Community-Led Participatory Mapping to Support Watershed Management and Ecosystem Resilience in Nepal
Research Location:
Implemented: Nepal
Conservation Partners:
Nepal Engineering College, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and Global Research Institute
Past Student Researchers
Cecilia Elsisi '26, Major Art History; Major: Environment & Sustainability (Humanities Track) (2024)
Dylan Mantovani '26, Major: International Relations (2024)
Joseph Baca '24, Major: Psychology; Minor: Creative Writing (2023)
Jack Hayes '24, Major: Data Science, Spatial Data Analytics; Minor: Mathematics
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Sapana Lohani and Robert Dongol (Nepal Engineering College)
Project Description
The Gandaki and Koshi Rivers support biodiversity and the livelihoods of many communities in Nepal. These transboundary rivers serve as major arteries supplying water resources from the high-elevation Himalayan Mountains to agropastoralist and fishing communities living in Nepal and India, who depend directly on these river systems. These rivers and the communities that depend upon them are under tremendous pressure from shifting climate, development, conservation policies, overuse, and transboundary resource agreements, so there is an urgent need to implement river management and policies that will ensure the resilience of river systems and local communities.
Understanding the perspectives of and empowering local communities in decisions regarding river management and policies is critical for ensuring that the efforts are effective and sustainable in balancing both the intended conservation and livelihood impacts in Nepal. Yet, there lacks a system and framework for ensuring that local community perspectives are documented and integrated into decision making regarding water management and policy.
The Nepal Water Initiative (NWI) is an interdisciplinary initiative that aims to support community-led watershed management and policy in Nepal. A partnership between William & Mary's Institute for Integrative Conservation (IIC), Virginia Institute for Marine Science, Global Research Institute, Religious Studies Department, Nepal Engineering College (NEC), and local partners and communities working and living along the Gandaki and Koshi River, the NWI is bridging expertise from across sectors, disciplines and among communities to support Nepali communities and policy makers with the development and implementation of watershed management and policy in Nepal. As part of the NWI team, W&M undergraduate students have been working with Dr. Sapana Lohani (IIC) and Robert Dongol (NEC) to document community perspectives on water conservation and management across the two river systems in 2023 and 2024.
These community perspectives will serve as a foundation for the NWI's work with policy makers to support improved river management and policy. Below are a few themes from their research:
- Local communities, who are the stewards of Nepal's river ecosystems, have important knowledge, connections, and traditions that are needed to ensure effective river conservation
- Local communities have deeply held connections to Nepal's river ecosystems that are cultural, religious, economic, ecological, and social, demonstrating the importance of including their perspectives and interdisciplinary approaches in watershed management
- Transboundary treaties have positive and negative influences on Nepali communities and are not designed to adapt to the changes in climate or needs
- Protected areas have not been successful in balancing conservation and local community livelihoods, as they restrict access to fishing and natural resources to the communities who have sustained these systems
- Hydropower provides short-term economic benefits for local communities and meets a broader need in Nepal for improved energy production, but has long-term impacts on the river ecosystems that sustain local communities and natural resources
Project ID - Format
23-016-23 - CRP Year
23-016-24 - CRP Year