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, “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.

Aims and Project Objectives

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:

• Objective 1: To enhance adoption and benefits from Active and Equitable Forest Management (AEFM) and improved private forestry practices
• Objective 2: To develop and institutionalize community forestry planning, governance and gender equity frameworks within the new local government system
• Objective 3: To design and facilitate the establishment of pro-poor small-scale forest enterprises

Major Themes and Priority Actions

Active and Equitable Forest Management (AEFM)

• Application of AEFM in community and private forests
• Capacity building of communities and stakeholders
• Analysis of changing socio-ecological dynamics
• Research supported policymaking in forest management

Planning and Governance

• Develop and apply inclusive planning framework in community forestry
• Test and institutionalize models of Community Forestry-Local Government (CF-LG) planning
• Test and institutionalize gender equality models in community forestry
• Facilitate strengthening of research-policy interface in forestry planning and governance

Forest Based Enterprises

• Analysis of forest enterprises and value chain
• Understand and facilitate regulatory reforms in forest based enterprises
• Promote pro-poor and gender equitable forest based enterprises
• Facilitate research backed policy process towards promoting forest based enterprises

The main objective of the project is Policy advocacy through evidence based research and capacity building of farmer’s network and alliances to improve food security and Livelihoods status of poor, socially excluded and vulnerable women and men in Nepal.

he overall aim of the project is to improve livelihoods and resilience of poor and disadvantaged people in Dhankuta, Terathum, Bhojpur and Shankuwasabha through sustainable and equitable management of forest resources.

The objective of this project is to facilitate district stakeholders to make agriculture strategic plans in their districts. The collection and analysis of field data, and interaction and verification of data collected from village level for the plan has been completed Bajura ADP plan drafts are now in the process of being finalized.