Chure Under Threat

The Chure range, lying in the altitude range of 600 to 1200 metres above sea level, and stretching from Mechi in the east to Mahakali in the west is one of the most fragile hills not only in Nepal but in South Asia. The rampant deforestation and incessant extraction of construction materials and riverine resources from the Chure range and the rivers flowing through it have disturbed its ecosystem. Despite the crucial role the forests in the range play in maintaining ecological balance by preventing soil erosion and regulating the water cycle, their rampant destruction has recently led to water scarcity in the Madhes region.