The German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) has supported ICIMOD’s regional initiative on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (regional REDD+ initiative) since 2014. Elsa Nickel, Deputy Director General of BMU, will visit Chitwan, Nepal from 12 to 15 June to observe the progress of BMU-supported REDD+ activities in the district. This visit will also include a meeting with the Director General of ICIMOD on 15 June in Kathmandu.

During her visit to Chitwan, the District Forest Officer (DFO) of Chitwan will present the activities of the REDD+ Himalaya project in Nepal and the status of the REDD Desk and REDD Working Group established by the project. The discussion will also cover the new federal structure and role of District Forest Offices. This interaction will show how Chitwan fits into the overall planning for the 12 districts’ Emission Reduction Project Development (ERPD) initiated by the Nepal government’s Ministry of Forest and Environment.

The REDD Implementation Center (REDD IC) will present the shape of the REDD process in Nepal and the contribution of the REDD+ Himalaya project. The Government of Nepal recently endorsed the National REDD+ Strategy; the discussion will cover what needs to be done for effective REDD+ implementation in the country.

There will be field visits to see forestry plots established by the DFO with the support of the REDD+ Himalaya project. There will be an interaction with buffer zone communities to better understand their role in forest management and biodiversity conservation.

ICIMOD will present the sub-national REDD+ action plan and biodiversity monitoring protocol developed for REDD+ and the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) will present on human-wildlife conflict and its relevance for REDD+.