HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE RIVER ASSESSMENT - METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS

The report presents the first national assessment of High Conservation Value Rivers (HCVRs) in Nepal, evaluating 50,531 km of rivers based on freshwater status (connectivity and water quality) and freshwater values (biodiversity, recreation, livelihoods, and socio-cultural importance). The assessment identifies that 62% of Nepal's river reaches are HCVR Type 1 (high value, high connectivity, and high water quality), with the Karnali River Basin containing the highest number of these rivers. The report warns that proposed hydropower development on all major rivers poses a significant threat to these ecosystems, particularly in the Karnali basin, which hosts critically endangered species like the Ganges River dolphin and Rara Asala snow trout. It recommends using the HCVR typology to prioritize rivers for protection, management, or restoration to meet national and international biodiversity commitments.

• The assessment categorized 62% of Nepal's evaluated river reaches (31,252 km out of 50,531 km) as HCVR Type 1, meaning they possess at least one conservation value and are both free-flowing and of high water quality.
• The Karnali River Basin has the highest concentration of HCVR Type 1 rivers, followed by the Gandaki, Koshi, Mahakali, and West Rapti basins.
• HCVR Type 3 rivers, which are free-flowing but subject to high water quality pressures from domestic and agricultural pollutants, constitute 27.8% (14,000 km) of Nepal's total river length.
• HCVR Type 2 rivers (7% or 3,500 km) have compromised connectivity primarily due to dams and barriers, while HCVR Type 4 rivers (3.4% or 1,700 km) suffer from both loss of connectivity and reduced water quality.
• The Karnali River is identified as one of the last remaining long free-flowing rivers in Nepal and is a critical habitat for the critically endangered Ganges River dolphin and fish species such as the Golden Mahseer and Rara Asala snow trout.
• Hydropower development is proposed on all major rivers in Nepal, posing a significant threat to river systems; specifically, large-scale projects in the Karnali basin would conflict with high conservation values.
• The assessment identified 16 fish species endemic to Nepal, with higher concentrations found in the Kaligandaki (Midlands), Narayani, Koshi, and lower Sunkoshi rivers.
• The East Rapti river received the highest overall HCV score (5), followed by the Narayani (4.8), Saptakoshi (4.7), and Sunkoshi (4.1).
• Water quality pressures are highest in the Terai region and lowest in the Himalayas, with the Babai, Bagmati, Kamala, and Mechi rivers meeting the threshold for 'poor' or 'very poor' water quality.

APA

Grill, G., Thieme, M., K.C., J. K., Shahbol, N., Sada, R., Schmitt, R., Opperman, J., & Martin, E. (2020). HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE RIVER ASSESSMENT - METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/660/6lqf4tuorc_USAID_Paani_HCVR_Report_final.pdf

Chicago

Grill, Günther, Michele Thieme, Jibesh Kumar K.C., Natalie Shahbol, Rajesh Sada, Rafael Schmitt, Jeff Opperman, and Erik Martin. HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE RIVER ASSESSMENT - METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS. WWF International, 2020. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/660/6lqf4tuorc_USAID_Paani_HCVR_Report_final.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Grill |first1=Günther |last2=Thieme |first2=Michele |last3=K.C. |first3=Jibesh Kumar |last4=Shahbol |first4=Natalie |last5=Sada |first5=Rajesh |last6=Schmitt |first6=Rafael |last7=Opperman |first7=Jeff |last8=Martin |first8=Erik |title=HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE RIVER ASSESSMENT - METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS |publisher=WWF International |date=December 2020 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/660/6lqf4tuorc_USAID_Paani_HCVR_Report_final.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{grill2020high, author = {Grill, Günther and Thieme, Michele and K.C., Jibesh Kumar and Shahbol, Natalie and Sada, Rajesh and Schmitt, Rafael and Opperman, Jeff and Martin, Erik}, title = {{HIGH CONSERVATION VALUE RIVER ASSESSMENT - METHODOLOGY AND RESULTS}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2020}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/660/6lqf4tuorc_USAID_Paani_HCVR_Report_final.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }