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Participation in agricultural exhibition and farmers fair

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Participation in agricultural exhibition and farmers fair at Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan

From December 14–18, 2024, ForestAction Nepal participated in the Agricultural exhibition and farmers fair organized by Agriculture and Forestry University at Rampur, Chitwan. Utilizing this event as a platform to promote agroecology among diverse stakeholders, we collaborated with the Organic Farmers Federation Chitwan (Jilla Prangarik Sangh) and Shree Prangarik Krishi Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha Limited and showcased a variety of local and indigenous seeds and crops from across Nepal. Similarly, informative posters/arts were also displayed, highlighting the importance of sustainable farming, the effects of climate change, and the benefits of using indigenous seeds instead of commercial ones. The stall attracted many visitors who appreciated the displays and information presented.

Call for Submissions: Women’s Economic Empowerment through Natural Resources: Opportunities, Innovations, and Challenges

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A SYMPOSIUM

The Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) and Forest Resources Studies and Action Team (ForestAction) Nepal, in collaboration with other organisations, are organising a symposium entitled Women’s Economic Empowerment through Natural Resources: Opportunities, Innovations and Challenges. We invite submissions from researchers, scholars, policymakers and practitioners engaged in initiatives related to women’s economic empowerment in the agriculture and/or forestry sectors.

Date: 24 February 2025

Location: Kathmandu

Please submit an abstract of max. 300 words of the research, experiences and insights aligned with the symposium themes along with a summary CV.

The deadline for the abstract submission (papers/presentation/ poster) is 20 January 2025.

You will be notified about the acceptance of your proposal by 25 January 2025.

Please send your abstracts to: salu@sias-southasia.org

The Thematic Focus

Women’s economic empowerment (WEE) is a prerequisite for achieving gender equality, and there have been different WEE frameworks that have suggested the means to achieve this. Women led and/or engaged enterprises are key strategies for achieving women’s economic empowerment and an inclusive economy. Despite its transformational potential, women in general, face political, socio-economic and cultural barriers in accessing resources, information, and networking and institutional support. Such disparities in access undermine their ability to establish and expand their enterprises or benefit the businesses they are involved in, especially in the context of fast-growing manifold impacts of climate change. In the context of growing risks from environmental and socio-economic factors and their impacts (especially in the context of natural resources), policies, strategies and practices need to become central to all debates and actions related to women’s economic empowerment.

In this symposium, we aim to bring together multiple actors – government, researchers and academia, development partners, civil society, private sector – to understand current challenges, review and learn from good practices and innovations and develop approaches and methodologies that inform policymakers and other key stakeholders, towards achieving women’s economic empowerment.

We would like the presentations/posters to focus on the following questions:

1. Frameworks, approaches and methodologies: What are some of the innovative research methodologies and inclusive intervention processes that provide an enabling environment for women’s economic empowerment?

2. Opportunities and Challenges: What are the key opportunities and challenges in women’s economic empowerment through natural resources-based enterprises in the face of changing climate?

3. Innovations and good practices: What are some key governance, institutional and technological innovations and good practices that can be scaled out and scaled up so that more and more women engage in and benefit from natural resources-based enterprises?

National policy dialogue: Transforming the role of CFs in the context of a shift in socio-political priorities, growing economic opportunities & climate change

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The debate on forest sector governance has become more intense within the federal structure due to the lack of clarity in the use and responsibility to conserve forests, carbon services and biodiversity among the three tiers of government. Against this backdrop, the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN), with the support of FFF (Forest and Farm Facility) and in collaboration with ForestAction Nepal and RECOFTC, organised a two-day Policy Dialogue on 19th and 20th December 2024 focusing on “Transforming the Role of Community Forests in the Context of a Shift in Socio-Political Priorities, Growing Economic Opportunities and Climate Change.” The objective of this policy dialogue was to focus on fostering an inclusive discussion on the evolving role of community forests in addressing sociopolitical dynamics, driving economic development through sustainable livelihoods, and enhancing community resilience to climate change through adaptation and mitigation activities.

Four different sessions including a presentation and panel discussions were held. Out of the them, Dr. Naya Sharma Paudel from ForestAction presented and moderated the panel discussion on “Policy framework and governance restructure enabling community forestry in socio-political transitions.” The session focused on the evolving socio-political dynamics of community forestry (CF) and the challenges they pose, such as declining community engagement, institutional inefficiencies, and tedious policies. Panelists highlighted the importance of simplifying policies, and ensuring equitable financial benefits while addressing legislative delays and fostering effective governance across all tiers of government.

Overall, the two days policy dialogue brought different stakeholder together to invest and discuss on necessary strategic interventions which will propel the effects and impacts of previous interventions to larger areas, and producer groups and organisations.

 

 

 

Local government and community forestry collaboration in the federal context of Nepal

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Nepal’s 2015 Constitution marked a shift to federal governance, emphasising cooperation among federal, provincial, and local levels. The Local Government Operation Act 2017 and Forest Act 2019 outlined local government’s (LG) collaborative roles in community forest management. While these frameworks laid the groundwork for a more integrated approach to community forestry governance, there are challenges.

With an aim to identify avenues for collaboration and areas of gaps and cooperation between the two institutions, consultations with LGs and community forest user groups (CFUGs) were organised to facilitate the dialogue and identify strategies to strengthen their partnerships. ForestAction Nepal with support from The Asia Foundation, conducted series of consultations at local, provincial, and federal level, which has drawn valuable lessons to address climate change and enhance socio-ecological resilience through improved community forest-LG collaboration.

The consultations engaged an extensive and diverse group of stakeholders, ensuring representation across different levels of governance and community forestry. It included mayors, deputy mayors, chief administrative officers, provincial forest officials, foresters, CFUG leaders, researchers, and representatives from organisations such as the FECOFUN and Community Forest Support Center. Local consultations were conducted in Syangja (Galyang Municipality) and Kailali (Tikapur Municipality), with additional provincial-level meetings in Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces. The consultations revealed governance gaps, poor coordination, untapped resource potential, environmental risks, human-wildlife conflicts, and declining youth engagement. Jurisdictional disputes, weak collaboration, restrictive policies, and market barriers has been hindering the community forestry’s effectiveness, simultaneously, climate risks and leadership challenges have threaten its sustainability.

Presence of ForestAction Nepal and Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF) in Organic World Congress 2024

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Team members from the ForestAction/AAF secretariat were actively engaged in various processes of the IFOAM Organic World Congress 2024.The World Congress is organised by IFOAM every three years involving thousands of organic farmers, producers, researchers, advocates, and policy experts from around the world. Activities such as pre-conference, the General Assembly, side-events and organic exhibition are included in the congress. This year, the Congress was held at Nanhua University, Taiwan, from November 30 to December 6, 2024 comprising of pre-conference, congress and general assembly of IFOAM. The congress (2-4 December) included various plenary sessions, parallel modules, and workshops where the team had an active presence.

A poster entitled “Walking Training: A Transformative Approach to Capacity Building in Agroecology” was presented by Sindrela Dewan and Srijana Poudel. It introduced the concept of walking training, its significance, methodology, and the process of participant selection for the training. Additionally, the poster highlighted the lessons learned from previous training.
Two papers were also presented by team members in a parallel session entitled fostering organic growth through policy building on December 4, 2024. Krishna Prasad Poudel, along with Mahesh Badal, presented on ‘Analysis of Policy Provisions and Government Programs for Agroecology Promotion in Nepal,’ while Sujata Tamang and Dipesh Nepal presented on ‘Evidence-Based Policy Advocacy Pathways: Learning from Nepal’.

As the secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food, the team also organised a workshop on “Regeneration of Mountain Agriculture: Future Solution for Sustainable Food System”. Krishna Prasad Poudel was the keynote speaker of the workshop, moderated by Sujata Tamang.

In the Workshop, Mr. Paudel highlighted the specific characteristics of mountain-specific agriculture and industrial agriculture and discussed on the situation arising from the holistic development approach in agriculture and how mountain agriculture is particularly impacted on a greater scale. The crucial role of regenerative agriculture in addressing the specific challenges faced by mountain regions in achieving sustainable food systems, especially in the context of climate change was also discussed in his presentation.

He also shared points for reflection and future pathways. During the open discussion, possible innovative solutions, responses at policies and programs level and practices that farmers and local communities are adopting in response to the current crisis through regenerative agroecological approaches were discussed and shared.

National dialogue on strengthening forest fire management in Nepal

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National dialogue on strengthening forest fire management in Nepal

Nepal’s rich forest ecosystems are increasingly threatened by forest fires, driven by climate change and human activities. Over the past two decades, forest fires have destroyed thousands of hectares of forest, alongside the lives of people and wildlife.  There has been a sense of urgency among the stakeholders to address the issue, wherein a common platform was much needed to discuss critical areas and come up with converging views. In congruence to that, a national dialogue on ‘Strengthening Forest Fire Management in Nepal’ was organised by NDRRMA in collaboration with ForestAction Nepal, and in support of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) through the Australian Embassy in Nepal, on 4 December 2024 in Kathmandu. Interesting presentations, a panel discussion, and floor discussions were instrumental in deepening our understanding on forest fire management in Nepal.

Key takeaways

– Large part of the problem lies with the protective regime and lack of management resulting in heavy fuel load in forests. Suitable forest management with active harvesting and other silvicultural operations will help mitigate the problem

– Given our difficult topography and limited financial and human resources, a rather decentralised, local/community-based approach would be appropriate. Resources and capacity building interventions should therefore focus on local communities/actors.

– Involvement of private entities would be crucial in fostering forest-based enterprises, with the management decisions still remaining with the community to ensure equitable benefits.

– Revision of the existing forest fire management strategy considering the changing socio-economic dynamics of the country is pertinent.

– Need for more work on scaling forest fire mitigation and prevention through the use of technologies like early warning system, forest fire detection and monitoring system and adopt technology transfer to concerned authorities.

– Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, collaboration, and jurisdictions among stakeholders to create a cohesive approach to forest fire risk reduction and management for the avoidance of overlaps and inefficiencies is imperative.

Interactive program on controlling invasive species

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Interactive program on controlling invasive species

On 20th November 2024, an interaction program focusing on Ultakanda weed (उल्टा काँडा झार) control was conducted in Birtamod Municipality. The program was organised under ForestAction Nepal’s Linking Science to Management Restoring Community Forests in Nepal project, with emphasis on local control and awareness campaign of new Michaha species (invasive species) Ultakanda weed, which is spreading in East Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari district of Nepal. A total of 50 participants were present in the program including Birtamod municipality head, deputy head, agriculture and livestock department staff, ward representatives and farmers.

Ultakanda weed is one of the most harmful and high-risk michaha species, with its fruits/pods beginning to develop in November. Therefore, it is important prevent its growth and minimize damage to agriculture, livestock and human health.

44th World Food Day Celebrated

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44th World Food Day Celebrated

This year, the 44th World Food Day was celebrated worldwide with the slogan “Rights to food for a better life and better future”. ForestAction Nepal, the secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food, organized an event in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, and the allied organizations on November 11, 2024, in Staff College, Lalitpur, Nepal. The main objectives of this event were to commemorate World Food Day, raise awareness about the importance of sustainable farming approaches, and to celebrate Nepal’s diverse local, indigenous, cultural and traditional cuisine.

One of the key highlights of the event was the participatory theatre play titled “Sattapatta”, performed by the Shilpee Theatre Group. Sattapatta is a story about farming, and it gives the audience a message about the impact of the modern farming system on our indigenous and traditional knowledge, technologies, soil, seeds, and human health.

Following the engaging theatre play, “Raithane Khadhya Sanjh” (local food festival) was organized to celebrate the diversity and richness of our local cuisine, featuring a variety of delicious dishes representing various regions of Nepal. In addition to the food festival, an exhibition was set up within the program venue to further promote awareness about sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation. The exhibition showcased an impressive collection of local and indigenous seeds, emphasizing the importance of preserving Nepal’s agricultural heritage. Posters were displayed, providing valuable information on the significance of sustainable farming practices, impacts of climate change and the benefits of using indigenous seeds over commercial alternatives.

This event was attended by the former Hon. Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Parliament members, politicians, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock development secretaries, joint secretaries, activists, local government representatives from Kathmandu Valley, farmers, youth/ students, professors, I/NGOs representatives, authors, and media persons.

ForestAction Nepal/AAF extends its heartfelt gratitude to MoAD, DOA, ERI, CAED, FIAN Nepal, SWI, Li-BIRD, NFGF, NLRF, CSRC, DBI, CEPP, IM Swedish Development Partner, Action Aid Nepal, WHH, and ANAJ for the collaboration to make this event happen.

Food and factsheet

Dohori

Apeal

Press Meet Held for World Food Day Celebrations

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On the occasion of the 44th World Food Day (October 16), ForestAction Nepal, the secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DoA), organized a press meeting at SAP-Falcha to announce the World Food Day celebration program scheduled for November 11, 2024. A press note was also released during the meeting in the presence of the Director General (DG), Deputy Director General of the DoA, journalists, activists, and farmers.

A food and agriculture fact sheet for the fiscal year 2080/81, prepared by the AAF secretariat, was also unveiled at the event. Additionally, a folk dohori song, sung by famous singer Raju Pariyar, Sheela Ale, and the Sarangi Sansar team, was launched to highlight the importance of agriculture in Nepal.

To download a food and agriculture fact sheet: https://forestaction.org/publications/fact-sheet-of-food-and-agriculture-2024/
To watch dohori song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-UkGIcWp-Q 

Training on agroecology and permaculture design and practice

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Training on agroecology and permaculture design and practice

ForestAction Nepal organized and facilitated the second module of a training session on “Agroecology and permaculture design and practice” in Kauche, Sindhuli, from September 13th to 18th, 2024. The training had 17 participants and was led by primary instructors Bharat Mansata, a renowned writer, natural activist, and founder of Vanvadi, a collective forest regenerative initiative, and Malvika Solanki, an experienced permaculture designer and practitioner from India.

The training methodology integrated various learning approaches, such as presentations, interactive discussions, group work, and hands-on field exercises. The second module covered topics like flows and edges, patterns, energy storage and resources, mapping, biodynamic farming, community-scale design, siting and orientation of buildings, urban permaculture, and designing for catastrophes. This module was focused on hands-on experience in permaculture design. The participants were divided into four groups and were assigned projects.

Land-based project: site analysis and assessment, water management, soil improvement, sector analysis, functional analysis, zone mapping, base map, infrastructure development and placement, waste management, disaster preparedness

Market-based project: market survey/assessment, product selection and diversification, branding and storytelling, marketing channels, packaging and distribution, pricing strategy, feedback

Cooperative project: sector analysis, zone mapping, SWOT analysis, strategies, working approach

Urban design project: site assessment, mapping, zoning, maximizing space efficiency, water harvesting, waste reduction and recycling, culture, traditional food

On the final day, participants presented their project design. A detailed review and a reflection session were conducted to assess the overall training experience. The participants shared their insights, learnings, challenges, and positive takeaways from the training.

 

A Walking Training: Capacity building through observation, learning, and reflection

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A walking training was conducted from August 27th to 31st, 2024, with the participation of 18 agricultural graduates, technicians, and social agents in the Lalitpur and Kavrepalanchok districts.

The journey started from Lubhu and concluded at Lakuribhanjyang of Lalitpur district on the first day. During the visit, participants did a brief observation of commercial agriculture and interacted with farmers. Participants also discussed the challenges faced by commercial farmers, especially about the emergence of new diseases and pests.

The second day of the journey began in Lakuribhanjyang and concluded at Kushadevi, Kavrepalanchok. Along the way, the participants interacted with farmers in the community and learned about their cropping pattern, cultivation practices, and their views on sustainable farming. Similarly, participants communicated with officials of Ward 1 of Panauti municipality to understand about the situation of commercial farming, community forestry, and pesticide use in that area.

In the third day, the journey started from Kushadevi and ended in Khopasi. Along the way, participants observed cropping patterns, land grabbing, forest fires, and landslides. Similarly, participants met with the agriculture officer of the Panauti municipality to discuss soil health conditions and the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the area. Moreover, participants visited the sericulture development center and explored the potential of silkworm farming in Nepal.

The journey started from Khopasi on the fourth day and ended in Bethanchowk. During this portion of the walk, the participants observed the agricultural practices and livestock farming of the community. Participants had a brief discussion about land and water management, integrated pest management, and the impacts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on human health in Bethanchowk.

On the fifth day, participants traveled to Narayanthan, where they visited a sacred Vishnu temple and enjoyed views of the Himalayas, including Ganesh, Langtang, Manaslu, and Everest. The training concluded with a self-reflection session to assess its impact on the participants’ learning and development.

Localizing activities and transforming Invasive Species Management

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Infestation of invasive species especially Mikania macrantha, Lantana camara and Chromolaena odorata has largely impacted the forest ecosystem and livelihood of forest-dependent people across the lowland forests of Nepal. The biological invasion has suppressed tree regeneration, negatively affected biodiversity and decreased forest ecosystem services. The conventional method of invasive species control used by Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) have been inadequate, ineffective and not informed by attributes of species and native ecosystems. To address this, ForestAction Nepal led Jalthal Biodiversity Project introduced a new approach to manage invasive species and protect natural regeneration of native species. This project considered the ecology and phenology of invasive species and prioritized bush cleaning in the summer to maximize the growth of native seedlings and suppress the regrowth of invasive species. Conventionally, bush cleaning used to be in winter season. The project has also conceptualized that invasive species management should be a part of long-term forest restoration rather than a discrete activity.
 
In the third year of the Darwin project Biodiversity Challenge Funds (UKBCFs), the project supported and collaborated with community forests of Jalthal Jhapa to remove invasive species during monsoon season. Invasive species removal and natural regeneration protection were performed in Nine CFUGs of Jalthal, restoring approximately 36 hectares of an invasive-infested area. The activity has rescued over 23,000 seedlings of 40 native tree species. Bush cleaning activity in these CFs involved over 180 local people equivalent to 900 person/days. The removal of invasive species was a collaborative effort involving CFUGs, the DFO Jhapa, and FECOFUN Jhapa.

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