Nepal has managed to increase forested areas and the population of endangered animals, tigers and one-horned rhinos in particular, in its efforts to preserve biodiversity over the years.

The forested areas in the country have reached 45 percent of the total land area. “This is a significant jump from less than 30 percent in the early 1990s,” Megh Nath Kafle, spokesperson for the Ministry of Forests and Environment, told Xinhua.

A network of 20 protected areas covers nearly 24 per cent of the total forest areas and manages over 243 watersheds, according to the ministry.

Nepali officials and experts attribute the success mainly to the community-based forest management system.