Ramsar Wisdom in Action: Ghorahi’s 44 Lakes Transform Lives in Nepal

On August 12, 2026, Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City hosted an interaction event on wetland management, inviting the Conservation Development Foundation (CODEFUND) to share technical expertise on Ramsar-inspired wise use principles. During the program, CODEFUND’s  Mr. Shailendra Kumar Pokharel and  Juddha Bahadur Gurung delivered a comprehensive presentation on the multifaceted value of wetlands, from production services like irrigation, fisheries, and food security to regulation services including flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate regulation. They emphasized that wetlands are wetlands solutions to address pressing challenges of climate change, drought, and food security, marking a vital pathway from environment security to food security towards prosperity. They commended the municipality’s decade-long journey of constructing 44 lakes, a vision that began in 2017 under Mayor Naru Lal Chaudhary’s leadership. Of these, 24 lakes are larger than 1 ha size and 20 are smaller ones of less than one hectare. Together, they cover 78.22 hectares, with depths ranging from 4 to 25 meters. These waterbodies now hold enormous rainwater volume, and irrigate 1,500 hectares of cropland.

August 12, 2026, Ghorahi Sub-Metropolitan City hosted an interaction event on wetland management, inviting the Conservation Development Foundation (CODEFUND) to share technical expertise on Ramsar-inspired wise use principles. During the program, CODEFUND’s  Mr. Shailendra Kumar Pokharel and  Juddha Bahadur Gurung delivered a comprehensive presentation on the multifaceted value of wetlands, from production services like irrigation, fisheries, and food security to regulation services including flood control, groundwater recharge, and climate regulation. They emphasized that wetlands are wetlands solutions to address pressing challenges of climate change, drought, and food security, marking a vital pathway from environment security to food security towards prosperity. They commended the municipality’s decade-long journey of constructing 44 lakes, a vision that began in 2017 under Mayor Naru Lal Chaudhary’s leadership. Of these, 24 lakes are larger than 1 ha size and 20 are smaller ones of less than one hectare. Together, they cover 78.22 hectares, with depths ranging from 4 to 25 meters. These waterbodies now hold enormous rainwater volume, and irrigate 1,500 hectares of cropland.

The initiative has transformed community perceptions from skepticism to strong public support now earning strong community ownership. According to the municipality, the lakes have delivered tangible outcomes: higher agricultural yields, stronger social cohesion, local economic revival, job creation, environmental improvement, and growth in eco-tourism and biodiversity. Constructed using locally available mud and stone with a total investment of Rs. 20.21 crore, these reservoirs supply vital irrigation in dry seasons and absorb floodwaters during monsoons. The presentation further noted that many restored ponds are naturally evolving into wetland ecosystems, with visible increases in greenery and local tourism activity. One farmer, for instance, earned Rs. 800,000 from cabbage alone in a single season and now expects up to Rs. 1.8 million annually from 15 kattha of vegetable cultivation, with buyers purchasing directly from farm gates removing costly intermediaries. These gains have allowed many to upgrade from traditional to modern homes. Meanwhile, restored lakes like Jyamire Lake generate additional revenue, boating alone collects Rs. 100 per person daily, while Gulariya Dam recorded Rs. 100,000 in fish sales from a single day.

Mayor Chaudhary solicited future technical collaboration with CODEFUND, positioning Ghorahi as a national model for community-led, climate-resilient wetland conservation grounded in Ramsar principles. This demonstrates how wetlands solutions can drive sustainable development from the local to the national level, and potentially serve as a model for other developing nations facing similar climate and food security challenges.