The Nexus of Climate Change and Land-Use - Global Scenario with Reference to Nepal

The interplay between land use and climate change is a crucial aspect of sustainable development, especially in Nepal. This book delves into the intricate connections between land-use and climate change in Nepal, shedding light on significant challenges and potential opportunities. Nepal, with its diverse topography and ecosystems, is exceptionally susceptible to the impacts of climate change. The distinctive land-use patterns, encompassing agriculture, forest cover, and urbanization, significantly influence the country’s climate resilience and carbon balance. However, rapid population growth, urban expansion, and changing land-use practices have led to environmental degradation and a surge in greenhouse gas emissions. The alarming deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, and unsustainable logging, has contributed to carbon emissions and the depletion of vital ecosystem services. Consequently, the conversion of forested land into agricultural fields has negatively affected biodiversity, soil erosion, and water resources, intensifying the vulnerability of communities to climate change. Nevertheless, embracing sustainable land-use practices like afforestation, reforestation, and agroforestry holds promise for mitigating the impacts of climate change and enhancing resilience. The promotion of climate-smart agriculture, watershed management, and community-based forestry can aid in conserving ecosystems, sequestering carbon, and improving livelihoods. This study illustrates the intricate relationship between land-use and climate change, emphasizing the importance of striking a balance in land-use practices, conserving forests, and biodiversity, and promoting sustainable agriculture. These efforts are indispensable for achieving climate resilience and sustainable development in Nepal. By addressing the nexus between land-use and climate change, Nepal can pave the way towards a more sustainable and climate-resilient future. The purpose of this book is to present the core concepts of this issue, inspire further research, and propose solutions to mitigate the problems caused by human disturbances in the Earth’s ecosystem.

Professor Medani P. Bhandari, Ph.D. in sociology (USA) and masters in sociology (USA), anthropology (Nepal), sustainable international development (USA), and environmental studies (Netherlands), and professional diplomas on natural resource management (United Kingdom, India, USA, Australia, etc.), is a well-known humanitarian, professor, author, editor, and co-editor of several books and author of hundreds of scholarly papers on social and environmental sciences. A poet, essayist, environment, and social activist, etc. Professor Bhandari has spent most of his career focusing on social sciences theories, social equity, inequality, inclusion, and innovation, feminism, sustainability, climate change, social and environmental policies, and management. Along the way he has gained expertise in global and international environmental politics and justice, climate change, sustainable development, public/social policy, the non-profit sector, renewable energy, nature, culture and power. His field experience spans across Asia, Africa, North America, Western Europe, Australia, Japan, and the Middle East. His most recent books are Green Web-II: Standards and Perspectives from the IUCN (2018); 2nd Edition 2020; Getting the Climate Science Facts Right: The Role of the IPCC; Reducing Inequalities Towards Sustainable Development Goals: Multilevel Approach; and Educational Transformation, Economic Inequality - Trends, Traps, and Trade-offs, and many more. Additionally, in creative writing, Professor Bhandari has published hundreds of poems and essays as well as publishing three volumes of poetry with Prajita Bhandari. Professor Bhandari is serving as senior vice president at Akamai University, USA, Professor at Sumy State University, Ukraine, advisor at Gandaki University, Nepal, and editor in chief for Strategic Planning for Energy and the Environment and books series editor at River Publishers.