Current Situation of Forest Resources in Nepal [Updated 2024]

Current Situation of Forest Resources:

In Nepal, forests cover about 59,624 square kilometers, which is 40.36% of the country's total land area. Additionally, shrubland spans 6,447 square kilometers (4.37%), making the combined forest and shrubland coverage 44.73% of the total area​ (World Resources Institute)​. This equates to roughly 0.2 hectares of forest per person and approximately 111 trees per person.

The mid-hill region of Nepal boasts the highest forest coverage, while the Terai region has the least. This distribution is crucial for understanding regional conservation strategies and biodiversity management.

Forest Resources in Nepal

Indicator	Global	Nepal
Forest Coverage (% of total)	31%	40.36%
Forest Area (sq. km)	4,060,000,000	59,624
Shrubland Coverage (% of total)	-	4.37%
Total Trees per Person	422	111
Protected Areas (% of total)	-	23.3%
Deforestation Rate (%)	-	1.7%
Annual Tree Cover Loss (2022, hectares)	11.1 million	-

Source: Global: Global Forest Watch​​, Nepal: FAO​, 2024

Protected Areas in Nepal

Nepal has established a network of protected areas covering about 23.3% of its total land area. This network includes:

• 12 National Parks
• 1 Wildlife Reserve (Koshi Tappu)
• 1 Hunting Reserve (Dhorpatan)
• 5 Conservation Areas (Apinampa, Krishnasar, Annapurna, Manaslu, and Gaurishankar)
• 1 Conservation Area (Kanchanjunga) managed by local communities

These areas are preserved through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, and the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), highlighting Nepal’s commitment to biodiversity and environmental conservation​ (Global Forest Watch)​.