समुदाय र पारिस्थितिक प्रणालीको उत्थानशिल्ताका लागी नागरिक समाजको पहल

Background

This project CSOs action for resilient ecosystem and community is funded by European Union and Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC) through ADRA Austria and implemented by ADRA Nepal in partnership with ANSAB, Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) and Bheri Environment Excellence-Group (BEE Group). The project aims to protect 10000 ha of forest and farmland through mobilisation of the forest user groups and farmers groups for sustainable forest management aligning with the National Forest Stewardship Standard (NFSS). The project expects that the targeted CSO members (forest user groups and farmer groups) are benefiting from ecosystem conservation and improved livelihood activities for income generation to reduce their dependence on forests and forest products. Furthermore, the project in line with EU’s Biodiversity Strategy 2030, aims for decreased incidences of wildlife damage through introduction of wildlife resistant farming technologies such as fencing and wildlife resistant crops cultivation such as MAPs in wildlife prone areas also reducing the human wildlife conflict. The project takes action against wildlife trafficking through various training and awareness sessions on international commitments including CITES. The action will work with 11,200 direct beneficiaries from local communities organized in 70 CSOs (50 forest users-, 20 farmers-groups) from four local governments: Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality and Kohalpur Municipality of Banke district, adjoining to Banke National Park, and Madhuban Municipality and Thakurbaba Municipality of Bardiya district, nearby Bardiya National Park.

Objectives:

• Empower CSOs and networks engaged in biodiversity conservation.
• Promote the restoration of ecosystems in Banke and Bardiya districts.
• Strengthening CSOs and networks through policy development and advocacy in issues-based rights.
• Enhancing the Sustainable forest management

METHODOLOGY:

• The project employs a participatory approach, involving local communities, CSOs, and partner organizations to ensure the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration activities.
• The implementation method is community-based with active CSO and networks participation along with multi-stakeholders’ collaboration for evidence-based knowledge generation, documentation, and application, having an inclusive and gender transformative approach at the centre. It will facilitate the building of ownership, skills and expertise, ensuring active and meaningful participation of vulnerable and marginalized groups (women, PwD, youths, IPs, Dalits) at policy making and implementation resulting in improved institutional capacity, good governance, better forest management and biodiversity conservation, providing the project firsthand feedback if transferred knowledge and skills are understood. To generate income and employment, networking between beneficiaries and private sectors and their business association will be strongly facilitated. To ensure opportunities for youth, women and marginalized groups, special activities (LRP development, enterprise development, green jobs) will be designed and implemented based on an incentive plan outlining sustainable motivators. The policy formulation process will happen directly with knowledge bearers and through exposure visits showing results. Partners will jointly assess and build the capacity of CSOs, mobilizing them for SFM, agroforestry, enterprise development and eco-tourism. The influencers (youth, women and CSO network members) are empowered and equipped for CSOs capacity building. Joint initiative actions with the LG will be done for conservation and livelihood enhancement. CSOs will be linked to DFOs for necessary registration and approvals. Joint actions will be carried out with National Parks in forest management and reducing HWC. Existing and new community-based enterprises and local entrepreneurs will be supported to generate green jobs. With wide membership and reach, the CSO networks will be mobilized for policy advocacy and support to CSOs. Awareness and wider outreach of messages in conservation will be done through CSOs, schools and networks.

Project Expected Outcome:

Outcome 1: Improved practices amongst forest user groups, farmers, civil society and public and private stakeholders in conservation, sustainable utilization, and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems in Banke and Bardiya districts of Lumbini Province

The project is focused on five main outputs, which includes:

Output 1.1: Strengthened capacities of Forest User Groups (FUGs) in Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) approaches in line with National Forest Stewardship Standards (NFSS)

Output 1.2: Enhanced capacities of Farmer Groups (FGs) in climate smart farming and wildlife resilient farming practices

Output 1.3: Increased capacities of Community based Enterprises (CBEs) in utilizing natural resources and ecosystem services

Output 1.4: Improved capacities of public and private sectors in joint development and implementation of policies, guidelines and plans at local level on conservation and sustainable utilization of forest and farm resources 

Output 1.5: Increased awareness of national stakeholders and public on key environmental goals, frameworks and relevant issues.

Partner organization:

Dedicated partner organizations, including Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) Nepal, Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), Federation of Forest Users, Nepal (FECOFUN), and Bheri Environmental Excellence Group (BEE-GROUP), collaborate to implement and oversee project activities.