Seventy-five per cent of the country's energy requirements are met by fuelwood. Nepal has many different ethnic groups that are facing many difficulties brought about by changes in access to natural resources, education, development activities, and governance. No significant economic growth has been achieved despite the implementation of a series of development plans since 1956. Rising population pressure on the land and deterioration of the environment have been recognised as major challenges for sustainable development in Nepal. The major environmental problems in Nepal are caused by land degradation, deforestation, and pollution.
Poverty is the root cause of environmental degradation.
Soil erosion, fertility decline, sedimentation, and floods have degraded and continue to degrade scarce land resources. Website of an electronic network of thirty Nepali organizations that have come together to share sustainable development information on Nepal via the Internet. The NepalNet membership represents researchers, administrators, and development practitioners from government agencies, university departments, research institutions, and NGOs, as well as planners and policy-makers. Includes a map and a reproduction of the flag. The programme's bulletin is well written, informative and interesting.