This document is the result of a significant project development effort undertaken by the IUCN Nepal Country Office over the last two years, which was to design a national project for conservation and sustainable use of wetlands in the country. This design phase was enabled by an UNDP-GEF PDF grant. The project objectives: to promote the wise and sustainable use of wetlands in Nepal; ensure the protection of wetland biodiversity, wetland ecosystem functions and integrity; promote equity in resource management and the spread of benefits among wetland dependent communities; promote transparency and greater participation in decision-making processes; and, better inter-spectral coordination to achieve these objectives. As part of the project development phase IUCN commissioned comprehensive studies of wetland flora and fauna, the legal and policy framework governing the use of wetlands and wetland resources, the status of wetland ecosystems, and the values and socio-economic aspects of wetlands in Nepal. The results point to current trends and also complement the existing knowledge base on wetlands in Nepal. We hope that the lessons and indicators from the review will be seen as relevant and inform the framework of policy development and implementation.