Nepal’s wetlands are under pressure. Migratory birds are losing safe havens
Summary
Nepal’s wetlands are losing migratory birds as habitat destruction, pollution, encroachment and land-use change intensify across key sites. Conservationists say the country must protect wetlands as part of wider flyway networks and factor bird habitats into development planning.
Key Points
- Waterbird counts in Nepal’s major wetlands fell from 96,565 in 2025 to 90,688 in 2026, while recorded species dropped from 94 to 89.
- A new global report says 45 percent of the world’s 1,843 migratory bird species are declining and 11 percent are threatened with extinction.
- Conservationists warn Nepal must manage wetlands as interconnected parts of the Central Asian Flyway and integrate bird habitats into infrastructure planning.
- Key Nepal wetlands such as Koshi Tappu, Bishajari, Ghodaghodi, Jagadishpur, Taudaha and the Manohara riverbanks remain under pressure from encroachment, pollution and development.
