Nepal is a mountainous country with diverse topography, climate and vegetation. The country's landscape is highly fragile
and dissected. With the increased population pressure on the limited agricultural land for food, fiber and shelter even the
marginal lands have been encroached for cultivation. The problem of land degradation is severe specially due to soil
erosion and traditional human land use activities.. This paper examines the historical trends of population growth and
changes in land use patterns in the country. Periodic changes in land use patterns are then correlated with the population
growth. An assessment of land fragmentation is made by analyzing the changes in number of households and their average
sizes along with the changes of population engaged in agriculture. Also, the system of land tenure over the period is
highlighted. The state of the environment at present, with particular emphasis on soil erosion and land degradation is
examined. Attempts are made to assess the effects of both the biophysical and human activities on the state of the
environment. With the historical background of the existing situation, some outstanding issues are identified and
prioritized. During the last few decades, technological interventions for checking land degradation and for vegetation
recovery have been implemented through various agencies. Brief reviews of these attempts have been made with a view to
identify valid reasons for both successful and unsuccessful attempts. Based on such analysis, some measures have been
recommended for sustainable management of land resources by minimizing untoward land degradation and by promoting
vegetation recovery. On one side it is recognized that land management options that provide quick returns in the short run
may have adverse effects on the environment in the long run. Conversely, the local farm communities without having
immediate economic benefits from such activities may not adopt even some well-proven environment-friendly programmes
on the other. Hence, it is very important to have a rational look for converging these aspects into the "win-win"
interventions by simultaneously improving economically beneficial shorter-term local options in harmony with
environmentally sustainable longer-term benefits while recommending appropriate land use management practices for the
farmers at large.