Virtually all of the land in Nepal's hill areas is accessible to the population for cropping, grazing, and the collection of forest products. Chapter I of this report describes the state of the natural resources in the region. Chapter II identifies direct and underlying causes of natural resource degradation, most of which stem from villagers' economic dependence on forest resources for agricultural production, cottage industries, and domestic energy. Outside the village, various regional factors such as urbanization, employment opportunities, and patterns of migration and tourism also affect demand on the resource base.
Chapter III reviews the responses of villagers and government to environmental problems.
According to the report, villagers have adapted to resource shortages by migrating, reducing consumption, and increasing production through intensified cultivation. Policy areas requiring further investigation are identified in the final chapter.