On the occasion of National Conservation Day on 23 September 2021, the Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative ( KSLCDI) brought together various stakeholders on a virtual platform to formally launch a partnership for livelihoods and conservation. The project under KSLCDI aims to promote and implement sustainable environmental management, livelihood development, and agro-forestry activities in Sudurpashchim Province, Nepal.

In line with the National Conservation Day, Nakul Chettri, Regional Programme Manager for Transboundary Landscapes highlighted the importance of ICIMOD’s efforts in developing a partnership with various stakeholders for conservation and the promising potential of the Nepalese pepper [Nepali: timur, Zanthoxylum armatum) for preserving the environment and alleviating poverty. Timur plantation as an agroforestry project can have major environmental benefits such as: climate change mitigation through carbon sequestration, biodiversity conservation, soil health enrichment and air and water quality improvement. Similarly, the agroforestry project will help generate income to the communities.

In his opening remarks, Basanta Shrestha, Director of Strategic Cooperation thanked the partners who contributed to the project and said that the project serves as a good example for upscaling conservation initiatives in other provinces. Arvind Rana, Head of Medicinal Plants, Dabur Nepal emphasized the conservation and restoration of medicinal and aromatic plants. ‘‘Dabur Nepal as a private company is delighted to continue the long-term partnership with ICIMOD and support its work with communities by providing saplings, technological training, and buying back of the produced harvest,’’ said Rana.

Janita Gurung, Programme Coordinator, KSLCDI explained that in line with the overarching objective, KSLCDI identified Baitadi district, Sudurpashchim province for piloting the agro-forestry project in collaboration with the provincial government, local communities, and the private sector. The partnership involves the Regional Forest Directorate of Sudurpashchim Province, Divisional Forest Office, Baitadi, Taalkolla Community Forest User Group (CFUG) along with the Shree Gwallek Kedar Women’s Cooperative, and Dabur Nepal.

Following the launch of the multi-stakeholder partnership project, the representatives of Shree Gwallek-Kedar Women’s Cooperative and Taalkolla CFUG appreciated our support in addressing their needs. Both stakeholders had a good learning experience from the exposure visit and interaction programme on timur plantation that we organized with Dabur Nepal earlier this year. They have allocated 10 ha of land for this agroforestry project. Sanjiv Giri, Joint Manager, Dabur Nepal assured their commitment to the project by providing timur seedlings. He observed that although this project was for five years, it will bear fruit for many more years.

Keshab Parajuli, Divisional Forest Officer, Baitadi, stated that the local government of Sudurpashchim Province is full supportive of the project. This year, the District Forest Office provided 2500 timur seedlings for plantation. He also assured that they will be providing support in establishing a nursery to scale out forest plantation in the area.

The virtual event on multi-stakeholder partnership for livelihoods and conservation reiterated the stakeholders’ commitment to the agro-forestry project.

Anisha Shrestha

Naina Shakya

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