Download - FRA Nepal

DoF maintains both database on community forestry and other management regimes. With regard to community forestry,
DoF maintains information on area of national forest handed over to the communities, number of Forest User Groups (FUGs)
formed, total number of families involved, and area of new plantations done in handed over community forests. This
information is used for the regional as well as district planning process for forestry sector.
Database in government managed forests includes the areas of new plantations, area under new management regime, quantity
of different forest products harvested and revenues collected through sales of forest products. Other state organizations such
as Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and Department of Survey (DoS) generate and manage relevant information.
1.6 Finnish cooperation in Nepal
Finland was an active partner in the forestry sector of Nepal during the 1980s and 1990s. The latest bilateral forest
development project was the Forest Resources Information System Project (FRISP), which was completed in 1998.
In October 2007, the governments of Nepal and Finland agreed to expand the bilateral cooperation in the natural resources
sector particularly in water and sanitation, environment, forestry and climate change. This signified Finland's re-entry into the
forest development cooperation with Nepal after a gap of nearly a decade.
An identification mission was formed in January 2008 to explore Finnish support in the development of Nepal's forestry
sector. Based on the discussions with the line ministries, concerned development partners, and request of the MFSC, the
identification mission recommended the following three thematic areas for Finnish cooperation:
1. Forest Resources Assessment of Nepal,
2. Technical Assistance Grant to support the implementation of the IFAD loan on leasehold forestry program, and
3. Support to NTFP development in Nepal.
As a result, formulation of a Forest Resource Assessment Project in Nepal was carried out. The project formulation was done
in a participatory manner. The formulation process included two missions to Nepal where forestry, climate change and
poverty reduction issues and the associated development needs were discussed. A multi-stakeholder consultation workshop
was organized during the first mission and a feedback workshop during the second mission.
1.7 Other on-going forest data related projects and programs
1.7.1 Biodiversity Sector Program for Siwaliks and Terai
The BISEP-ST is a project funded by the government of Netherlands. The objective of the project is to develop and
implement district forestry sector plan through multi-stakeholder participation for the sustainable forest management. The
project is being implemented in the eight districts (Chitwan, Makawanpur, Bara, Parsa, Rautahat, Sarlahi, Mahottari and
Dhanusha) of Terai and Siwalik. The project is using topographic maps and different satellite images for district level forest
cover mapping and forest boundary delineation.
1.7.2 Livelihood and Forestry Program (LFP)
This is a DFID funded program. The objective of the program is to enhance the rural livelihood through sustainable
management and use of forest resources. The project has also supported to generate district level forestry data and
information for the purpose of district level planning. The LFP is working in the 15 districts (12 of hill and 3 of Terai and
inner Terai) of Nepal. Besides, the project conducts forest resource inventory at district and management levels for the
purpose of district forestry sector planning and management decision.
1.7.3 Programs of World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Nepal
The WWF is one of the most renowned INGOs facilitating in forestry sector of Nepal for the conservation and sustainable
management of biodiversity and forest resources. In addition, WWF Nepal program has prioritized landscape approach
conservation, climate change mitigation and adaptation and livelihood enhancement.
There are a number of projects on species conservation, REDD related activities, protected area management, landscape level
conservation and others. By using the Remotely Sensed (RS) data and ground based inventory WWF is generating a lot of
information at regional and management levels. The information generated by the WWF Nepal’s program could also be
useful for the FRA Nepal Project.
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