park and Sagarmatha National Park. It has well established nature and adventure products include wildlife viewing, trekking, mountaineering and rafting, all of high international standards. Current domestic visitor patterns still remain closely connected with religious and family activities. HMG recognizes tourism as a priority sector. The tourism sector is considered as a key to streng

Shree Kumar Maharjan Published in “Nepal Travel and Trade Reporter” Vol X, Issue 16, pp 26-29 on 09-15 April, 2007 Wetland is geographic area with characteristics of both dry land and wet with water. Wetlands provide habitat for a wide variety of plants, invertebrates, fish, and larger animals, including many rare, threatened, or endangered species. The plants and animals found in wetlands include both those that are able to live on dry land or in the water and those that can live only in a wet environment. There are three general categories of wetlands: marshes, swamps, and peat lands. Within each of these categories, wetlands may vary widely. Because wetlands depend on water sources, their boundaries can change. The characteristics that describe each category include vegetation, soil type, water supply, and water chemistry. There are four types of wetland ownership occur in Nepal: 1. State ownership - wetlands lying within forest areas are owned by the MFSC. 2. Gazetted land ownershi