Kathmandu, June 5: Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today said that environmental degradation was a problem that transcended the national boundary and appealed to all the nations to work unitedly to solve this problem.

“We are already in a difficult situation as nature has started retaliating in the forms of natural disasters. The problem cannot be solved unless the whole world works with concerted efforts,” Koirala said addressing a function organised to observe the World Environment Day.

June 5 is observed as Environment Day world-wide since 1974. Ministry of Population and Environment (MoPE) had organised today’s function as a part of it.

Koirala said that growing population was a threat to nature and environment and stressed forest and wildlife management at the national level.

“Migration is one of the causes of environmental degradation,” Koirala said and suggested the concerned authorities to find out the exact situation of the landless squatters in the country.

Koirala also said that mobilisation of the school children could play a crucial role in protecting environment.

State Minister for Population and Environment Shiva Raj Joshi stressed on the partnership between the government, the private sector and the civil society to protect environment.

UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Henning Karcher said that land degradation, deforestation, and water and air pollution were the major environmental problems facing Nepal and appealed to the government to work with the private sector to improve the situation.

“The nature can provide enough for everybody’s need but not enough for everybody’s greed,” Karcher said adding, Nepal should muster her strength to protect environment and promote tourism.

Population and Environment Secretary Dr. Govinda Bhatta said that all the nations should work hand in hand to check environmental hazards.

Bhatta said that MoPE was working actively to check environmental degradation and protect environment. “The Ministry is committed ensure safe and sound environment for living, which is a right of the citizens.”

National Planning Commission Member Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokhrel said that greed, poverty and ignorance were the main causes of environment degradation.

“Our national policy aims at tackling the problems of poverty and ignorance to rid people of greed and contribute to environment protection campaign.”

Pokhrel said that the rich nations should be more sensitive to environment conservation issue.

Forest Secretary Rabi Bista said that the ongoing sustainable forest management programme would produce good results in forest conservation and environment protection.

Any day is an environment day, said Bista and called for concerted efforts to get good results.

Bista said that Forest Ministry was about to finalise the National Bio-diversity Inventory.

On the occasion, Koirala also gave away awards to various individuals and organisations involved in environment protection. He also awarded the winner students of the poem writing and painting competition organised by World Wildlife Fund on the occasion of World Environment Day 2000.