Author: Sanjeev Gurung

On June 5, this World Environment Day, celebrated under the theme “Inspired by Nature, for Climate, for Our Future,“ ForestAction Nepal marked the occasion in collaboration with Ichhakamana Rural Municipality and Sarva Shanti Higher Secondary School, Kurintar, Ichhakamana, Chitwan. Bringing together students and teachers from seven schools across Ichhakamana, the program served as a meaningful platform to celebrate our shared responsibility toward the environment while fostering learning, collaboration, and environmental awareness.

Students took to the streets in an enthusiastic rally, their energy and voices a powerful reminder that concern for our planet knows no age. Through a colorful exhibition, they showcased their understanding of environmental issues and highlighted the small but important steps each of us can take to make a difference. Through short role plays, students brought environmental challenges to life in creative and meaningful ways, while lively games made learning about nature both engaging and memorable.

Celebrating World Environment Day with students is deeply meaningful as it nurtures environmental awareness at an age when lifelong values are formed, turning curiosity into commitment and inspiration into action. Events like these remind us that protecting our environment begins with educating, inspiring, and empowering the next generation to become responsible stewards of the Earth.

Note: Prior consent was obtained from the concerned school administration for the photography and videography.

Training programs on entrepreneurship development, management, record-keeping, and financial literacy were conducted for agriculture and forest-based entrepreneurs networks formed in coordination with local governments at Sindhupalchok and Nawalpur districts under CaFIN project funded by IDRC through CPI. The training aimed to strengthen the entrepreneurial, managerial, and financial capacities of local entrepreneurs (mostly women) to support the sustainability and growth of the micro/home-based enterprises.

A total of 59 entrepreneurs participated in the training, including 23 participants from Barhabise Municipality and Tripurasundari Rural Municipality of Sindhupalchok District, 16 participants from Devchuli Municipality, and 20 participants from Gaindakot Municipality of Nawalpur District. The participants were organised into three groups, with each group receiving a three-day training conducted between 18th to 28th May 2026.

The training was facilitated by resource persons with expertise in enterprise development, financial literacy, business management, and regulatory procedures for registration and fund acquisition from municipality, district and banks too. The sessions were designed to strengthen the capacities of women entrepreneurs by enhancing their understanding and skills in enterprise planning and management, financial record-keeping, access to financial services, and compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements. Through interactive discussions, practical exercises, games and experience sharing, participants gained a better understanding of how to effectively manage and expand their enterprises, thereby improving their prospects for sustainable business growth and economic empowerment.

The training provided participants with practical knowledge and skills on enterprise operation, business management, record-keeping, and financial literacy. Interactive discussions were held to identify the key challenges affecting the continuity and growth of existing enterprises. Participants analysed the reasons behind not being able to grow their businesses and explored potential solutions to address these challenges.

The training also enhanced participants’ understanding of business planning and the importance of maintaining financial and operational records. Entrepreneurs were encouraged to develop business plans for their respective enterprises that could improve the systematic operation and expansion of their enterprises. At the end, participants expressed their commitment to applying the knowledge gained and continuing to strengthen and expand their businesses.

The Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF) and ForestAction Nepal organized an interaction program titled “Organic Agriculture: Scope and Opportunities“ on 20 May 2026 at Madi Municipality, Chitwan, bringing together approximately 30 participants including local farmers, organic producers, government representatives, civil society organizations, and private sector actors.

Sunil Bhandari opened the program with an overview of AAF’s history and its multi-level work in promoting agroecology from field to policy alongside ForestAction Nepal’s role in bridging grassroots realities with national advocacy. Mr. Chandra Prasad Adhikari, President of the District Organic Federation, shared his journey in organic production and stressed that uniting smallholder producers under accessible certification and participatory guarantee systems is central to gaining recognition for organic products at local and national levels.

AAF Coordinator Mr. Uddhav Adhikari presented evidence on the long-term economic burden of chemical fertilizer dependency, calling for urgent policy attention to production, consumption, and market dimensions of organic agriculture. Dr. Santosh Chhetri highlighted critical gaps in budget allocation for agricultural research and extension and drew direct links between food quality including commonly consumed products such as vegetables, milk, and yoghurt and public health outcomes.

Natural farming practitioner Ms. Bimala Acharya envisioned Madi as a future organic hub, advocating for open-pollinated varieties, local landraces, and dedicated producer-consumer networks as pillars of a viable organic system. Ms. Rashmi Pandit, a farm stay operator, underscored the synergy between agroecological farming and agri-tourism, expressing strong interest in collaborating with smallholder farmers transitioning to natural farming.

A landmark outcome of the program was the formation of an 11-member local-level organic federation in Madi, led by local farmers themselves. The federation is proposed as a sustained institutional mechanism for networking, coordination, and collective advocacy at both the district and national levels marking a significant step toward an organized and farmer-driven organic movement in Madi Municipality.

The program reaffirmed a collective commitment to advancing organic agriculture in Madi as a model for sustainable agricultural transformation in Nepal.

Farmers from Dhusa and Pipal Dada under Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality have initiated a collective effort to expand organic farming practices while promoting long-term soil restoration. During the monthly meeting of the Community Action Group (CAG) held on 19^th May 2026 in Dhusa, participating farmers discussed seasonal planning, organic input preparation, and strategies for chemical-free production.As part of the initiative, farmers have allocated a total of 22 kathas of land for chemical free cultivation in the initial phase, including 10 kathas from Pipal Dada and 12 kathas from Dhusa. The group collectively committed to avoiding the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the designated fields.

Based on the available land and seasonal suitability, farmers identified maize, broad leaf mustard, and long beans as priority crops for the upcoming season. The remaining land area will be utilized for the cultivation of dhaicha as green manure to enhance soil fertility and improve soil organic matter. In preparation for the cropping season, all members also agreed to jointly prepare vermicompost, composts, and biopesticides using locally available resources.

The initiative reflects the growing commitment of local farming communities towards sustainable agriculture, agroecological practices, and improved soil health in the region.

Under the Building Agroforestry-based Adaptation Plans for Resilient Floodplains (BAGAR) project, implemented by ForestAction Nepal in partnership with Heifer International Nepal and The Small Earth Nepal (SEN), Municipal-Level Agroforestry Plan Validation Workshops were conducted in Marin Rural Municipality (Sindhuli) and Gadhimai Municipality (Rautahat) from 3–6 May 2026.

The workshops brought together members of municipal Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Forums, including local government representatives, technical staff, and stakeholders related to floodplain restoration and climate resilience planning. The primary objective of the visit was to review and validate draft agroforestry plans designed for floodplain restoration and sustainable land management.
Discussions during the workshops centered on:
–Agroforestry priorities for floodplain landscapes
–Riverbank stabilisation and erosion control measures
–Ecosystem restoration approaches
–Climate-resilient livelihood and enterprise opportunities
–Integration of community-based knowledge with technical planning

These validation workshops served as an important step in ensuring that agroforestry plans are context-specific, technically sound, and aligned with local priorities. The participatory process encouraged  ownership of local stakeholders and supports to enhance the long-term sustainability of planned interventions.

As part of the BAGAR Project, ForestAction Nepal successfully conducted ward-level agroforestry plan validation workshops across all 9 wards of Gadhimai Municipality (Rautahat) and 7 wards of Marin Rural Municipality (Sindhuli) from 28 March to 6 April 2026.

The process was carried out in close coordination with Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Forums, comprising elected representatives, municipal officials, technical staff, and local communities, ensuring inclusive and context-specific planning. A total of 251 participants (76 female and 175 male) actively contributed their perspectives, sharing local knowledge on land-use practices, applicable agroforestry systems, species preferences, financing options, and implementation challenges.

The discussions were highly ward-specific, enabling participants to reflect on their local contexts, priorities, and challenges. Communities from the Terai emphasised issues such as flooding, heat stress, and land degradation, while Chure-region communities highlighted recurring flooding along with soil erosion and slope instability. These differentiated perspectives ensured that agroforestry planning is tailored to local realities rather than following a uniform approach.

Participants also expressed diverse livelihood-based preferences for agroforestry systems. Some communities showed strong interest in livestock-based agroforestry systems, while others prioritised fruit-based and agricultural production systems to enhance household income and food security. However, there was a shared understanding across all wards-particularly in riverine and floodplain areas-that protective systems should be prioritised for long-term resilience, alongside productive components. In this context, discussions focused on promoting agroforestry through three complementary dimensions: productive functions (enhancing farm productivity and diversification), protective functions (soil conservation, flood and erosion control, and ecosystem restoration), and enterprise development (supporting value chains, tree-based livelihoods, and local income generation).

Field discussions further highlighted important social and institutional considerations, including language barriers, varying levels of participation, and differing expectations around support mechanisms. These insights reinforced the need for more inclusive facilitation approaches and locally grounded implementation strategies.

Despite these challenges, the validation process significantly supported in strengthening community ownership and local engagement, while demonstrating strong interest in agroforestry as a nature-based solution for climate resilience, sustainable land management, and livelihood improvement.

Overall, the ward-level consultations provided critical inputs for refining agroforestry planning and ensuring that proposed interventions are practical, context-specific, and aligned with local priorities.

ForestAction Nepal recently organized a workshop titled “Forest in Federalism: Stake of Local Government in Forest Management” alongside the knowledge dissemination activities under the assignment of CLARE R4I on 24th April, 2026 .

Dr. Mani Ram Banjade, expert in the field of forest management, federalism and governance, presented on the potential of forest resources in Nepal, current gap in its utilization and the pressing needs for greater involvement of local governments. He empasized that Division Forest Offices with around 1800 to 2000 technical forest manpower are statistically unable to fully realize the sector’s potential, making it essential for local government to take over some of the administrative responsibilities.

Then the program proceeded to the panel discussion with experts in the field of federalism, constitutional processes and representative from the local government, moderated by Dr. RC Lamichhane. This was an insightful discussion where the panelist shed light on the present scenario and how Nepal’s constitutional framework positions federalism within natural resource management, and what practical steps are needed to make it more effective on the ground.

The event also marked the joint inauguration of policy briefs and a video documentary developed under CLARE R4I by Hon. Dr. Sujata Tamang and Hon. Mohan Raj Acharya. Participants actively engaged with the knowledge products, offering valuable feedback and suggestions, which will be incorporated into the final versions.

Overall, the workshop served as a meaningful platform for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration on strengthening forest governance within Nepal’s federal structure.

Link to the full report of the event: View Full report

ForestAction Nepal, as the secretariat of the Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF), in collaboration with Jilla Prangarik Sangh, organized an interaction program titled “Organic Agriculture: Scope and Challenges” on 19 April 2026 in Rapti Municipality, Chitwan. The program was attended by around 40 participants from diverse backgrounds, mainly local farmers, local representatives, and representatives from ForestAction Nepal, AAF, and Jilla Prangarik Sangh, who are committed to advancing organic agriculture.

The session began with a presentation by Sunil Bhandari, who outlined the initiatives of AAF and ForestAction Nepal in promoting organic agriculture from the field to the policy level, with a focus on strengthening research, capacity building, and policy advocacy. This was followed by Mr. Chandra Prasad Adhikari, President of the District Organic Federation, Chitwan, who shared his experiences in organic farming and emphasized the importance of strong local federations to unify farmers and amplify their voices. Mr. Uddhav Adhikari, Coordinator of AAF, highlighted the need for collective action and collaboration among stakeholders to advance farmers’ concerns from the local to the national level. Addressing the session, Mr. Shamsher Lama, Mayor of the municipality, responded to participants’ queries by clarifying the municipality’s role, ongoing efforts, and plans for promoting organic farming. He also shared his personal experiences and reaffirmed his commitment to supporting organic farmers.

A seven-member municipal-level committee was formed, led by farmers from within the community, to work in a collaborative approach in the production and marketing of their produce, while also building wider networks with farmers from other regions. The program concluded with a shared understanding of the need to strengthen coordination among farmers, organizations, and policymakers to overcome challenges and expand the scope of organic agriculture in Nepal.

ForestAction Nepal recently partnered with the Agroecology Department of the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS) through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on research, provide student research grants, offer internships, and support capacity-building initiatives.

Following the agreement, on 5^th April 2026, the Food and Agriculture team at ForestAction Nepal participated in an orientation program for Masters students in Agroecology organized by the department. During the session, the team presented the organization’s vision, core areas of work, and approach, highlighting its long-standing commitment to promoting agroecology and sustainable agriculture across Nepal. They also introduced opportunities for student engagement, including field-based research, internships, collaborative projects, and capacity-building activities that connect academic learning with real-world practice.

After the presentation, an interactive session was held where students raised questions on practical challenges in implementing agroecology, such as scalability, policy support, and market access for organic and local products. The ForestAction team addressed these queries and explained how the organization is actively working to overcome these challenges.

This session provided students with a closer understanding of ForestAction’s work, offered valuable insights into agroecology in practice, and facilitated discussions on potential areas for collaboration between students and the organization.

Exchange visit to organic farms in Chitwan: learning from the field

ForestAction Nepal has been actively engaging in participatory action research on agroecology with farmers in Dhusa, Ichchhakamana RM, Chitwan, a journey that began as a small-scale initiative and has now evolved into a formal Community Action Group (CAG) consisting of nine lead farmers. To support this growth, ForestAction provides continuous technical backstopping and capacity-building opportunities.

As part of these efforts, on 31^st March 2026, an exposure visit to successful organic farms was organized for the CAG members. The main objective of this exchange visit was to provide farmers with a platform to share experiences, observe best practices, and explore innovative approaches in chemical-free agriculture. The visit emphasized peer-to-peer learning, fostering collaboration and practical knowledge exchange among local practitioners.

First site: Prangarik Krishi Utpadan Kendra, Fulbari, Bharatpur-15

The first stop was the Prangarik Krishi Utpadan Kendra, farm of Mr. Chandra Prasad Adhikari, a leading organic farmer and a President of the District Organic Federation (Jilla Prangarik Sangh). Mr. Adhikari provided participants with a comprehensive overview of organic farming covering production systems, market access, pricing, and the broader prospects of organic agriculture at the local, national, and international levels. His insights gave the CAG members a clear understanding of current status of organic sector and the opportunities it holds for smallholder farmers practicing chemical-free farming.

Following the orientation session, participants toured the farm, observing diversified farming practices, including vermi-compost units and other sustainable production techniques.

Second site: Prabhat Prangarik Krishi Utpadan Kendra, Sukranagar, Bharatpur-24

The group then visited the Prabhat Prangarik Krishi Utpadan Kendra, owned by Mr. Chhabi Lal Neupane, a long-time practitioner of large-scale organic farming. Drawing on years of hands-on practice, he shared his experiences and key lessons in sustaining organic production. He also conducted a live demonstration of organic and natural disease and pest management techniques, offering practical and replicable insights that participants could apply on their own farms.

Key takeaways

The exchange visit was a valuable learning experience for the CAG members, reinforcing the viability of chemical-free farming and deepening their confidence in adopting and scaling up such practices on their own farm in Dhusa, Ichchhakamana. Interacting with lead organic farmers and observing their farms firsthand helped bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, strengthening the community’s commitment to sustainable and regenerative agriculture.