The process of creating a clean, healthy and hygienic environment around us that is important to maintain a healthy life is called environmental sanitation. We should not pollute the environment. We should keep our environment clean and healthy. There should be proper management of animal, human and industrial waste disposal. We should control all the factors that pollute the environment like sewage, agricultural wastes, industrial wastes, insecticides, pesticides, etc. If our environment is healthy then we can easily maintain a healthy lifestyle. There are various methods of waste disposal. One of the most effective technique is the "Three'R's"- Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Reduce

We should use the things as per our needs, we should not use more than that. We should reduce the amount of waste produced by us. This helps to keep our environment clean.

Reuse

There are many things around us that can be reused. This thing includes bags, bottles, tin cans, cartons, etc. Instead of throwing them, we should try to find ways to use them again. For example, by cleaning old glass jars and small pot, we can use them to store things. We can reuse our old clothes and books by donating them to charity shops. This helps to conserve the sources as well as keep the environment clean.

Recycle

Many things that we use in our daily life like paper bags, soda cans, plastic wastes, metal pieces etc are made up of materials that can be recycled. We can use the materials from the old ones to produce new things. This helps to conserve the raw materials and helps to keep our environment clean. We should buy those things that can be recycled.

Local Efforts on Environmental Conservation

Human activities are responsible for the environmental pollution. So, it is the major duty of human beings to conserve the environment. There are various methods to conserve the environment like trees plantation, public participation in conservation of the environment, conservation of forest etc. Some of the important methods that can be used in local level for environmental conservation are given below,

• Environmental sanitation: The environmental pollution is increasing day by day due to increasing population. We should keep our environment neat and clean. This helps to conserve our environment. There are various ways of conserving our environment by environmental sanitation. Some of them are given below,
  - We should not pollute the water resources.
  - We should keep our environment clean.
  - There should be proper management of animal, human and industrial waste disposal.
  - We should conduct sanitation programmes time to time in our community.
  - We should use gobar gas and solar energy for fuel.
  - We should manage our household wastes properly.
• Public awareness: Mass awareness should be created about the importance of conservation of the environment. We should conduct various programmes to generate public awareness to conserve the environment.
• Integrated conservation programme: While carrying out development activities like construction of roads, buildings, bridges etc. the structures of the environment are also changed as per the need. There may be a change in landform, cutting down of trees, change in the structure of river etc. These changes may degrade the environment. Therefore, we should conduct various programmes for the conservation of the environment during construction works. We should restore or repair those parts of environment destroyed during construction works.
• Public participation: The involvement of local people is very important for the conservation of the environment. If local people are involved, then it increases the responsibility of local people to conserve the environment. The local people have detailed knowledge of their environment and they know the best way to conserve the environment.
• Afforestation and conservation of environment: As the population is increasing day by day, people are cutting down trees for housing and agriculture. Today, deforestation has become the major environmental problem. Deforestation invites various types of natural calamities like flood, landslide, drying out of water resources etc. Therefore, we should conserve the forest. We should discourage deforestation and encourage afforestation. We should conduct afforestation programmes in slopes, barren land, etc. Afforestation and conservation of forest play important role in conservation of the environment.
• Conservation and promotion of cultural resources: There are various cultural resources in our environment. These cultural resources are affected by the various human activities. We should make necessary plans and policies for the conservation and promotion of cultural resources.

Organisation and Agencies Involved in Environmental Conservation

As the population of the world is increasing day by day, the pollution is also increasing. All the countries are facing environmental pollution and its effects. So to minimise the environmental pollution, there are various national and international organisations and agencies working together to conserve the environment. There are also many national and international organisations in Nepal working for the conservation and promotion of environment. Some of them are given below,

Governmental Agencies

There are various governmental agencies in Nepal working for the conservation of the environment. Some of the important governmental agencies that are working to conserve and manage the environment are given below,

Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment

Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment helps in solving and managing environmental problems. It makes and implements important policies, rules, acts, plans and programs related to solving and managing environmental problems. Some of the major goals of this ministry are given below,

• To develop and promote the traditional indigenous technology.
• To protect the natural and cultural environment.
• To conserve air, water and soil.
• To create a suitable opportunity for the people working in the field of science, technology and environment to encourage them.
• To conduct various research programmes in the field of science, technology, and the environment.

Major Functions

• It monitors and evaluates various development works, constructions, and industries.
• It creates awareness programmes about the environment through various media such as radio, television, newspapers, etc. It also spreads information through seminars, meetings, leaflets, posters, pamphlets, etc.
• It develops human resources in the field of the environment through study, research, training, meeting, seminar etc.
• It makes pollution control directive and implements it.
• It makes environment- friendly policies, plans, acts, laws and implements them.
• It co- ordinates among national, international and non- governmental organisations.

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation

The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has been established with the aim of conserving and promoting forest, soil, water resources and biodiversity of Nepal. Some of the major aims of this ministry are discussed below,

• To conserve watersheds
• To conserve natural ecosystem
• To conserve forests, plants and wild animals
• To conserve and manage forests
• To conserve and utilise medicinal herbs and forest products

Major Functions

• It monitors, evaluates and reviews the programs related to conservation.
• It creates awareness regarding the conservation of soil through various media such as radio, television, newspaper, meetings, poster, seminar, etc.
• It performs various conservation programs by co- ordinating with various national, international and non- governmental organizations.
• It makes plans according to the national policy of forest conservation and promotion and implements them.
• It makes policies, rules, laws, acts, directives, etc. and implements them.

The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has established Department of Forests for conservation, promotion, and management of all the forest areas of Nepal. It makes plans, policies, rules and regulation related to conservation and utilization of forests and implements them properly. The forests are divided into two parts by the Department of Forests. They are government forests and community forests. It also protects and conserves medicinal plants and forest products. It emphasizes on the utilization of forest products by conserving them.

The Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation has also established Department of Soil and Water Conservation for the protection and conservation of soil and water resources. It prevents natural disasters such as floods, landslides, soil erosion etc. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation works for the conservation and management of national parks, wildlife reserves, and conservation areas. It also conducts various awareness programmes for the protection and conservation of biodiversity and protection of various wild animals.

Similarly, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment and Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation plays an important role the conservation, promotion, and management of the environment.