Hariyo Ban Program
Project Summary:
The Hariyo Ban program is an ambitious initiative designed to benefit nature and people in Nepal. It aims to reduce adverse impacts of climate change and threats to biodiversity, by restoring and conserving forests while improving livelihoods, and building resilience to climate change in both people and ecosystems. It works on three core-interwoven components – biodiversity conservation, sustainable landscapes and climate adaptation – with livelihoods, gender and social inclusion being important cross- cutting themes. This five-year program has been made possible with a generous grant of approximately USD 30 million through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The program finds its inspiration from the popular saying Hariyo Ban Nepal Ko Dhan (Healthy green forests are the wealth of Nepal) which emphasizes the links between people and forests that underpins the projects approach.

Goal and objectives:
1. Biodiversity Conservation: to reduce threats to biodiversity in target landscape(s)
The following major outcomes are expected for this objective

* Threats to focal species from poaching, human-wildlife conflict and habitat loss significantly reduced; habitat connectivity restored; climate refugia and corridors for climate sensitive species under conservation management.
* Key forests in CAL and TAL restored to a state where they will support threatened, focal species, provide ecological services and sustainable forest resources, build resilience to climate change, and contribute to the national economy and to continued peace and security.
* Governance for forest management improved through capacity building and promotion of equitable and transparent processes in local community groups.
* Livelihoods improved and community forest stewardship improved by establishing and empowering community NRM groups in important corridor areas.
* Existing policy revised and new policies developed at national and sub-national level policy in support of biodiversity conservation and community forest management.

2. Sustainable Landscape Management/REDD: to build the structures, capacity and operations necessary for an effective sustainable landscape management, especially reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) readiness;
The following major outcomes are expected for this objective
* Policies for REDD and other forest protection policies strengthened, formulated and executed.
* Effective social and environmental safeguards established and demonstrated.
* Capacity for REDD implementation including MRV enhanced at local and national levels.
* Use of cutting edge technologies piloted, and results and lessons documented and shared within Nepal and globally.
* Reference scenarios (baselines) on carbon stock established for CAL and quantity of sequestered carbon in CAL and TAL monitored on a regular basis.
* Benefit sharing mechanisms evaluated and initial pilot mechanism developed and tested.
* Early signs of reversal of forest loss and degradation visible in project area including evidence of project-related forest restoration in the Seti and Marsyangdi sub-basins, Churia range, and TAL.
* Payment schemes for carbon credit pilot developed and tested.

3. Climate Change Adaptation: to increase the ability of target human and ecological communities to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change
The following major outcomes are expected for this objective
* Increasing government and civil society understanding on vulnerabilities to climate change and adaptation options
* Piloting and expanding demonstration actions for vulnerability reduction
* Establishing participatory and simplified systems for vulnerability monitoring
* Creation, amendment and execution of adaptation policies and strategies supported

Strategy
* Linkages with Other Donor-funded Programs
* Private Sector Engagement
* Capacity building and Communication
* Wealth based subsidies and small grants
* Innovation through new technology, tools, approaches, and strategic alliances
* Wildlife Premium Market Initiative:
* LiDAR and CLASlite
* Citizen Scientists:
* Differential vulnerability analysis:
* Access to global adaptation networks:
* Integration of gender equality and womens empowerment in Community-based Adaptation

Target group:
Community Forestry users Groups (CFUGs), Indigenous people, Poor, Dalit, Janajatie, Madhesi, Different ethnic groups, disadvantaged groups, Ex Kamaiyas,

Geographical Coverage:

The Hariyo Ban program plans to focus initially in the The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) districts of Kanchanpur, Banke, Kailali, Bardiya, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Chitwan and Nawalparasi. Similarly, in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL), the program will initially focus in seven of the 19 CHAL districts in the Kali, Seti and Marsyandi river basins, namely Mustang, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Tanahu, Manang, Lamjung, and Gorkha. FECOFUN is implementing the the Hariyo Ban Program in the following 11 districts (Kanchanpur, Kailali, Bardiya, Bankje, Dang, Chitwan, Nawalparasi, Kaski, Tanahu, Lamjung, and Gorkha). Chitwan and Nawalparasi are overlaped in both landscapes.

Outcomes:
Biodiversity Conservation

* Threats to focal species from loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitats, poaching and trade, and human-wildlife conflict significantly reduced; habitat connectivity restored; climate refugia and corridors for climate sensitive species under conservation management.
* Critical ecosystems including forest corridors in CHAL and TAL restored to state where they will support threatened focal species, and provide ecological services and sustainable forest resources
* Governance for forest management improved
* Livelihoods improved and community stewardship for biodiversity conservation strengthened
* Existing conservation related policies reviewed and reformed to make them biodiversity friendly, inclusive and pro-poor
Sustainable Landscape Management/REDD:

* Policies for REDD+ and other forest policies strengthened, formulated, endorsed and executed.
* Capacity for REDD+ implementation including MRV enhanced at local and national levels.
* Use of cutting edge technologies piloted and results and lessons documented and shared within Nepal and Globally.
* Reference scenarios (baselines) on carbon stock established for CHAL and quality of sequestered carbon in CHAL and TAL monitored.
* Early signs of reversal of forest loss and degradation visible in project area including evidence of project-related forest restoration in the Seti and Marsyangdi sub-basins, Churia range and TAL.
* Benefit sharing mechanisms evaluated and initial pilot mechanism developed and tested.
* Payment schemes for carbon credit pilot developed and tested.
Climate Change Adaptation: * GON, community and NGO understanding of climate change, climate impacts, vulnerability and adaptation options increased in the project areas and at national level
* Adaptation approaches at household, community and landscapes/sub-river basin levels piloted, refined and documented, and successful approaches expanded,
* Participatory and simplified systems for vulnerability monitoring tested and implemented
* Support provided to GON and civil society for improved policies, strategies, plans and guidelines that promote sound climate adaptation approaches
* Increased number of Government, civil society, media and community groups receiving and undertaking capacity building activities related to climate change adaptation.

Duration: 5 years (Aug 2011 to July 2016)
Executive Partners:
WWF Nepal, CARE Nepal, FECOFUN, NTNC
Financial support:
United States Agency for International Development (USAID).