Kathmandu: Evidence-based decision-making in forest management is becoming a pivotal focus for local governments in Nepal, as regularly updated and accurate subnational forest data is recognized as essential for crafting effective forest management plans. This data also facilitates performance-based fiscal transfers in the forest sector, promoting a more sustainable approach to managing Nepal’s diverse forest landscapes.
According to World Bank, Nepal’s forest cover has seen a remarkable increase from 29% in 1994 to over 46% in 2022, largely attributed to community-based forest management initiatives. Despite this progress, challenges such as forest fragmentation and degradation persist, with decreases in average tree canopy cover and height noted between 2018 and 2022. These weakened forest conditions pose threats to biodiversity, watershed functions, erosion control, and the provision of productive ecosystem services.
The report highlights that 66 percent of Nepali households rely on non-timber forest products (NTFPs), with the poorest households significantly dependent on public forests. Private trees are also integral to meeting household needs, as 48 percent of households collect NTFPs from private land. Women, in particular, play a vital role as primary collectors of NTFPs, emphasizing their critical involvement in forest-based livelihoods.
The report provides unprecedented subnational biophysical forest data for all 753 municipalities and the first nationally representative socioeconomic data on forest dependency in Nepal. Recommendations include sustaining and updating this data to support evidence-based decision-making, integrating biophysical and socioeconomic objectives in forest management, and supporting public forest management through community forestry user groups. These measures aim to ensure equitable benefits for vulnerable groups such as women and Indigenous People.
Additionally, the report advocates for the promotion of private tree planting to enhance livelihoods and reduce pressure on community forests. The development of forestry and agroforestry extension services for small-scale tree planting needs is also recommended to boost productivity and support regeneration.
Despite these advances, important gaps in knowledge persist. More detailed information on forest health, including comprehensive maps of ecosystem types and management patterns, is needed. Understanding the role of trees on private land, including their contribution to household needs and timber production, remains a key area for further research.
In conclusion, while Nepal’s community-centered model for forest management remains robust, its future sustainability hinges on closing critical data gaps, aligning fiscal and investment strategies with spatial evidence, and effectively integrating ecological and socioeconomic goals in practice.