सूचक

• National legal frameworks support participatory governance, inclusion and accountability in the forest, environment and other sectors. The Forest Act (2019) and Forest Regulation (2022) establish participatory forest management systems, require preparation and implementation of operational plans through community-based processes, and include requirements related to Free, Prior and Infomred Consent (FPIC).

• The National Environment Policy (2019) emphasizes people’s participation in environmental conservation and sustainable natural resource management, while the Environmental Protection Act (2019) and Regulations (2020) institutionalise information sharing, consultation, public hearings, and grievance mechanisms in environmental decision-making, e.g. in relation to Environmental IMpact Assessments. 

• The Local Government Operation Act (2017) provides for participation of citizens in local planning and decision-making, while the Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act (2008) promotes transparency, accountability and inclusive public participation in governance processes. 

• Community‑Based Forest Management (CBFM) systems form the primary mechanism for enabling participation of rights‑holders and stakeholders in the forest sector in Nepal. Through Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) and other CBFM groups, local communities members, including Indigenous Peoples, women, Dalits and forest‑dependent households, are formally organised and participate in decision‑making, forest management, benefit sharing, and monitoring processes. The Forest Act (2019), Forest Regulation (2022), and Community Forest Guideline (2014, 2025) also set out legal procedures for participation of CFUG members in Forest Management Plan preparation and implementation processes.

• Gender equality and social inclusion (GESI) is integrated in sectoral policies and strategies, including the GESI Strategy for the Forest Sector (2007) and the Ministry fo Forest and Environment's Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan on Climate Change (2020-2040). The Forest Regulation (2022) and Community Forest Guidelines also require at least 50% of female representation in the committees of CFUGs. 

• Civil society and representative organisations also play a key role in facilitating participation in the forest sector. These include organisations such as the Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN), the Association of Collaborative Forest Users Nepal (ACOFUN), and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, which represent community interests, support stakeholder engagement, and provide channels for participation in forest governance processes.

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This indicator is linked to Indicator B1.1, which addresses REDD+ institutional structures and platforms for participation.

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•  Annual reports, website, social media and other publicatons are in place for stakeholder engagement and communication related ot REDD+. These include online communication channels such as the REDD Implementation Centre (RIC) website, the Safeguards Information System (SIS) platform, National Forest Information System (NFIS) and other digital tools used to disseminate REDD+, safeguards and stakeholder engagement information.

•  REDD+ stakeholder engagement mechanisms provide a platform for information sharing, including the meetings and other operations of the National REDD+ Steering Committee (NRSC), National REDD+ Coordination Committee, Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committees (PRCC), REDD+ Multi-Stakeholder Forum, REDD+ CSOs and IPOs Alliance, and the regular meetings with stakeholders organized by the REDD IC.

• The REDD+ Multi-Stakeholder Forum and CSOs and IPOs Alliance act as the principal outreach and communication platforms for issues relating to REDD+-related activities in the country. It includes representatives from the private sector, civil society, media, government organizations, community-based organizations,Indigenous People's organizations, local and international NGOs, donors, academic and research institutions, women and youth-related organizations, and other stakeholders interested in REDD+. These institutions were recently confirmed in the updated National REDD+ Strategy (NRS) (2025 - 2034). which also provided updated information on their membership. 

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This indicator is linked to Indicator D1.3, which addresses stakeholder participation procedures for NRS and ER Programs.

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•  REDD+ actions in Nepal, as set out in the NRS (2018, 2025) are integrated into ER Programs, as well as the forest management plans of District Forest Offices (DFOs), Buffer Zone Management Plans, Conservation Areas Management Plans, and Forest Management Plans of CBFM groups. The relevant legal framework requires the full, effective, and timely participation of stakeholders in the preparation and approval processes for all of these forest management plans. 

• CBFM institutions, including Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), CBFM groups and Leasehold Forest groups, play a central role in implementation and monitoring of forest management activities, including REDD+ actions, in their local areas. These groups implement forest management plans, monitor forest conditions, and participate in decision-making and benefit sharing processes, providing a structured mechanism for participation of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and Dalits in REDD+ implementation and monitoring.

• ER programs also build on existing participatory forest monitoring practices within CBFM systems. For example, 9t is expected that local communities will be involved in collecting forest-level information during the implementation phase of the LEAF ER Program. 

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