The generation of hydrological data for accurate flood predictions requires robust and, ideally, dense monitoring systems. This requirement is challenging in locations such as the Himalayas, which are characterised by unpredictable hydroclimatic behaviour with dramatic small‐scale spatial and temporal variability. River level monitoring sensors that are affordable and easy‐to‐operate could support flood risk management activities in the region. We therefore identify potential for a local participatory monitoring network that also serve to overcome existing data gaps, which represent the main bottleneck for establishing an effective community‐based flood early‐warning system. We have applied a citizen science‐based hydrological monitoring approach in which we tested low‐cost river level sensors. Initial results, collected over summer 2017 from two stations on the River Karnali, suggest that our system can successfully be operated by non‐scientists, producing river level data that match those obtained from an adjacent government‐operated high‐tech radar sensor. We discuss potential opportunities to integrate these low‐cost sensors into existing hydrological monitoring practice. Combined with an adaptive, community‐led approach to resilience building, we argue that our low‐cost sensing technology has the potential not only to increase spatial network coverage in data‐scarce regions, but also to empower and educate local stakeholders to build flood resilience.

Ultraviolet index (UVI) and

Ground UV index and total ozone measured from four stations of Nepal Himalaya using NILU UV Multiband Filter Radiometer (MBFR) were compared with that of the Aura/OMI satellite products using the data from October 2008 to December 2010. The main goal of the validation was to find how the satellite products deviate with that of ground measurement in the mountainous sites where the stations have unique set of geographical and environmental conditions. The altitudes of the stations vary from 72 m to 2850 m in a short span of horizontal distance. The comparison was done for clear-sky and cloudy-sky condition using Cloud Transmission Factor (CLT) as a proxy. It was found that UV indices estimated by the satellite have higher values compared to ground instrument. The relative difference (bias) of the four stations are varied from 34.5 ± 24.0% to 47.9 ± 17.4% for cloud free condition and from 106.4 ± 81.44 % to 286.4 ± 254.8% for cloudy condition. The correlation coefficients are more than 0.8 for cloud free condition. The total ozone column comparison showed the mean relative difference (bias) range from -2.17 ± 3.52% to 2.97 ± 3.92% under cloud free condition and -4.42 ± 5.64% to 1.36 ± 6.14% under cloudy condition. The possible factors for this discrepancy are discussed and some important factors are highlighted.

The sustainable political leadership based on system thinking is a highly qualified skillful political leadership on sustainable development administration on rural development practices of Nepal. This paper analyses the quality of sustainable political leadership based on system thinking in overall sustainable rural development application and process in Nepal and its empiricisms. It also presents the national and international context of leadership, system thinking and sustainable development and their contemporary debates and issues. Methodologically it is an empirical literature review on sustainable development, system thinking and leadership for Rural Development and its practices in Nepal. In conclusion, in Nepal social inclusion, justice, and equity; economic and ecological balance and good governance in a basket of rural development is essential phenomena for sustainable political leadership based on system thinking. The real practices of the ideas of social inclusion, justice, equity; economic and ecological balance and good governance to increase productivity of sustainable political leadership is to be more important. However, these types of practices on sustainable political leadership based on system thinking are insignificant, qualities and practices both are low. The national and international importance and urgency of sustainable political leadership based on system thinking are increasing to maintain sustainability governance from local to global level.

Nepal is a small landlocked country with complex topography and fragile geology which coupled with its lower-middle income economy, natural resources dependent population, and weak institutional capacity, all combine to rank it as the 4th most climate-vulnerable country in the world (http://maplecroft.com). A climate risk assessment carried out specifically for the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) at the sector, district and community levels identified the following critical risks: i) water quantity and quality, ii) food security, iii) ecosystem health, iv) animal and human health, v) vulnerable groups, and vi) economic growth and sustainability. Realizing this potential, the Government of Nepal (GoN) with support from the World Bank (WB) launched the Building Resilience to Climate-related Hazards (BRCH) Project in June 2013 with the aim to minimize overall climate risks in Nepal under the global initiatives of Pilot Program for Climate Resilience (PPCR). It is designed to demonstrate ways that developing countries can make climate risk and resilience part of their core development planning. The results-based monitoring adopted by the BRCH project is a legendary good practice in Nepal, an effective measure towards addressing climate hazards – the ultimate goal of the project and it could be instrumental for the South Asia as well.