ForestAction Nepal

New Blog

The blog “Climate Finance Dilemma in Nepal: A System Without Practice” highlights the gap between Nepal’s climate finance policies and their implementation on the ground. While the country has established various frameworks, strategies, and institutional mechanisms to mobilize and manage climate finance, the article argues that limited institutional capacity, weak coordination, inadequate transparency, and challenges in accessing funds have hindered effective delivery of resources to vulnerable communities. The blog emphasizes the need to move beyond policy commitments and strengthen practical systems, accountability mechanisms, and local-level capacities to ensure that climate finance reaches those most affected by climate change.

[Link: https://forestaction.org/climate-finance-dilemma-in-nepal-a-system-without-practice/]

Training on Entrepreneurship Development, Management, Record-Keeping, and Financial Literacy

Under the CaFIN Project (funded by IDRC / CRDI through Climate Policy Initiative ), entrepreneurship development, management, record-keeping, and financial literacy trainings were successfully conducted for agriculture and forest-based entrepreneur networks in Sindhupalchok and Nawalpur districts.
A total of 59 entrepreneurs, primarily women, participated in three-day training sessions held between 18–28 May 2026. The training enhanced participants' knowledge and skills in enterprise planning and management, financial literacy, record-keeping, access to financial services, and regulatory procedures.
Through interactive discussions, practical exercises, games, and experience sharing, participants explored solutions to common business challenges, developed business plans, and strengthened their capacity to sustainably manage and grow their enterprises.

for more details click the link to read more: https://forestaction.org/training-on-entrepreneurship-development-management-record-keeping-and-financial-literacy/

Localized degradation persists!

Over the last six decades, adopting both strict protectionist and participatory policies, Nepal has demonstrated a substantial progress in increasing forest cover and tree density. Despite these progress, various forms of localized degradation persist in forests, wetlands and rangelands. Recently our researchers organized Rapid Ecological Appraisal to explore various forms of land degradation and response to degradation in eastern Nepal. Among others, we focused on understanding how land degradation caused by increasing dry spells and as well as by erosions affects well-being of rural people. This exploratory study is part of REDAA program supported research undertaken by ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with Nepal Foresters' Association (NFA) and Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN). ForestAction Nepal led REDAA project aims to improve restoration outcomes through knowledge, capacity and dialogue.

Under the BAGAR (Building Agroforestry-based Adaptation Plans for Resilient Floodplains) Project being implemented by ForestAction Nepal in partnership with Heifer International Nepal and The Small Earth Nepal (SEN), conducted Municipal-Level Agroforestry Plan Validation Workshops in Marin Rural Municipality, Sindhuli and Gadhimai Municipality, Rautahat from 3–6 May 2026 📅.

The workshops brought together members of municipal Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Forums to review and validate agroforestry plans for floodplain restoration and climate resilience.

Discussions focused on agroforestry priorities, riverbank stabilisation, erosion control, ecosystem restoration, enterprise development and climate-resilient livelihood opportunities. By integrating scientific planning with community-based solutions, the BAGAR Project aims to reduce flood risks, restore degraded floodplains and strengthen livelihoods though food and fodder security in Nepal’s Bagmati River Basin.

Click the link to read more about this initiative: https://forestaction.org/municipal-level-agroforestry-plan-validation-workshops-under-bagar-project/

ForestAction Nepal's Biodiversity Challenge Funds supported project has published a book to help conserving biodiversity of the last remaining patch of tropical forest, Jalthal forest, in the Eastern Nepal. The book, earlier launched in Kathmandu, has been launched in the Project site, Jalthal. Key local stakeholders of the forest-chair of Haldibari Rural municipality, official from DFO Jhapa, Chair of FECOFUN Jhapa and Ward chair of Haldibari 04 -which holds large part of Jalthal forest, came together to support the book launch. Book launching was also accompanied by an interaction on biodiversity conservation of the forest. Representatives from all 22 community forests of Jalthal, leaders of local level FECOFUN and members of civil society attended the interaction.

A brief sharing program was also organised in Koshi province Ministry of Tourism, Forests and Environment in Biratnagar. The Tree Book and biodiversity profile of Jalthal were also handed over to the ministry in the event. The Secretary of the Ministry and Director of Province forest directorate, attended the program and shared their appreciation for the publication.

Dr Lila Nath Sharma, the coordinator of Jalthal biodiversity project and EC of ForestAction Nepal, also made a courtesy call to the newly elected member of parliament of the project site and briefed about the project's work and forest's biodiversity. Dr. Sharma also visited Bhadrapur Municipality, Haldibari and Kachankawal rural municipalities to handover the book to the mayor/Chair and Vice Mayor. During the meeting in the ministry as well as in the local governments, discussion was held about conserving the forest building on the results provided by the project.

Between March 28 and April 6, 2026, ForestAction Nepal successfully conducted ward-level agroforestry plan validation workshops across 16 wards in Gadhimai Municipality (Rautahat) and Marin Rural Municipality (Sindhuli). As part of the BAGAR Project (jointly implemented with Heifer International Nepal and Small Earth Nepal), these workshops ensure context-specific and participatory agroforestry planning for floodplain areas.

Highlights of the Workshops:
- Altogether, 251 members (76 female, 175 male) from 16 EbA forums actively participated in the workshop
- Discussions centered on validating the agroforestry plan within ward-level contexts and addressing climate vulnerabilities in the Terai (heat stress, drought, flooding) and Chure (landslides, soil erosion).
- Ward chairpersons and local communities collaborated to prioritise agroforestry systems, species, and implementation challenges specific to their wards.
- Productive (food/income) and protective (conservation) agroforestry systems and species, particularly livestock and fruit-based systems, were of strong interest at the community level.

The initiative aims to develop locally appropriate agroforestry plans to enhance long-term climate resilience, specifically in riverine and floodplain areas.

Want to read more about this initiative? Click here: https://forestaction.org/agroforestry-plan-validation-workshops-ward-level/

The introduction of federal system in Nepal has revealed new interface and responsibilities between community forestry and local governments. Noting the need for discussion on such transition, ForestAction Nepal organised a workshop titled "Forest in Federalism: Stake of Local Government in Forest Management" alongside the knowledge dissemination activities under the assignment of CLARE R4I.

Some of the key messages from the workshop which included panel discussion and expert presentation are:
1. Local governments must play a greater role in forest management to unlock Nepal's vast forest potential and ensure effective governance at the grassroots level.
2. We need to align Nepal's federal and constitutional frameworks with practical implementation, enabling stronger coordination among all levels of government.
The event also marked the launch of policy briefs and a video documentary. Overall, the workshop served as a meaningful platform for dialogue, reflection, and collaboration on strengthening forest governance within Nepal’s federal structure.

Want to read more: https://forestaction.org/forest-in-federalism-stake-of-local-government-in-forest-management/