Editing Geography of Nepal (section)

==Environment==
The dramatic changes in elevation along this transect result in a variety of [[biome]]s, from [[Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands|tropical savannas]] along the Indian border, to [[subtropical]] [[Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests|broadleaf]] and [[Tropical and subtropical coniferous forests|coniferous forests]] in the hills, to [[temperate]] [[Temperate broadleaf and mixed forests|broadleaf]] and [[Temperate coniferous forest|coniferous]] forests on the slopes of the Himalaya, to [[montane grasslands and shrublands]], and finally rock and ice at the highest elevations.

This corresponds to the [[Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands]] ecoregion.

Subtropical forests dominate the lower elevations of the Hill region. They form a mosaic running east–west across Nepal, with [[Himalayan subtropical broadleaf forests]] between {{convert|500|and|1000|m|ft|-2|sp=us}} and [[Himalayan subtropical pine forests]] between {{convert|1000|and|2000|m|ft|-2|sp=us}}. At higher elevations, to {{convert|3000|m|ft|-3|sp=us}}, are found temperate broadleaf forests: [[eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests]] to the east of the [[Gandaki River]] and [[western Himalayan broadleaf forests]] to the west.

The native forests of the Mountain region change from east to west as precipitation decreases. They can be broadly classified by their relation to the Gandaki River. From {{convert|3000|to|4000|m|ft|-3|sp=us}} are the [[eastern Himalayan subalpine conifer forests|eastern]] and [[western Himalayan subalpine conifer forests]]. To {{convert|5500|m|ft|-3|sp=us}} are the [[eastern Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows|eastern]] and [[western Himalayan alpine shrub and meadows]].

=== Environmental issues ===
{{Main|Environmental issues in Nepal}}

; Natural hazards:
: [[Earthquake]]s, severe [[thunderstorm]]s ([[tornadoes]] are rare<ref>{{cite news  |last = Mallapaty  |first = Smriti  |title = Nepali scientists record country's first tornado: The team confirmed the rare event using satellite images, social-media posts and a visit to the affected area  |newspaper = Nature News  |publisher = Spring Nature Publishing  |date = 12 April 2019  |url = https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01159-w  |access-date = 21 April 2019  |archive-date = 17 April 2019  |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190417101005/https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-019-01159-w  |url-status = live  }}</ref>), [[flood]]ing and flash [[flood]]ing, [[landslide]]s, [[drought]], and [[famine]] depending on the timing, intensity, and duration of the summer [[monsoon]]s
; Environment - current issues:
: [[Deforestation in Nepal|Deforestation]] (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
; Environment - international agreements
:* Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-[[Kyoto Protocol]], [[Desertification]], Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, [[Law of the sea|Law of the Sea]], [[Montreal Protocol|Ozone Layer Protection]], Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands
:* Signed, but not ratified: Marine Life Conservation
:* Existing and proposed dams, barrages and canals for flood control, irrigation and hydroelectric generation