For Environment, Democracy and Livelihoods
Building on the key insights gained from the initial assessment and consultations conducted in Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces, ForestAction Nepal is currently implementing the second phase of the project entitled, “Strengthening Socio-Ecological Resilience to Climate Change through Improved Collaboration between Local Governments and Community Forest User Groups in Nepal.” Consultations with local governments (LG) leaders, CUFGs, and provincial government officials and stakeholders in these regions highlighted critical governance challenges, including conflicts over power sharing across three levels of governments, policy confusions, inconsistent policy implementation, and a lack of consorted efforts to mobilise and capitalize forests resources.
With the aim of bridging these policy/regulatory, institutional and operational gaps, the project aims to facilitate evidence supported constructive multi-stakeholder policy dialogues at different levels of governance. The whole idea is to develop and present a business case that would appeal the political and bureaucratic leadership in materializing the lost opportunity in community forestry. By producing a change well-researched and creditable report on lost opportunities will serve as a key advocacy tool to drive policy action and institutional reform.
The initiative is aimed at fostering cross-level collaboration in governance and management of community forests through evidence informed stakeholder dialogue. The specific objectives are:
– Conduct a diagnostic study (economic assessment and political economy analysis) on the missed opportunity in community forestry focusing on its economic potential, cost of poor management, drivers of stagnation and prospects of collaboration.
– Inform and orient key policy actors on the cost of non-action and prospects of decentralized governance to materialize the potential of community forestry.
– Foster multi-stakeholder dialogue towards strengthening multi-level government and cross-level intergovernmental collaboration for a productive, resilient and sustainable management of community forestry.
With this partnership FAN will document:
– A technical report highlighting the progress from the engagement, dialogues and diagnostic study, along with financial report.
– A diagnostic study report on the economic potential of community forestry, missed opportunity due to non-action and associated political economy analysis.
– A policy brief on current status, lessons learnt and suggested strategies for key actors in community forestry.
– An infographic on economic potentials and gaps in CF contribution to national economy.
Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change induced disasters such as flood due to the unpredictable rainfalls and excessive precipitation. Flooding has exacerbated food insecurity and livelihood losses especially in the marginalised communities of these regions. Based on such issue, BAGAR project focuses on regenerating and sustainably managing floodplains in the Marin Municipality of Sindhuli, Bagmati Province and Gadhimai Municipality of Rautahat, Madhesh Province.
Collaborating with vulnerable groups including Indigenous communities, the project will develop ecosystem-based agro-forestry plans that will integrate native fodder species, which are resilient to floods and can provide food and livestock feed.
– To collaboratively develop ecosystem-based agroforestry plans for the Gadhimai and Marin floodplains, focusing on climate-induced flood risk reduction, and enhancing food and fodder production.
– Drafting of guideline for formation of EbA forum at municipal and ward level
– Assessment of Agroforestry’s Impact on Flood Mitigation and Fodder Production
– Develop municipal level agro-forestry guideline
– Develop municipal level agro-forestry Plan (includes short-term and long-term plans, areas wise species selection and benefits for farmers)
– Scenario based GIS mapping of agro-forestry approaches
– Capacity building of EbA forums (Wards and Municipality) on agro-forestry guideline/plan and species selection
– Feasibility Study of Agroforestry-Based Enterprises
– Development of advocacy and awareness materials on EbA
In Nepal, while attempts have been made to integrate women in decision-making in community forest user groups (CFUGs), including special provisions for poorer members’, representation of women is not enough and there still remain challenges to their meaningful participation and influence in decision-making. Besides absence of forest tenure rights for women, limited access to land and other resources and lack of social entitlements have stunted their position as possible stakeholders in the forest economy. Gender-based constraints women experience also intersect with other social identities such as age, caste/ethnicity, class and educational levels and has a compounding effect for women to survive and thrive in agriculture and forestry-based enterprises. Similarly, women in Nepal face serious challenges in financing low carbon small and micro enterprises that create jobs and income for rural women. Mainstream banks and financial institutions narrowly prioritise profit potential so that social and environmental objectives are often ignored. More importantly, despite policy promises of encouraging women entrepreneurs through diversifying their financial access, banks and financial institutions stick to strong collateral-based loans, which women are not in the position to fulfil or often lack.
In response to such challenges and with the aim of improving financial literacy, ForestAction Nepal has partnered with Climate Policy Initiative (CPI), an advisory organisation with deep expertise in finance and policy to drive economic growth while addressing climate change to work on this project.
The main objective of this project is to conduct research to understand constraints and opportunities in financing women led/women-benefitting grassroots organisations in agriculture and forestry sector engaged in climate-positive economic activities and demonstrate the feasibility or establish pathways to finance by enabling appropriate project preparation support through a dedicated facility that could serve as a template for similar projects in Asia.
This project aims to conduct a comprehensive value chain analysis of three key products- timber, ginger, and turmeric, originating from community-based production systems in Nepal. These products hold significant potential for contributing to local livelihoods, sustainable forest management, and national economic growth. The study will assess the full spectrum of the value chain from production and processing to marketing and export with a focus on identifying opportunities for efficiency, profitability, and sustainability.
To carry out a Value Change Assessment of key timber products, ginger, and turmeric to inform future planning and potential actions for upgrading their value chain.
Over 40% of Nepal's population, with high percentage of poor, women, Dalit castes and other marginalised groups, reply on forest products and associated ecosystem services for their daily sustenance and income. However, with the increasing climate change effects and impacts, it has exacerbated challenges for the forest dependent communities. Such issues coupled with policy gaps in forest management have led to the underutilisaton and degradation of forest resources, limiting their potential to support rural livelihoods and economic development.
Noting the urgency for a structured approach to strengthen policy engagement and to foster multi-stakeholder dialogue, CLARE R4I has collaborated with ForestAction Nepal for technical assistance to develop evidence-based policy briefs and enhance communication strategies that advocate for sustainable forest management and green enterprises development in Nepal.
To facilitate knowledge exchange and policy engagement, contributing to sustainable forest management while strengthening local economies, and building climate resilience among Nepal's forest-dependent communities.
Over the past few decades there has been increasing threat of forest fires, driven by both climate change and anthropogenic factors that are having profound environmental, economic, and social impacts. Communities in affected areas are lacking in essential resources and specialised equipment, frequently relying on rudimentary tools like shovels, spades, and even branches to combat fires. The shortage of trained personnel and no effective coordination mechanisms further amplify these challenges, sometimes resulting in tragic loss of lives.
ForestAction Nepal and Australian Himalayan Foundation has partnered to work together to enhance the protection of communities, livelihoods and biodiversity from climate-driven and human-caused fires.
Outcome 1: The capacity in two Rural/Municipalities to prevent forest fire incidents has been strengthened
Outcome 2: The capacity in two Rural/Municipalities to respond to forest fire events has been strengthened
Outcome 3: Policy and strategy makers at local and provincial levels have recognised the importance of community-based forest fire management practices to prevent and respond to forest fire incidents.
Forests are vital to 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. The "Training and Consultation on Forest Fire Prevention and Response" project aims to address these challenges by empowering local communities, stakeholders, and forest management personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to prevent and effectively respond to forest fires. This project focuses on enhancing awareness, building technical capacity,and promoting sustainable practices to reduce the occurrence and impact of forest fires.
To support in building the capacities of the key stakeholders in identifying the risks associated with
forest fire in Nepal and implement activities pertinent to its response and prevention.
The program aims to contribute to the following specific outcomes:
– Finalisation and validation of a comprehensive and practical forest fire training module that incorporates feedback from a wide range of stakeholders and experts.
– Enhanced awareness among stakeholders about the importance of forest fire prevention and management, leading to improved preparedness and response capabilities at both national and local levels.
– Fostered collaboration between government agencies, local governments, NGOs, and communities, ensuring a unified approach to forest fire risk reduction and management.
The following activities will be carried out to meet the objective.
1. Consultation Meetings:
The consultation meetings aim to achieve several key outputs:
– Identification of gaps or areas for improvement in the training modules, leading to further adjustments before final validation.
– Inclusion of local-level knowledge and unique challenges identified during field observations and stakeholders' interactions, making the training more practical and relevant.
– Strengthened collaboration between different stakeholders, including district-level stakeholders, local government, and NGOs, fostering a unified approach to forest fire prevention and management.
2. Training Programs on Forest Fire Prevention/Response:
The training program aims to achieve several 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.
3. National Workshop on Forest Fire Management:
The workshop will involve the following activities:
– Presentation of findings from the consultation meeting and the training program.
– Presentation of the drafted training module.
– Presentation from the government on the existing status of forest-induced disasters in Nepal
– Group work and presentation on key thematic areas
– Finalisation and validation of the training manual and discussion on the way forward.
This project is a joint initiation of ForestAction Nepal and The Asia Foundation. It aims to foster socio-ecological resilience to climate change by enhancing collaboration between local governments and Community Forest User Groups in Nepal. Recognized as a pioneer in community-based forest management, Nepal’s community forestry model has successfully increased forest cover and promoted local democracy and equitable resource sharing. Despite these successes, gaps remain in maximizing the economic potential of community forests, mainly due to limited collaboration between CFUGs and local governments. This project addresses these challenges by evaluating current regulatory frameworks and identifying opportunities for LG and CFUG partnership to enhance sustainable, productive, and equitable forest management. With a focus on climate resilience, the project will employ comprehensive field assessments, policy reviews, and stakeholder consultations in Galyang and Tikapur municipalities, representing Nepal’s diverse geographic and socio-economic contexts. The outcome of this project will include actionable insights and policy recommendations aimed at strengthening forest governance and fostering sustainable, climate-responsive forest management practices. This initiative will ultimately support long-term resilience, benefiting both local communities and ecosystems.
-Review regulatory arrangements on community forestry and local government interface, identifying key gaps and challenges in management, particularly of CF.
-Carry out an assessment of existing conflict and cooperation between local government and community forestry regarding planning on building social and ecological resilience to climate change through forest-based activities.
-Identify prospects and spaces for functional collaboration, appropriate oversight roles, and resource sharing between local governments, community forest user groups, and the three tiers of government (local, provincial, federal).
The project involved a series of key activities designed to assess and strengthen collaboration between local governments and Community Forest User Groups in Nepal. These activities included:
Policy and Literature Reviews: A comprehensive review of existing laws, policies, and academic literature on community forestry and local governance in Nepal. This analysis helped in identifying gaps, conflicts, and areas for enhanced collaboration.</>
Field Visits: Conducted in Galyang and Tikapur municipalities, the field visits offered practical insights into the operational realities of LG-CFUG interactions across different regions and ecological zones. This hands-on observation was crucial for understanding local challenges and strengths in forest management.
Key Informant Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders, including municipal officials, CFUG leaders, and representatives from provincial and federal governments. These interviews gathered in-depth perspectives on current regulatory practices, governance challenges, and collaborative opportunities.
Focus Group Discussions: FGDs were held, with particular emphasis on capturing the voices of underrepresented groups, such as women and marginalized communities, to ensure inclusive perspectives in forest governance.
Expert Meetings: Reflective meetings with forestry and policy experts were conducted to discuss preliminary findings, refine insights, and develop targeted recommendations for improving LG-CFUG collaboration.
Overall, this project has laid the groundwork for fostering stronger collaboration between local governments and CFUGs in Nepal, with the aim of bolstering socio-ecological resilience to climate change. Through comprehensive research, field assessments, and stakeholder engagement, the project has identified both challenges and opportunities within existing forest governance frameworks. The project outcomes will not only support ecological conservation but also contribute to the livelihoods and resilience of communities, setting a model for sustainable natural resource governance.
The project, “Promoting ecologically sound and socially just forest landscape restoration through co-production of knowledge and local capacity building,” aims to address the pressing issues of forest degradation and biodiversity loss in the central Himalaya. It seeks to establish a more inclusive and ecologically informed approach to forest restoration by integrating scientific research, traditional knowledge, and the needs of local communities. The project will develop strategies and frameworks for sustainable restoration practices and enhance the capacities of local actors. By using a participatory approach, the project will produce actionable knowledge to guide restoration efforts across diverse ecological regions leading to resilient forest landscapes and enhanced socio-ecological outcomes.
The overall objective is to promote ecologically sound and socially just forest landscape restoration through informed strategies, proactive involvement, and enhanced capacities of stakeholders. The specific objectives are:
– Improving the rehabilitation of forest and ecological systems.
-Developing guiding and strategies for site-based and data-informed restoration approaches.
– Providing training on skill development initiatives.
– Building capacity of stakeholders at local, regional and national level.
– Forming network of restoration practitioners.
Activity 1: Comparative Assessment of Restoration Strategies.
Details: This activity involves a detailed ecological and social assessment of existing restoration strategies across different ecological zones in Nepal. It includes ecological sampling, surveys, and participatory methods involving local communities and experts.
Expected Outcome: Development of a comprehensive database on the performance of various restoration strategies, contributing to informed decisions about best practices for specific biophysical conditions.
Activity 2: Development of Restoration Manual.
Details: A landscape restoration manual will be developed based on review of global principles and local practices, stakeholder consultation and discussions along with landscape restoration guiding frameworks. The manual will be used to guide practitioners in the implementation of ecologically sound and socially just restoration practices.
Expected Outcomes: Establishment of widely acceptable restoration manual focusing on practical, step-by-step guidance for restoration activities tailored to local environmental and social context.
Activity 3: Capacity Building Workshops
Details: Capacity needs assessment, exposure visits, and training and workshops will be conducted for local stakeholders, including government officials, CSOs and IPLCs. The session will focus on the restoration manual application and identification of best practices from the project.
Expected Outcomes: Enhanced local capacity for implementing effective forest landscape restoration strategies, with a strong network of trained restoration champions.
Activity 4: Establishment of a Multi-Stakeholder Restoration Platform
Details: The project will establish a platform for ongoing dialogue and collaboration among various restoration actors where sharing of knowledge, experiences, and resources will be conducted.
Expected Outcomes: Enhanced coordination and cooperation among stakeholders towards cohesive and comprehensive restoration efforts.
The project’s main goal is to restore degraded patches of forest for enhanced biodiversity and forest carbon. The following four objectives have been established to achieve this goal, and different activities and practices will be carried out under each of these objectives.
– To restore Forest ecosystem and conserve biodiversity in Jalthal community forests
– To control existing and newly reported invasive alien species through the adoption of strong policy and operational measures by CFUGs, local governments and other stakeholders
– To increase opportunities for income and employment generation of forest-dependent people through better management of land and biological resources
– To mainstream Forest restoration and biodiversity conservation in the national and sub-national policy framework
The main goal of the project is to improve policy and practices related to agroecology and sustainable food systems in Nepal. The food and Agriculture team at ForestAction Nepal provides secretariat services to the Alliance of Agriculture for Food-AAF. AAF is a collective campaign involving Producer Farmers, I/NGOs and Civil Society Groups working on the issue of food, land, agriculture and climate change. The campaign aims to amplify the voices of smallholders, women and landless farmers and is committed to promoting sustainable agriculture through an integrated system of social development.
The major activities are broadly categorised under themes: Policy Research, Lobbying and Campaigning, Networking and Mobilization, Training and Capacity Building; and Documentation and Publication. The team mobilizes AAF in bringing issues of agroecology and sustainable food systems into debate through policy advocacy, lobbying and capacity building, supported by evidence generated by the team through research on related issues.
Activity 1:
Details of Activity 1: Activity 1 involves conducting a series of workshops aimed at teaching basic coding skills to middle school students. These workshops will cover fundamental concepts such as variables, loops, and conditional statements using interactive exercises and engaging activities.
Expected Outcomes of Activity 1: By the end of Activity 1, participants are expected to gain a foundational understanding of coding principles and be able to write simple programs independently. Additionally, they will develop problem-solving skills and confidence in their ability to engage with technology creatively.
Activity 1:
Details of Activity 1: Activity 1 involves conducting a series of workshops aimed at teaching basic coding skills to middle school students. These workshops will cover fundamental concepts such as variables, loops, and conditional statements using interactive exercises and engaging activities.
Expected Outcomes of Activity 1: By the end of Activity 1, participants are expected to gain a foundational understanding of coding principles and be able to write simple programs independently. Additionally, they will develop problem-solving skills and confidence in their ability to engage with technology creatively.
Activity 1:
Details of Activity 1: Activity 1 involves conducting a series of workshops aimed at teaching basic coding skills to middle school students. These workshops will cover fundamental concepts such as variables, loops, and conditional statements using interactive exercises and engaging activities.
Expected Outcomes of Activity 1: By the end of Activity 1, participants are expected to gain a foundational understanding of coding principles and be able to write simple programs independently. Additionally, they will develop problem-solving skills and confidence in their ability to engage with technology creatively.
As a part of the Paris Agreement, Government of Nepal has submitted its revised NDCs (nationally determined contributions) for mitigating the climate change impacts, where forest restoration is one of the key areas. By 2030, the Government of Nepal plans to further increase its forest coverage, where restoring the forests of Chure region is one of the core aspect. However, there has been prevalence of issues such as economic aspects of past and present forest restoration programs including their environmental and social impacts, lack of understanding and existence of conflicting evidence regarding the restoration effects. There has been existing knowledge gap in the aspect of effectiveness, costs, and benefits of previous or existing tree-planting and forest restoration and amount of carbon sequestration. Additionally, there is a need for examination on regards of sustainability of forests, forest restoration incentives and impacts of restoration programs on livelihoods, employment generation, poverty, and gender equity between households and communities. Thus, the project aims to generate information and knowledge for designing and implementing effective nature-based climate solutions and access to financial resources to support forest restoration.
The research aims at generating information needed to design and implement effective nature-based climate solutions and access financial resources to support forest restoration. In particular the research intends to:
– Elucidate the economics of plantation forests on private land as a nature-based carbon mitigation option in Madhesh province of Nepal.
– Understand the institutional attributes that shape restoration outcomes.
– Mapping, and trend analysis of forest cover and forest carbon (both in the forest as a whole and restoration sites) and its relation to ES, policies and intervention.
– Capacity building of younger and emerging researchers to conduct relevant research on the topic
Activity 1: Conduct a cost-benefit analysis of private plantation forests for carbon mitigation in Madhesh province.
This research investigates the economic feasibility of private plantation forests in Madhesh province for carbon mitigation by analyzing the different intervention practices and cost-benefit analysis of the landowners. Quantitative method will be utilized to provide clear economic rationale and practical recommendations for promoting plantation forests as a viable carbon mitigation strategy.
Expected outcomes
The activity will achieve a comprehensive understanding of the economic feasibility of establishing and sustaining private plantation forest to mitigate carbon emissions in Madhesh Province. It entails the development of a robust framework for evaluating the cost-benefit dynamics of future plantation projects, facilitating informed decision-making processes. Furthermore, there will be a publication in a peer-reviewed international journal, providing a comprehensive understanding of the economic viability of establishing and maintaining private plantation forests for carbon mitigation purposes.
Activity 2: Evaluate the influence of institutional frameworks on forest restoration outcomes.
An in-depth institutional analysis will be conducted to identify key factors influencing forest restoration outcomes in Madhesh province focusing on policies, regulations, and stakeholder roles. Case studies, KIIs and stakeholder workshops will be utilized to extract best practices and foster consensus on improving institutional frameworks for better restoration outcomes.
Expected outcomes
This activity is expected to provide a comprehensive understanding of the institutional dynamics influencing forest restoration success in Madhesh province, encompassing policies, regulations, and stakeholder roles. By analyzing these factors, actionable recommendations will be formulated to enhance institutional frameworks, facilitating effective restoration initiatives in the region. The insights gleaned from this will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed international journal, to inform strategies for improving the effectiveness of restoration efforts worldwide.
Activity 3: Analyze trends in forest cover and carbon, in relation to policies and interventions
Conduct comprehensive mapping and trend analysis of forest cover and carbon stocks in Madhesh province using remote sensing and GIS data. Assess the relationship between these trends and ecosystem services, policies, and interventions to provide actionable insights and policy recommendations for optimizing forest management and carbon sequestration, with findings disseminated through reports, policy briefs, and stakeholder workshops
Expected outcomes
This activity will leverage remote sensing to analyze forest cover and biomass and carbon trends, and their relationship with policies and population information. The findings will be presented as informative maps and reports, offering valuable insights for managing forest resources and their associated benefits.
Activity 4: Develop research capacity of younger researchers on nature-based solutions for carbon mitigation.
Develop and implement a comprehensive capacity-building program to empower young and emerging researchers with essential skills and knowledge in forest economics and restoration through thesis grant.
Expected outcomes
By fostering the next generation of researchers, this activity is expected to contribute to a future with several publications in relevant scientific journals.