Forest Landscape Restoration activities begins in Ramdhuni, Sunsari

Training on field method on Forest Landscape Restoration

Restoring forest landscapes is a global priority and local necessity, vital for addressing climate change and biodiversity loss. Nepal excels in forest restoration through participatory community forestry, managing over a third (2.3 million hectares) as community forests. Despite these successes, forest degradation continues; forest heterogeneity has declined, incidences of forest fire have increased, overall biodiversity, including rare and threatened plants, is not adequately conserved, and invasive species of plants and animals are rising in forests.

Noting such issues and urgency, ForestAction Nepal is undertaking a research to analyse the socio-ecological outcomes of restoration interventions in Nepal. As part of this research, a training program on the assessment of Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) was organised between 27th and 30th December, 2024. The event, which took place in Ramdhuni Forest, Sunsari, Nepal, featured hands-on training on field data collection to enhance capacity building of targeted research team members while also inviting graduate students and forest officials for capacity development.

Graduate students from Post Graduate Campus, Biratnagar and Purbanchal University, College of Environment and Forestry along with forest officer from Ramdhuni sub-division office were trained alongside research team members. They received comprehensive training to enhance their skills in forest inventory and data collection techniques on FLR, gaining invaluable practical experience.

Community workshop to discuss issues on FLR
A workshop was organised to discuss various social and ecological issues around restoration interventions, monitoring and outputs. The training/workshop brought together a diverse group of participants, including community leaders from nearby community forests, forest officials, and representatives from FECOFUN, NFA, and ForestAction Nepal. The consultation featured an expert presentation on the crucial role of community involvement in forest landscape restoration (FLR). Various activities were designed to engage participants, helping them better understand FLR principles and practices. These included both open-ended and close-ended activities that provided participants with multiple options to contribute their insights and suggestions on effective forest landscape restoration methods. The collaborative approach ensured that the input from all stakeholders was valued and incorporated into the restoration plans.

Field work for data collection on Forest Landscape Restoration
From 19th December 2024 to 2nd January 2025, a team of researchers from ForestAction Nepal conducted a comprehensive field data collection in Ramdhuni Forest, Sunsari, Nepal, for Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR). The team gathered data from various forest types- community forests, national forests, and religious forest. The collected data encompassed forest structure, species richness, and species composition. Additionally, they assessed Tree related Microhabitats (TMs) and evaluated a range of environmental variables such as topographic, edaphic (soil-related), and disturbance factors. Socio-economic variables were also recorded to understand the human impact and involvement in the forest ecosystem. This thorough data collection aimed to provide a holistic understanding of the forest’s current state and inform effective restoration strategies.

Enhancing forest fire management capacities of forest officers

Enhancing forest fire management capacities of forest officers

With the aim of equipping forest officers from Bagmati Province with the knowledge and skills on forest fire, the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Bagmati Province in collaboration with ForestAction Nepal, and in support of the Australian Embassy, Nepal, and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has concluded a transformative Training on Forest Fire Management in Dhulikhel, Kavre from 22-24 December 2024.

The training has successfully drawn 17 forest officers from 13 district across the Bagmati Province. This training emphasized proactive prevention measures at the division level and the vital role of forest officers as facilitators and trainers. Comprehensive lectures and field demonstration on forest fire suppression techniques were adopted for the training. The training primarily focused on the following aspects of forest fire management:

Implement effective forest fire prevention and response strategies in their respective districts,

Share their expertise with community members and subordinates, fostering a broader understanding of forest fire management,

Design community-focused forest fire prevention and response initiatives that directly benefit local stakeholders and ecosystems.

This training is believed to have contributed towards supporting the forest officers who remain in the front line of forest fire management across the region.

Consultation/Training on Forest Fire Prevention and Response

Consultation/Training on Forest Fire Prevention and Response

Forests are vital for maintaining ecological balance, supporting biodiversity, and providing resources for local communities. However, forest fires pose a significant threat to these ecosystems, causing extensive damage to flora and fauna, degrading soil quality, and contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. The need for effective forest fire management has become increasingly urgent due to changing climate patterns and human activities that heighten the risk of fires.

ForestAction Nepal, in collaboration with NDRRMA Nepal, DFAT and Australian Volunteers Program, organised and facilitated a four-day consultation/training event in Dhulikhel, Kavre district from 18-21 November 2024, which aimed to sensitized and equip stakeholders with the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary for effective forest fire risk reduction and management.

Approximately, 22 participants took part in this training event, representing the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepal Army, Divisional Forest Officers, Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), and Federation of community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN).

The training employed a mixed-method approach that included workshops, field-based practice, group discussions, presentations, and demonstrations. The participants also received hands-on training in fire safety and the use of essential tools and equipment for forest fire suppression. The training program aimed to achieve the following key outputs:

  • Increased awareness among local communities about the importance of forest fire prevention and its management at the community level.
  • Improved ability to use forest fire management techniques and technologies introduced in the program to enhance their firefighting capabilities.
  • Successful testing and refinement of the draft forest fire training module based on practical exercises and feedback during the training sessions.

Mastering Chainsaw Safety

Mastering Chainsaw Safety

In several districts of Bagmati Province, individuals often perform chainsaw operations without formal training or guidance leading to unsafe practices and habitat destruction. Recognizing this issue, EnLiFT2/ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with the Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC) launched a 2-day training session (16th-17th May 2024) on the “Safe Chainsaw Operation and Maintenance Program”. The training program focused on bridging the knowledge gap by providing comprehensive training on safe chainsaw operation and maintenance practices. By equipping chainsaw operators with the necessary skills and knowledge, the program seeks to ensure the safety of the operators, minimize environmental impact, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the sustainability of chainsaw use in Nepal.

A total number of 24 diverse participants from different fields (forestry workers, farmers, sawmill operators, construction workers, drivers, etc) attended the session. The first day of the session focused on “Introduction to Chainsaw Operation and Safety” where theoretical knowledge on usage, components, maintenance, and environmental considerations of chainsaw operations were discussed. Similarly, the second day aimed to enhance the participant’s theoretical knowledge through practical exercises, safety procedures, and legal & regulatory methods.

At the end of the training, participants were evaluated on their understanding and proficiency in safe chainsaw operation through written assessment and practical demonstrations. The “Safe Chainsaw Operation and Maintenance Program” has become a successful program in enhancing safety awareness among chainsaw operators from the Bagmati province, developing their technical skills, and emphasizing the importance of responsible and sustainable practices!

Localizing activities and transforming Invasive Species Management

Localizing activities and transforming Invasive Species Management
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.

Modular Training on Forest Management for Community Users

Sustainable forest management is crucial to generate ecological, economic, as well as social benefits. Such management practices have existed for some time in community forests of Nepal, yet there are gaps in regards to developing common understanding on the technical competence and benefits of sustainable management of forests. With this intent, EnLiFT2 successfully concluded a ‘Modular Training on Forest Management for Community Users’ in Chautara municipality, Sindhupalchowk (29-30 August 2023) and Bhumlu rural municipality, Kavre (3-4 September 2023) on 4 September 2023. The training was intended to develop better understanding on the concept of sustainable forest management among the community forest user groups. The partakers (14 males and 14 females in Chautara; 17 males and 10 females in Chaubas) of the training, which also involved representatives of local government in both sites (3 from each palikas) undertook both theoretical as well as sessions on practical application of sustainable forest management. The training sessions and field activities were facilitated and guided by researchers of the EnLiFT2 project.

The sessions delivered during the training involved the following:

Session 1: Concept of SFM

Sessio2: Prospects and challenges of SFM in Nepal

Session 3: Community rights and responsibilities in SFM

Session 4: Forest management system and rotation age according to the species present in the area

Session 5: Policies related to SFM

Session 6: Preparation and implementation of sustainable forest management operational plans in the current situation

Restoring degraded forest in biological corridor

The Barandabhar biological forest/corridor is unique in terms of its rich biodiversity, and connects Chitwan National Park in the south to the Mahabharat Hill Range in the north. In the recent years, the biological corridor has been affected by infestation of invasive alien plant species like Mikania micrantha, Lantana camara and Chromolaena odorata among others. While efforts have been in place to address the issue in the past, the interventions did not take into consideration couple of aspects like natural regeneration, season for invasive plant removal, and targeted species for removal among others. With an aim to mitigate the problem, ForestAction Nepal has been working with the community forest user groups to restore the degraded forest and conserve biodiversity through site level demonstration, building capacity of the forest user groups, and provide feedback for future efforts on policy reform in forest restoration. The initiative is supported through IKI small grant.

Here are some of the key achievements of the intervention:

■ Selective invasive plant species were completely uprooted or slashed through use of local technologies like sickle, spade, kutto, kodalo. Over 700 Metric tonnes of invasive plant species have been collected restoring 110 hectares of forest land. It was mostly the forest user groups engaged in the work that took 800 man-days involving over 120 local people, mainly women.

■ With an aim to promote natural regeneration, protection of native species was prioritized. So far, over 24000 native seedlings have been protected, including Sal, Khasreto, Kadam, Padke, Sitalchini, Kamare, Sindure, Asna, Rajbrikshya, Kadam, Simal.

■ Training was provided to 94 members from three community forests.A total of 60 quintal of compost manure prepared out of the invasive plants. The composts are being used in their farms.

■ A biodiversity assessment and profiling of Barandabhar corridor is being undertaken. Floristic survey has reported a total 347 species of flowing plants, faunal survey listed 47 species of amphibians and reptiles, 7 species of the reptiles and amphibians that are listed in IUCN Red list (1 Endangered, 2 Vulnerable, and 4 Near Threatened) and 7 listed in CITES (1 Appendix I and 6 Appendix II), two of which are endemic to Nepal has been found.

■ One amphibian species which is expected to be new to science and 2 species of plants that might be new to Nepal has been found (yet to be verified).

■ Communication and dissemination of the work, along with preparation and publishing of training materials.

Plantation as a resource base creation: an empowering process for women entrepreneurs

ForestAction Nepal, along with its consortium partners HIMAWANTI, AFFON, and FenFit, Nepal, has successfully completed the plantation of 31,034 NTFPs in Sindhupalchowk and Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta Purba) districts this year. The process of plantation as a resource base creation has been an empowering process for women entrepreneurs carved out by the project Economic Empowerment of Women through Forest Solutions. The project took intersectionality as an important approach for the action research. Many women are deprived of forest resources, even though their livelihoods depend heavily on the forest for food, fuel, and income. Their access to these resources is denied. Hence, to ensure the resources in the vicinity of the communities, the plantation and distribution of the NTFP resources like 500 bamboo, 23,900 amriso, 2000 coffee, and 4634 nigalo were done.

They are the ones who preferred the species for the plantation after being involved in the task force created for undertaking the activities. Strolling around the village, they found the different qualities of the species based on their traditional knowledge. They also went to neighboring villages for resource exploration, enhancing their freedom of mobility from their daily household work and even negotiated the prices. Hence, they secured abundant resources for the consistent supply of raw materials for the enterprises they selected in the inception period of the project, allowing them to assure the sustainability of the resources. Furthermore, interactions with the private farmers and local government in the process have helped in their agency’s development as well as strengthening of private sector.

The arduous process of the plantation involves mind mapping and demand collection from women entrepreneurs, followed by coordination and discussion with stakeholders- Local Government, Division Forest Office, private resource owners, community forest user groups, rural marginalized women entrepreneurs, in Nawalpur and Sindhupalchowk districts. Arranging the human resources for extraction purposes (labor, transportation) was a herculean task during these peak agricultural engagement periods yet it was successful with strong dedications from the entrepreneurs.

To assure sustainability, women entrepreneurs are held accountable to leverage the resources, and social mobilizers are mobilized for frequent monitoring and supervision at the plantation site.

Sal (Shorea robusta) leaves and Thakal (Phoenix laureiroi) inventory for sustainable harvesting

Economic Empowerment of Women through Forest Solutions (WEE-FS), an action research project led by ForestAction Nepal in consortium with HIMAWANTI Nepal, AFFON, and FenFIT and funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada, has been carving out eco-friendly products like bio cups and plates from Sal (Shorea robusta) leaves and aesthetics from Thakal (Phoenix laureiroi) leaves. To ensure resource-based sustainable harvesting, leaf inventory was conducted in Nawalparasi (E).

In Nepal, 44.74 % of the area is covered by forest, where Sal is the dominant species of the Sub-Tropical/ Terai region. Forest act 2079 stated that extracting any form of forest product should be provisioned on the Community Forest Operational Plan. Internalizing the fact, an inventory of Sal leaves was conducted in Deurali CFUG, Amarjyoti CFUG, and Sankhadevi CFUG in Gaidakot Municipality and Thakal leaves inventory was carried out in Namuna CFUG-Devchuli Municipality. The inventory was designed in close technical coordination with the Divisional Forest Office, Nawalparasi (E); besides, Community Forestry Inventory Guideline, (2061), NTFP Inventory Guideline (2069), and Forest Regulation (2079) were referred in the design process. This inventory ensures ecological integrity, economic viability, and resource-based sustainable harvesting techniques, all these while developing enterprises to economically empower marginalized women.

This inventory, therefore, enables the comprehensive evaluation of the resource base and sustainable harvesting method to address the escalating subsistence and commercial requirements of marginalized women groups involved in the NTFP-based enterprises identified by the women entrepreneurs.

 

Empowering women through wasted Raw materials/weeds (Sisnoo) in promoting green enterprise in Ghumthang, Sindhupalchowk.

The stinging nettle (sisnoo), have a long history of its usage as weaponry during wars. These have now emerged as an empowering tool for women in Sindhupalchowk. Considered as an abandoned weed, sisnoo has a growing demand on the national and international markets because of its medicinal and health benefits. It helps in body detoxification, increased metabolic efficiency, boosted immunity, increased energy levels, and many more. For ages, people from many different nations and cultures have used nettles. It has been used therapeutically on the skin, consumed as an herbal tea, and eaten as a wild food plant. In recognition of its growing significance, the project “Economic Empowerment of the Women through the Forest Solutions,” funded by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada and implemented by ForestAction Nepal along with its consortium partners, Himalayan Grassroots Women’s Natural Resource Management Association (HIMAWANTI), Nepal, Association of Family Forest Owners, Nepal- (AFFON), Federation of Forest-based Industry and Trade, Nepal (FenFIT-Nepal) has supported 12 women groups in Sindhupalchowk to promote it as a green enterprise.

These women are actively engaged in nettle leaf collection, drying, grinding, and packaging, along with the basics of product marketing. They are also equipped with necessary technological backing, including a multipurpose grinder and a packaging machine supported by the project. Not only have these enterprises raised hope among women in supporting their livelihoods, but have also emerged as a promising technique in promoting eco-friendly farming. In order to safeguard the environment, this enterprise operates according to green standards that restrict energy use, no greenhouse gas emissions, and generate less amount of waste.

Fostering engagement and networking of women entrepreneur groups through exposure visits

Exposure visits have proven to be a crucial training method in terms of sensitizing communities on a variety of resource management techniques. It has especially been beneficial to women groups where they get an opportunity to interact and learn from each other, allowing them to perceive solutions from the point of view of their real life situation. In this backdrop, Economic Empowerment of Women through Forest Solutions (WEE-FS)- an action research project led by ForestAction Nepal in consortium with HIMAWANTI Nepal, AFFON and FenFIT supported by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada organized an exposure visit targeting women Thakal entrepreneur group from Namuna Community Forest User Group (CFUG) on December 14, 2022. Among the participants were women entrepreneur groups, executive committee members of Namuna CFUG, representative of Nawalpur Khabar, representative from the Local Government (Ward level) and district Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) .

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Promoting forest restoration through nvasion species management in Jalthal

Jalthal is a biodiversity-rich forest island in South-East Nepal. It is a remnant of once contiguous lush forest popularly known as Charkoshe ban. In the recent years, forests of Jalthal have been infested with Invasive Alien Species (IAS)-particularly by Mikania-mile a minute, thus posing threat to biodiversity. In an effort to restore the degraded forests of Jalthal and promote conservation of its biodiversity, ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with the Royal Botanical Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), FECOFUN Jhapa, and community forest user groups of Jalthal, have been implementing activities targeting the removal of IAS along with supporting the livelihoods of community forest user groups.

Good progress has been made in regards to having a solid scientific foundation including documentation of key biodiversity components, identifying specific threats and their proximate and underlying causes, communicating ecological significance of the forest with local communities and government, piloting invasive species management practices, and identifying locally suitable agroforestry for forest biodiversity conservation and sustainable use of forest biological resources.

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