Identifying policy and institutional gaps for managing rangelands for multiple benefits in the HKH

About the training

In collaboration with the Department of Livestock Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development; and Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forest and Environment; ICIMOD is organising a two-day workshop to support the Government of Nepal in improving policies and institutional coordination for integrated, participatory, and inclusive management of rangelands.

At the inception workshop held in Kathmandu from 29 May to 1 June 2023, participants from national partner institutions jointly developed the national implementation plan for ICIMOD’s ‘Rangeland intervention: Managing rangeland for multiple benefits’. Identifying policy and institutional gaps and recommending changes were some of the important activities to start within Nepal.

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Objectives

• Review the objectives, outcomes, consistency, and compatibilities of national/sector policies of Nepal on rangelands management in the context of managing rangelands for multiple benefits
• Identify mandates, roles, and responsibilities of key stakeholders in Nepal in rangeland uses and management
• Identify a field site to demonstrate managing rangelands for multiple benefits of rangeland in Nepal (through a government complimentary grant and ICIMOD resource, and plan the activity together in the model sites)

Expected output

• Knowledge and information on the sectoral policies, programmes, and investments in rangeland management
• Recommendations for policy and institutional changes and project interventions
• Identified working areas and developed plans for joint activities of managing rangelands for multiple benefits

Participants

Representatives from key institutions, including government departments, business sectors, enterprises, local communities, civil society, and research organisations using or managing rangelands.

 Background

In Nepal, rangelands account for about 12% of the total land area of the country. They play an important role in achieving Nepal’s national goals in biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable development. Over the past 10 years, after Nepal passed its Rangeland Policy in 2012, the socio-economic and political context for rangeland management in Nepal has witnessed drastic changes. Various laws and policies related to land including rangelands management such as the National Land Policy 2019, Forest Act 2019, and Land Use Act 2019 were established or revised. Compared to a decade ago, infrastructure facilities especially communication have improved significantly in the rangelands. There is a need for a review of how rangelands fit into the new regulatory, policy, and institutional context and how the previous Rangeland Policy of Nepal can be adapted to the new realities.