For Environment, Democracy and Livelihoods
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.
There has been a global debate about the need to change food and farming system to prioritize soil health, nature, and human well-being rather than merely increasing production. In response, international and national policies are being formulated, and efforts are being made worldwide to improve food and agricultural systems. Agroecology and sustainable food systems are critical components in addressing ongoing social, environmental and health challenges. Recognizing the need for improvements in these areas, our project is dedicated to enhancing policies and practices related to agroecology and sustainable food systems in Nepal.
The overall objective of the project is to improve policies and practices related to agroecology and sustainable food systems in Nepal. By integrating broadly five key components: Policy Research/Field Action Research, Lobbying and Campaigning, Networking and Mobilization, Training and Capacity Building; and Documentation and Publication, the project aims to contributing in creating a robust framework that promotes agroecology and sustainable food system that is favourable to majority of smallholders including women and marginalized farmers.
Details: The team engages in review and synthesis of policy documents and field actions to generate evidence for policy advocacy. While doing so, team follow participatory process to produces adaptive knowledge and practices in collaboration with farming communities. Believing that conventional farming promotes the use of external inputs (chemicals and pesticides) and degrades of soil and production system, impacting human and environmental health, the focus is on agroecological farm practices at local communities. ForestAction Nepal provides secretariat services to the Alliance of Agriculture for Food (AAF), 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.
Expected outcomes: Evidence generated for policy advocacy (case studies, discussion papers, articles, reports, annual factsheets)
Details: With the evidence generated and mobilization of AAF, the team engages in organizing issue-based discussions and interactions (e.g., periodic plans, Agriculture act, Budget and programs), organize public events (e.g., World Social Forum), and preparing and publishing appeals and pressnotes. Team also organize delegations and celebrate various occasions (e.g., International Food Day, World Social Forum National Paddy Day, Mountain Day).
Expected outcomes: Enhanced and intact relationship with wider stakeholders, increased public awareness and commitments from stakeholders
Details: Besides strengthening AAF itself, the team collaborates and provides supports as needed to other networks such as organic farmers, farmers groups, civil society forums, agriculture students. They also contribute as resource persons, panelists/experts and provide synergy by engaging in activities with common interests.
Expected outcomes: Enhanced network and contributions in promoting common agendas
Activity Training and Capacity building
Details: The team organizes capacity activities such as walking training, permaculture training, apprenticeship course, and orientations on related issues (e.g., agroecology) for themselves (team members) and their stakeholders (e.g., community mobilizers, farmers, representatives from different institutions .Additionally, they organize training and exposure visits for team members.
Expected outputs: Enhanced knowledge, skills and exposures
Details: The team publishes case studies, journal articles, appeals, press notes, discussion papers, reports, factsheets and various articles and interviews in newspapers and social media and shares widely.
Expected outcome: Increased awareness and knowledge sharing
Jalthal Biodiversity project is a Darwin Initiative UK supported project implemented by ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with Royal Botanic Garden Edinburg, UK (RBGE), Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL), Federation of Community Forest User Groups Nepal (FECOFUN, Jhapa). The project aimed to conserve biodiversity in community forests of Nepal through field actions and capacity building of key stakeholders i. e. community forest user groups (CFUGs). Jalthal forest has been the primary site to demonstrate practical models of biodiversity conservation and forest restoration. Jalthal forest, paradoxically, shows diversity and degradation simultaneously.
The project was designed to conserve the rich biodiversity and mitigate drivers of forest degradation. During the period of its implementation (July 2019 to March 2023) the project has identified key features of biodiversity and highlighted the extraordinary socio-ecological significance of the forest. Through biodiversity profile, the project has demonstrated that community forests have high biodiversity, which is often overlooked, and deserve conservation attention. The project has developed a simple yet effective models of degraded forest restoration through integrated site management. The project has piloted a new approach for invasive species management for better economic and ecological outputs. The project has also successfully piloted agroforestry approach of forest restoration for the benefit of both nature and people.
The project, Hamro Ban, Hamro Bhawishya: A community- powered Restoration Project in Nepal Chure Range, is aimed at initiating activities focused on conserving biodiversity and improving livelihoods through afforestation, reforestation and forest regeneration projects. The proposed Community-based Biodiversity and Carbon Improvement project in Nepal is to tap into the voluntary carbon finance to be invested in native tree plantation that enhances the capacity of forest sinks and mitigating forest emissions while contributing to local livelihoods and biodiversity conservation. This is a stepped up climate change action taken by local population that safeguard forest ecosystems and are incentivized for their actions. The Project will be taken up in Koshi Province, Madhesh Province and Sudurpaschim Province in Nepal and other areas upon potential scale up of the Project.
The objective is to design and develop a detailed project document (DPD) for launching biodiversity conserving and livelihood-enhancing afforestation, reforestation, and forest regeneration project activities as a part of developing a carbon-financed project across three provinces in Nepal.
– Identification of the potential restoration sites in all three provinces through GIS mapping and validate through the field visits leading a way for the consultation.
– Conduction of Stakeholder Consultations: Organize multi-stakeholder consultations across nine potential Project sites, three in each of the following provinces: Koshi, Madhesh, and Sudurpashchim in Nepal.
– Develop Detailed Project Documents for three provinces including a design for a four-year plantation schedule, including of plantation sites and necessary GPS coordinates.
The primary objective of the initiative is to restore forest ecosystem, conserve biodiversity, and promote sustainable farming through invasive species management in community forests along Chure landscape of Nepal.
The project, “Enhancing livelihoods from improved forest management in Nepal (EnLiFT 2)”, is a forestry research project with funding assistance from the Government of Australia through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). The project builds on the success and lessons of the 5-year project FST/2011/076, Enhancing livelihoods and food security from agroforestry and community forestry in Nepal, also known as the EnLiFT project.
EnLiFT is a collaboration among two international organizations and five national organizations. In its six-year tenure (1 December 2018 – 30 June 2024) it aims at understanding the socio-ecological impacts of Active and Equitable Forest Management (AEFM); improving local government planning in the context of rapid social, economic and political change; strengthening the Community Forestry User Groups (CFUG) system in the context of new local government powers; reducing gender inequality in community forest decision-making; low-labor input activities that are suitable for time-poor women; tree-based enterprises that could be deployed on under-utilized land (UUL); a new institutional framework for regulatory and institutional cooperation between the CFUGs and local governments; pro-poor forest based enterprises models; alternative regulatory structures for marketing forest products; and responses to the disconnection between research and policies for improving livelihoods.
The aim of the project is to enhance forest management practices in community forests and private land to improve livelihoods and economic development and facilitate improved social equity. The following are the project objectives:
Active and Equitable Forest Management (AEFM)
Planning and Governance
Forest Based Enterprises
