尼泊尔的能源与环境

Energy and Environment in Nepal

1.引言尼泊尔是一个位于印度和中国之间的内陆高山小国,面积为14.7181万(公里)~2。它拥有多样的地质生态环境,目前人口为1760万,1988年时人口年增长率为2.66％。人口增长正在向森林储量施加日益增大的压力,尤其是在丘陵地区和山区,薪柴林的日渐短缺和相关的土壤侵蚀已成为严重的问题,急需寻求迅速的对策,以维持森林和农业的生产力,以及丘陵、山区和特赖平原人民的生活质量。环境退化问题是复杂的,有时可按范围和时间这两方面分类。退化可能会集中于一个点源上,如在城市地区,或分散在广大区域之间,如毁林那种情况。在时间上。

Population, economic development, natural resoures and the environment are closely linked to one another. Rapid population wth and lack of supply of indigenous energy resources in Nepal has caused the extensive use of traditional energy resources which is resulting in the environmental degrada-tion. Traditional energy sources like fuelwood and agricultural residues supply about 95% of total energy demand in Nepal. Fuelwood is currently being consumed at rates higher than the sustainable yield of the forests causing forest encroachment and local environment degrdation. Although imported fossil fuels are only about 4.6% of the total energy demand, traces of air pollution are obvious in urban areas. Nepal has a large economic potential for hydropower genera-tion (42000 MW), but only about 0.5% of this potential has been harnessed. In the absence of economically feasible fossil-fue reserves Nepal will, in the long term, require proper forest management and a vast development plan for hydroelectric generation if the Nepalese energy demand is to be met. Hydropower, however, should be exploited in ways that will maintain the environmental balance on a sustainable basis and result in economic progress.