Project Title
Catalysing ecosystem restoration for climate resilient natural capital and rural livelihoods in degraded forests and rangelands of Nepal
Key Figures:
- Budget: USD 16 million (co-finance USD 12.05 million)
- Executing Entity: Ministry of Forests & Environment
- Area to rehabilitate: Over 1000 ha of forest and 450 ha of rangelands
- Beneficiaries: Direct beneficiaries of the project: 56,170
- Fund: Least Developed Countries Fund (GEF)
- Project Sites: 12 Village District Committees in Achham, Dolakha and Salyan Districts
- Timeframe: 2018-2022
Description
In Nepal, natural resources in forest and rangeland ecosystems underpin many local industries, but due to unsustainable land use practices, soil erosion is increasing which is reducing soil fertility and affecting water supplies. This, together with the impacts of climate change, poses a threat to local and indigenous communities that depend on ecosystem goods and services for their livelihoods.
To address this problem, UNEP and its partners are working to build climate change resilience by implementing ecosystem-based approaches to adaptation (EbA) in degraded forests and rangelands in mid-hill and high mountain areas and to generate awareness of EbA and increase understanding on the role of EbA in climate change adaptation. Traditional knowledge, coupled with scientific research, is used to develop an integrated suite of adaptation interventions to restore forests and rangelands, improve livestock management, reduce soil erosion, increase water harvesting and develop additional livelihood options from forests, rangelands, and agro-ecosystems.
These interventions are enhancing the capacity of the ecosystems to adapt to climate change and provide important goods and services to indigenous and local communities. In doing so, these ecosystems are providing a buffer from extreme weather events and temperature increases improving communities’ resilience to climate change.
This project will build on several ongoing baseline projects, including the Leasehold Forestry Programme (LFP), the Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Project (MSFP), the Tree Improvement Programme (TIP), the Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco-Regions project (BCRWMER) and the Livestock Service Development and Extension Programme (LDSEP).
Media & Resources:
- Project Factsheet
- Story: On Nepal’s slopes, villages brace for a worsening monsoon
- Video: Nepal’s race against the monsoon
- GEF project page
- Find more climate adaptation resources and multimedia
To explore our other EbA projects, click here.
