Daman located at an altitude of around 2500m in the Thaha Municipality of Makwanpur district is popular for its altitude, cold temperature and chilling breeze of air, sudden change in weather as well as natural beauty. Mountain Botanical Garden is like a “cherry on the cake”. But due to the carelessness of responsible authority, Mountain Botanical Garden is now on the Verge of Extinction.
Mountain Botanical Garden in Daman is one of the oldest and most popular botanical gardens in Nepal. Seedlings and saplings of this botanical garden are supplied all over Nepal. Governmental Offices (Agricultural Departments), farmers as well as NGOs, also buy plants (seedlings & saplings) from here. Due to Daman's favorable and unique climatic conditions seedlings and saplings of Hilly, as well as Himalayan plant species are prepared here. More than 100 varieties of herbs and tree species can be found here.
Bajradanti, Ghasingre, Pairethrum, Thulo Ausadhi, Bhyakur, Ban Supari, Ban Lasun, Bhojo, Jethi Madhu, Timur, Padamchal, Chiraito, and Ban Mula are some examples of herb species found here whereas Maya, Khasru, Deodar, Saur, Fir-Fire, Nimaro, Kafal, Okhar are some of the tree species found here.
Although it is rich in diversity but due to a lack of effective management and infrastructure, the capacity of the botanical garden is decreasing every year. In the year 2076, it sold more than 1.5 lakhs of seedlings and saplings but in 2077 it reached 1.2 lakhs, and in 2078 B.S only 1 lakhs of seedlings and saplings are sold. If this trend continues then this Botanical garden will be closed in the coming 3-4 years.
According to caretaker Hari Sampang “This Botanical garden carries the history and legacy of Nepal but due to recent 2-3 years of political instability government is not providing adequate funding and resources to manage and look after the garden.” He also added that “ he remembers when he came to work at this place for the first time there were more than 5 caretakers who look after the garden but now there is not even a security guard”.
Currently, only Hari is the caretaker of this place so although he tries his best he is not able to look after the place as it requires. He alone has to take care of the plant species like thinning, pruning, weeding, and cleaning, as well as look after wild animals who destroy the plant species. So, he appeals to all the officials to avoid unnecessary politics and instead focus on the management and protection of the botanical garden which is important from a historical as well as an ecological point of view.