Forests occupy 27 percent of Nepal`s land area. The Terai supports extensive hardwood and bamboo forests in areas not cleared for agriculture or resettlement. On the lower slopes of the mountains, pines flourish and amid oaks and wild flowers. Firs and shurbs thrive in the higher regions, most notably the tree Rhododendron, Nepal`s national flower, which produces beautiful red anf pink blooms from March to April. Smaller plants , such as mosses and grasses, grow at elevations above 3,700m (12,000 ft). Above the snow line of the Great Himalayas (higher than about 4,300 m/about 15,000 ft) no vegetation grows.
Deforestation is a major problem in Nepal.The country lost half its forests between 1950 and 1980 because of increased demand for fodder, fuelwood, and land for agrigulture and settelement. Much of the deforestation has taken place in Terai, although the Middle and Great Himalayan regions have also experienced serious deforestation. With the assistance of the United states and international agencies, Nepal has embarked on several programs to extend and restore its forest cover.
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