wk 8

 Nepal is susceptible to mass wasting events due to its steep slopes, tectonic activity, intense monsoon precipitation, and human activity. Nepal is susceptible to rockfalls, landslides, and debris flows due to the topography of its Himalayan terrain and is prone to them during monsoonal times and post-earthquakes.

One of the major causes of mass wasting in Nepal is seismic activity. Nepal is a seismically active region with collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. Thousands of lands
lides were caused by the earthquake of 2015 in Gorkha that resulted in widespread destruction to infrastructure and human lives. Heavy monsoonal rainfall in months of June to September also saturates soil and leads to destabilisation and subsequent landslides on a regular basis in areas with hilly topography like Sindhupalchok and Rasuwa.

Mass wasting is also triggered by human activities such as deforestation, unplanned road development and agriculture on slopes. Deforestation reduces soil strength by destroying vegetation cover and exposing it to water and wind erosion. Increased urban development in places such as Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara has created bad land use that has exacerbated risks. Another significant hazard is glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Global warming is resulting in glacial melting in the Himalayas and enhancing the risk of sudden glacial lake bursts that can lead to landslides and debris flows in the direction of down-current.

Some of the areas of highest risk are mountainous and hilly areas such as Sindhupalchok, Dolakha, Rasuwa, Myagdi, and Taplejung. Landslides are prevalent on major roads such as Prithvi Highway, BP Highway, and Karnali Highway and block roads and isolate communities. Areas with steep slopes and human habitation are also in constant risk of slope instability. For minimizing mass wasting hazard risks, Nepal has to adopt sustainable land-use planning and disaster preparedness. Practices include reforestation and slope stabilization through bioengineering and reforesting, improving drainage systems to prevent water accumulation, and constructing retaining walls and gabions to support unstable slopes. Landslide warning systems and hazard mapping are to be prioritized to alert susceptible communities. Monitoring glacial lakes in addition to this can prevent GLOF disasters.

In short, mass wasting is a serious hazard in Nepal that affects rural and urban communities. Through planning and improved infrastructure and environmental conservation, risks can be reduced to offer safer living for Nepalese communities. 

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