सूचक

• Nepal’s policy and legal frameworks including the Constitution (2015), National Forest Policy (2019), National Environment Policy (2019), National Climate Change Policy (2019), Forestry Sector Strategy (2016-2025), Environment Protection Act (2019), Environmental Protection Regulations (2020), and Long-term Strategy for Net-zero Emissions (2021) all emphasise the importance of assessment of environmental and social  benefits and risks of all programs, including for REDD+. 

• Nepal has a system of project and program level environmental assessment, under the Environment Protection Act (2019) and Environmental Protection Regulation (2020), which define which types of projects/programs must carry out environmental assessments, which demand a more detailed study, and mandate wider participation of local communities. 

• A Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA)  was completed in 2014, feeding into the development of the National REDD+ Strategy (2018-2022) and the Forest Carbon Partnership facility (FCPF) ER Program. It included assessment of potential impacts related to biodiversity and ecosystem services, and was conducted on a set of anticipated REDD+ strategies. The SESA report comprises stakeholder analysis, baseline social and environmental situation, legal and policy framework, potential positive and negative impacts of the strategic options, and formulation of an Environmental and Social management Framework (ESMF). 

• Examples of potential irisks identified inlcuded decline of biodiversity in compensatory plantations, and chemical pollution from agricultural intensification, while benefits included for instance, conservation of biodiversity outside of the protected areas network and reduced soil erosion. The proposed ESMF set out a number of recommendations related to biodiversity, ecosystem services and other environmental risks and benefits, such as: a screening process for REDD+ related projects and activities; identification of actions that may need IEE/EIA/ESIA; and indicative mitgation measures (e.g. use of mixed species in plantations, spatial mapping of sensitive habitats, etc).

• The REDD+ actions in the NRS were designed to avoid adverse impacts and to promote protection of natural forests and other natural ecosystem areas, biodiversity and ecosystem services, in alignment with Nepal’s legal framework. For example, Strategy 2.1 of the NRS aims to improve the management and conservation of forests, protected areas and watersheds at by promoting integrated conservation, ecosystem-based adaptation and participatory ecotourism; Strategy 11.4 aims to ensure effective implementation of IEE and EIA while using forest land under nationally prioritized development projects. 

• The review of the NRS in 2024 compiled information on the impacts of the previous Strategy, including those related to biodiversity and ecosystem services, and informed the revised NRS (2025-2034). Some of the outcomes reported included MoUs/cooperation with neighbouring countries on biodiversity conservation and controlling poaching and illegal trade in wildlife products, and the role of the protected area network while challenges included limited systematic measurement of non-carbon benefits and lack of non-carbon payment for ecosystem services schemes. 

Data Sources:

• For the FCPF ER Program in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), biodiversity and ecosystem service considerations were assessed through the Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) and integrated into the Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF). These identified potential environmental risks and benefits and provided measures to avoid, minimise and mitigate adverse impacts. The potential risks and benefits were discussed, and finalized during stakeholder consultations in the ER Program districts. The ER Program Document (2018) also lists the potential social and environmental benefits and risks that could be expected from the implementation of the REDD+ actions.

• Measures identified in the ESMF related to biodiversity and ecosystem services include general recommendations for screening and assessment of REDD+ related projects and activities, as well as specific measures such as the use of mixed species in plantations, spatial mapping of sensitive habitats and migration routes, and techniques for soil conservation/stabilisation of sloping land, among others.

• The FCPF ER Program incorporates these measures through its seven intervention areas, including improved management of existing community and collaborative forests, localisation of forest governance through Community-Based Forest Management (CBFM), expansion of private forestry, promotion of alternative energy, scaling up pro-poor Leasehold Forestry, improved land-use planning, and strengthening management of protected areas.  

• The FCPF ER Program also incorporates incentives that support conservation objectives, including improved livelihood opportunities, sustainable forest-based enterprises, alternative energy programmes, strengthened community forest management, and benefit sharing arrangements designed to encourage sustainable forest management and conservation of natural forests and associated ecosystem services.

• The LEAF ER Program’s interventions are based on those in the NRS (2018, 2025), and further consideration of potential impacts is being promotd though the Propgram's stakeholder consultation process. Program interventions continue to support conservation and sustainable management of forests, biodiversity and ecosystem services in alignment with the NRS. For example, DFO plans in the LEAF ER Program area include a range of activities contributing to conservation of natural forest, biodiversity and ecosystem services, such as human-wildlife conflict management, support to protected areas, and assisted natural regeneration of forests.

Data Sources: