Climate Resilient Forest Management System in Nepal

Period of Performance

In development

The Climate Resilient Forest Management System in Nepal enhances decision-making at the district level in Nepal by providing more precise and scientific information on climate change vulnerability and degradation of forest ecosystems. Focusing on the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation and the Ministry of Forests and Environment, this service is designed to provide information on the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic pressure on forest ecosystems. Satellite datasets such as the MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), Landsat, and the Space Shuttle RADAR Topography Mission (SRTM) are used to assess vulnerability by quantifying changes in albedo, land surface temperature, leaf area index, and primary productivity. This service aims to help forest managers plan and manage the forests according to the degree of degradation and availability of the resources, as well as by understanding the projected impacts of climate change. The service will assist in effectively planning and managing forest ecosystems by understanding the overall context of threats from climate change and anthropogenic factors.

Rationale

Understanding climate change adaptation and forest management plays a vital role in combating climate change and mitigating its effects. In the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, forests are a source of livelihood for the region’s growing population. With forest degradation and deforestation increasing, it has become all the more necessary to have a reliable climate resilient forest management system. At present, precise information on forest degradation and the impacts of climate change on forest ecosystems is unavailable in the HKH. The kind of detailed information required for district level planning is missing. A comprehensive climate policy requires ground-based information about vulnerable systems and the stressors they are exposed to, as well as the transfer of resources to vulnerable societies in order to help them to prepare to cope with the inevitable impacts of climate change