Agenda

About the workshop

Based on the need for building a sustainable sub-national level land cover monitoring system that produces reliable data with key forest types on an annual basis at municipality level, the World Bank has launched an advisory services and analytics (ASA) activity on “Improving data and analytics for sustainable forest management in Nepal” as part of the Green, Resilient, Inclusive Development advisory program (GRID PASA) in Nepal. Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC) and International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) are undertaking technical work to produce sub-national biophysical forest indicators for Nepal. In this respect, FRTC, ICIMOD and The World Bank are jointly organising a half-day pre-launch workshop on development of sub-national biophysical forest indicators.

Rationale

Nepal has achieved impressive success by nearly doubling its forest cover to 46 percent of the country’s area over the last two decades, serving as an example of what is possible, in a context where communities have been equal partners in the management of natural resources. As outlined it its 15^th and 16^th Development Plans and GRID Strategic Action Plan 2024-2034, Nepal aims to build on these successes in the forest sector by transitioning from a conservation-focused model to a sustainable forest management model that will deliver jobs, secure livelihoods, and increase value addition for Nepal. Major data gaps exist, however, to enable subnational governments and communities to update forest management plans and receive performance-based fiscal transfers of forest royalties; to improve diversity and inclusion in livelihoods for forest-dependent households; and to identify opportunities to increase economic benefits from forests.

This analytical support to the Government is carried out as part of the World Bank’s programmatic engagement in forest landscapes in Nepal. In response to a request from the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOFE), the analytics aim to support investment decision making, resource planning, forest management practice, and policy implementation, by filling critical forest data and analytical gaps on the biophysical conditions.

Workshop objectives

The objective of the workshop is to present the draft forest type map of Nepal prepared under the efforts to develop sub-national biophysical indicators for sustainable forest management and forest-related revenue transfers in Nepal. The presentation will include methodologies adopted for classification and validation and will seek feedback from the participants for the finalisation of the forest type map.

Expected output

We expect to receive constructive feedback from the participants to finalise the sub-national biophysical forest indicators specific to needs of the forest management relevant to the province/ municipalities.

 Expected participants

Participants will include experts and stakeholders from relevant organisations, representatives from relevant federal organisations such as Ministry of Forest and Environment (MOFE), National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNRFC), Department of Forest and Soil Conservation, and REDD Implementation centre, Province Forest Ministry, Directorate, Province FRTC, Municipality Association of Nepal, National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal and academia.