National REDD+ Strategy (2025-2034)

Nepal government has approved National REDD+ strategy (2025 to 34) on July 16, 2025 Page | i National REDD+ Strategy (2025-2034) December 2024 ii Acronyms and Abbreviations AD Activity Data AFOLU Agriculture Forestry and Other Land Use ART Architecture of REDD+ Transaction BES BRIEF Environment Study BRCRN Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal BSP Benefit Sharing Plan BTR Biennial Transparency Report BUR Biennial Update Report CATS Carbon Assets Tracking System CBFM Community-based Forest Management CF Community Forest CFM Collaborative Forest Management CFUGs Community Forest User Groups CIAA Commission on Investigation for Abuse of Authority CMA Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement CP/CoP Conference of Parties CSE Carbon Stock Enhancement CSO Civil Society Organizations D Deforestation D&D Deforestation and Forest Degradation DFO Division/al Forest Office/r DFRS Department of Forest Research and Survey DNA Designated National Authority EF Emission Factor EIA Environment Impact Assessment ER Emission Reduction ERPA Emission Reduction Payment Agreement ERPD Emission Reduction Program Document ERPIN Emission Reduction Project Idea Note ESMF Environment and Social Management Framework FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FCC Forest Carbon Conservation FCPF Forest Carbon Partnership Facility FD Forest Degradation FFPP Forests for Prosperity Project FGRM Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism FPIC Free, Prior, and Informed Consent FRA Forest Resource Assessment FR/EL Forest Reference/Emission Level iii FRTC Forest Research and Training Center GCF Green Climate Fund Gg Gigagram GHG Greenhouse Gas GoN Government of Nepal ha Hectare IEE Initial Environment Examination ITMO Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes IPs Indigenous Peoples IPO Indigenous People’s Organization ISFL Biocarbon Fund Initiatives for Sustainable Forest Landscapes JCM Joint Crediting Mechanism JNR Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ LCs Local Communities LEAF Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance LRMP Land Resource Mapping Project LTS Long-Term Strategy for Net Zero Emission MoFE Ministry of Forests and Environment MRV Monitoring Reporting and Verification NAP National Adaptation Plan NICFI Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative NDC Nationally Determined Contributions NFD National Forest Database NFIS National Forest Information System NFMS National Forest Monitoring System NLCMS National Land Cover Monitoring System NPC National Planning Commission NRCC National REDD+ Coordination Committee NRS National REDD+ Strategy NRSC National REDD+ Steering Committee NVC National Vigilance Center OPMCM Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers OSFIS Open-Source Forest Information System PA Protected Area PRCC Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee REDD+ Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation REDD IC REDD Implementation Center RPIN Readiness Plan Idea Note SCALE Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions SESA Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment SFM Sustainable Forest Management SMF Sustainable Management of Forests SIS Safeguard Information System SOC Soil Organic Carbon iv SOI Summary of Information TAL Terai Arc Landscape TAT Technical Assessment Team tCo2 Tons of Carbon dioxide TREES The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change UN-REDD United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation VCM Voluntary Carbon Markets v Table of Contents Foreword .......................................................................................... 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Acronyms and Abbreviations ...........................................................................................................ii Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................. v Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... viii 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 International Context of REDD+ ............................................................................................ 1 1.2 REDD+ Initiatives in Nepal .................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Future Perspectives of REDD+ in Nepal ................................................................................ 4 1.4 Review of Existing Strategy (2018-2022) .............................................................................. 5 1.5 Strategy Formulation Process ............................................................................................... 6 1.6 Structure of the Strategy ...................................................................................................... 7 2 LAND USE, FOREST COVER CHANGE AND THEIR DRIVERS .......................................................... 8 2.1 Land Use and Forest Cover Change ...................................................................................... 8 2.2 Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation .............................................................. 10 2.3 Efforts to Address Deforestation and Forest Degradation ................................................. 13 3 POLICIES, GOVERNANCE, INSTITUTIONS, AND TENURE ............................................................ 15 3.1 Existing Policy, Legislative, and Regulatory Framework For REDD+ ................................... 15 3.2 Forest Management Practices ............................................................................................ 16 3.3 Forest Governance and Tenurial Arrangements ................................................................ 17 3.4 Institutional Arrangements ................................................................................................. 18 3.5 Carbon Rights and Benefit Sharing ..................................................................................... 18 3.6 Gender Equity and Social Inclusion ..................................................................................... 19 3.7 Safeguard Arrangement ...................................................................................................... 19 3.8 Monitoring System .............................................................................................................. 20 4 STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS ........................................................................................................ 22 4.1 Vision ................................................................................................................................... 22 4.2 Mission ................................................................................................................................ 22 4.3 Objectives ............................................................................................................................ 22 4.4 Guiding Principles ............................................................................................................... 22 vi 4.5 Strategic Approaches .......................................................................................................... 23 4.6 Strategies and Actions ........................................................................................................ 24 4.6.1 Reduce carbon emissions, improve forest management and monitoring, and improve the supply of forest products. ...................................................................................................... 24 4.6.2 Increase non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems. ................................................... 25 4.6.3 Promote afforestation, reforestation, and restoration activities across all physiographic regions. .................................................................................................................. 25 4.6.4 Improve forest tenure, ensure carbon rights, and fair and equitable benefit sharing. 26 4.6.5 Enhance the role of the private sector in forestry to promote forest-based enterprises for livelihood and economic development. .................................................................................. 26 4.6.6 Increase access to sustainable, affordable, and reliable renewable energy. ............... 27 4.6.7 Improve collaboration, cooperation, and synergy among sectoral policies, sectors, and agencies/actors. ............................................................................................................................ 27 4.6.8 Improve capacity, institutional performance, and service delivery of the forestry sector institutions, right-holders, and relevant stakeholders. ..................................................... 27 4.6.9 Ensure social and environmental safeguards including environment-friendly development. ................................................................................................................................ 28 4.6.10 Establish and operationalize a robust and well-functioning National Forest Monitoring System by upgrading the existing National Forest Information System with an updated database and clear institutional arrangements. .......................................................................................... 29 4.7 Theory of Change ................................................................................................................ 30 5 IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK .............................................................................................. 31 5.1 Institutional Arrangement for REDD+ Implementation ...................................................... 31 5.2 Institutional Arrangement for Monitoring, NFMS, and MRV ............................................. 36 5.3 Benefit Sharing Mechanism ................................................................................................ 36 6 SAFEGUARD MEASURES ............................................................................................................. 38 6.1 Safeguards Principles .......................................................................................................... 38 6.2 Social and Environment Safeguards System ....................................................................... 38 6.3 Safeguard Information System ........................................................................................... 40 6.4 Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism ................................................................... 40 7 NATIONAL FOREST MONITORING SYSTEM and FOREST REFERENCE LEVEL.............................. 42 7.1 National Forest Monitoring System .................................................................................... 42 7.2 Forest Reference Emission Level ........................................................................................ 43 8 SUSTAINABLE FINANCING .......................................................................................................... 48 8.1 Domestic Sources ................................................................................................................ 48 vii 8.2 International Sources .......................................................................................................... 48 9 DETAIL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ............................................................................................... 49 10 MONITORING AND EVALUATION ............................................................................................. 50 11 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................. 51 12 ANNEXES .................................................................................................................................. 52 List of Tables Table 1: Nepal land cover statistics in 2000, 2019, and 2022 ....................................................................... 8 Table 2: Forest cover of Nepal in different periods (%) ................................................................................ 8 Table 3: Province-wise Forest cover in different periods (ha) ...................................................................... 9 Table 4: Forest cover according to Physiographic Regions in different time periods (ha) ........................... 9 Table 5: Forest Area Statistics by Local Levels ....................................................................................... 10 Table 6: Direct drivers, affected regions, priority, and associated underlying causes ............................... 11 Table 7: Details of Various Forest Management Modalities in Nepal ........................................................ 17 Table 8: Composition of National REDD+ Steering Committee .................................................................. 32 Table 9: Composition of National REDD+ Coordination Committee .......................................................... 33 Table 10: Composition of Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee ...................................................... 34 Table 11: Alignment of National Policy Instruments with Cancun Safeguard Principles ........................... 39 Table 12: Key Elements of the National and Sub-national FRL ................................................................... 45 List of Figures Figure 1: Map showing Terai Arc Landscape for FCPF Emission Reduction Program Area .......................... 3 Figure 2: Map showing Program Under LEAF Coalition Emission Reduction Program................................. 4 Figure 3: Strategy Development Process .................................................................................................. 6 Figure 4: Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation ....................................................................... 11 Figure 5: Theory of Change ......................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 6: Institutional arrangement for REDD+ implementation ............................................................... 31 List of Appendices Annex 1: Checklist for Identification and Prioritization of Drivers of D&D ................................................. 52 Annex 2: List of Major Documents (not limited to) to be Reviewed ......................................................... 53 Annex 3: List of Participants at Various Consultation Meetings ................................................................ 56 Annex 4: Detail Implementation Plan ......................................................................................................... 65 Annex 5: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework ....................................................................................... 91 viii Executive Summary The Government of Nepal formulated the National REDD+ Strategy (2018-2022) as a guiding framework for REDD+ implementation in Nepal. Nepal initiated the first REDD+ results-based payment initiative with the World Bank’s FCPF Carbon Fund adhering to the strategies and actions outlined in the National REDD+ Strategy. Nepal is currently preparing for its second ER Program with results-based payments intended through the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition, covering the 36 districts in total including 13, 11, and 12 districts of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces respectively, with the crediting period of 2022 to 2026. The Government of Nepal has established a REDD Implementation Centre under the Ministry of Forests and Environment to oversee the REDD+-related programmes in Nepal. The REDD Implementation Centre with support from UN-REDD conducted a review of the existing strategy (2018-2022) to assess the status, challenges, and gaps of the implementation of the strategy against the emerging international and national contexts and to explore opportunities for developing a new strategy. This National REDD+ Strategy (2025-2034) has been prepared based on lessons learnt and as a response to the review report in formulating a new strategy to provide a guiding framework for the implementation of result-based REDD+ and forest-based emission reduction in the emerging international and national context. The strategy is expected to be instrumental in capitalizing on Nepal’s forestry sector’s contribution to the global climate mitigation goal by widening the scope of REDD+ and similar Emission Reduction Programs within the market and non-market structures adopted under the Paris Agreement. The strategy is built on lessons from the implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy (2018- 2022) along with the additional observations, credentials, and evidence collected through an extensive literature review, stakeholders’ consultation, and expert opinion. A wide range of literature including Nepal-specific forestry sector and relevant cross-sectoral policies and legislative instruments, forest cover changes related documents, strategies of other countries, relevant documents, and published papers were reviewed. Altogether 11 consultation workshops were organized with seven in provinces and four in Kathmandu. Besides, key informant interviews were carried out with experts including former REDD Implementation Centre chiefs and officials of the Forest Research and Training Centre. The strategy has a vision entitled “Enhanced sustainably carbon and non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems for contributing to national prosperity”. The mission is to strengthen the forest ecosystem resilience for emission reductions and increased carbon and non- carbon benefits through improved policy measures and effective institutions with enhanced capacity, capability, and inclusiveness. The strategy comprises a set of interrelated six objectives, 10 strategies, and a total of 69 priority actions thereunder. Furthermore, institutional arrangements at national and sub-national levels have been proposed for the implementation and coordination of REDD+-related programmes and ix activities. Safeguards measure together with the national forest monitoring system are included in the strategy. A detailed implementation plan and monitoring and evaluation framework have been developed as part of the strategy. It is believed that the strategy provides an opportunity to guide smooth implementation arrangements with clear roles and responsibilities among the three tiers of government and beyond across the levels and sectors in addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and barriers and promoting sustainable management of forests thereby reducing emissions and enhancing carbon removals concomitantly enhancing non-carbon benefits. Nepal government has approved National REDD+ strategy (2025 to 34) on July 16, 2025 Page | 1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 International Context of REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and Conservation and Enhancement of Carbon Stock and Sustainable Management of Forests (REDD+) was first considered by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 11th Conference of the Parties (CoP 11) in Montreal in 2005 (Maniatis et al., 2019). This evolved to become REDD as part of the Bali Action Plan at CoP 13 in 2007, as a forest-based climate change mitigation approach aiming to incentivize developing countries for their contribution to carbon emissions and removals (Maniatis et al., 2019). Parties adopted the Cancun Agreement in CoP 16 (Decision 1/CP.16 paragraph 70) in 2010 and formally agreed on the scope of REDD+ with five activities including (I) Reducing carbon emissions from deforestation; (ii) Reducing carbon emissions from forest degradation; iii) Conservation of forest carbon stocks; (iv) Sustainable management of forests; and v) Enhancement of forest carbon stocks. The Parties of CoP16 unambiguously agreed on the contribution of developing countries to mitigating actions by engaging in REDD+ activities in reducing deforestation and forest degradation, conserving carbon stocks, sustaining management of forests, and enhancing carbon removal (Guizar-Coutino et al., 2022). The parties adopted the Cancun Agreement (Paragraph 71 of the Decision 1/CP.16) which requires developing countries develop a National Strategy or Action Plan, a Forest Reference Level (FRL), a transparent National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), and a system of providing safeguard-related information to be eligible in result-based REDD+. The Agreement further adopted REDD+-related seven safeguards to be promoted and supported when undertaking REDD+ (Decision1/CP.16, Appendix I). The Parties adopted the “Warsaw Framework for REDD+” in CoP 19 consisting of decisions related to result-based REDD+ including coordination of support for REDD+ activities, modalities for FREL, MRV, and NFMS, Safeguard Information System (SIS) guidance, timing and frequency of presentation of SOI, joint mitigation and adaptation approaches and methodological issues related to non-carbon benefits. The framework clarified the several issues referred to in paragraph 70 of the decisions 1/CP.16 and established requirements and guidance for result-based payments to national and sub-national REDD+ efforts. Several multinational and bilateral result-based REDD+ initiatives including the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank and UN-REDD have been implemented adhering to the UNFCCC REDD+ framework. Other REDD+ financing such as result-based payments for REDD Pilot programs (Green Climate Fund), Norway’s International Climate and Forest Initiative (NICFI), REDD+ early movers, Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), and Biocarbon Fund Initiatives for Sustainable Forest Landscapes (ISFL) came into operation with the adoption of Warsaw Framework under the UNFCCC. Similarly, the Lowering Emission by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition was initiated as innovative financing to contribute to climate change mitigation through result-based payment 2 architectures. LEAF Coalition purchases carbon credits that meet the requirements and criteria of the REDD+ Transactions (ART) TREES (The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES)) However, with the adoption of the Paris Agreement in CoP 21, the REDD financing landscape has been shifted. REDD+ is integrated into the Paris Agreement, embedded in Article 5 which encourages developing countries to implement and support policy approaches for REDD+). During CoP29, the Conference of the Parties Serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) adopted standards related to methodologies and removals for Article 6.4 and the guidance on a cooperative approach to operationalizing Article 6.2. Article 6.2 highlights to promotion of cooperative approaches with the decentralized governance for GHG accounting, tracking, and certification to generate internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) contributing to buyer countries’ NDC through authorized “Corresponding Adjustment”. Conversely, Article 6.4 is a UN-managed crediting mechanism- the Paris Agreement Crediting Mechanism envisions to be executed with centralized methodologies and guidance under the UNFCCC Supervisory Body. The new decisions confirm the inclusion of emission reductions and removals from nature-based initiatives including REDD+ activities in Article 6 trades if the activities fulfill Article 6 standards, reporting, and tracking requirements besides the Cancun Safeguards, Warsaw Framework, and related UNFCCC decisions. 1.2 REDD+ Initiatives in Nepal Nepal initiated forest-based climate change mitigation initiatives including REDD+ with the submission of the REDD Readiness Plan Idea Note (R-PIN) to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) of the World Bank in March 2008 and the Readiness Preparation Proposal (RPP) in April 2010. Nepal scaled up its collaboration with the World Bank's FCPF by implementing readiness activities for forest-based climate mitigation initiatives (e.g., REDD+). Building on the lessons and experiences of the readiness phase, Nepal initiated the first REDD+ results-based payment initiative with the World Bank’s FCPF Carbon Fund adhering to the strategies and actions outlined in Nepal’s NRS (2018-2022) and UNFCCC requirements stipulating in the Cancun Agreements and Warsaw Framework and the methodological framework of the FCPF Carbon fund. This sub-national level Emissions Reduction (ER) Program is operated in the jurisdiction of 13 districts of Nepal’s Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) areas with a crediting period effective from 22 June 2018 to 31 December 2025 (Figure 1). The ER Program is fully guided by the Emission Reduction Payment Agreement (ERPA) provisions jointly signed by the Government of Nepal and the World Bank in February 2021 and associated documents including the Emission Reduction Program Document (ERPD), Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and Benefit Sharing Plan (BSP). This initiative's first emission reduction monitoring has estimated a reduction of around 2.4 mtCO2e between 22 June 2018 to 31 December 2021. The verified carbon credits will be registered in the World Bank’s carbon registry system – the Carbon Assets Tracking System (CATS). 3 Figure 1: Map showing Terai Arc Landscape for FCPF Emission Reduction Program Area Nepal is implementing the second results-based payments ER Program intended through the LEAF Coalition, covering the entire areas of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces (36 districts), with the crediting period of 2022 to 2026 (Figure 2). The LEAF ER program adopts the Architecture of REDD+ Transactions (ART) “The REDD+ Environmental Excellence Standard (TREES)” as its standard. The LEAF Coalition has set a minimum price of USD 10 for each ton of verified CO2e-carbon credit. REDD IC is preparing the necessary preparatory documents including an ART-TREES Registration Document (TRD), which outlines the carbon accounting including the baseline, draft Benefit Sharing Plan, FGRM mechanisms, Stakeholder Engagement and FPIC process, and Environmental and Social Safeguards among others. Nepal expects to reduce emissions of around 12 million tCO2 eq through an ongoing Green Climate Funded (GCF) project – Building Resilient of Churia Region of Nepal (BRCRN) implemented in 26 river systems of Bagmati, Madhesh and Koshi provinces of Nepal. A target is set to reduce a total of 200,974 tCO2 eq in 7 years and 847,250 tCO2 eq in 20 years through another GCF-funded project- “Improving Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Communities and Ecosystems in the Gandaki River Basin (GCF, 2020). The Forests for Prosperity Project (FFPP), implementing 50 municipalities of Madhesh and Lumbini provinces, aims to increase sequestration of 17.74 million tCO2e over the 30 years of the project implementation. Nepal can access climate finance from the RBPs of the GCF and other bilateral sources through REDD+ mitigation actions and ER programs. Nepal can align the emission reduction outcomes from these upfront initiatives towards its NDC. The GoN is further exploring other options for the result-based ER Program including a new result-based climate finance program - Scaling Climate Action by Lowering Emissions (SCALE) administered by the World Bank. 4 Figure 2: Map showing Program Under LEAF Coalition Emission Reduction Program 1.3 Future Perspectives of REDD+ in Nepal Nepal’s current REDD+ initiatives (including FCPF and LEAF ER Programs) are largely implemented in compliance with the requirements of the Cancun Agreements and Warsaw Framework under the UNFCCC process. While international decisions are made to integrate REDD+ into the Paris Agreement provisions, Nepal may need to have a clear framework and mechanism to align REDD+ into market approaches of Article 6 (i.e., Articles 6.2 and 6.4) and non-market approach (i.e., Article 6.8) under the Paris Agreement. Alignment of REDD+ in Article 6 may widen the scope and significance of REDD+ to contribute to climate mitigation and sustainable development goals. Nepal has already expressed its interest in engaging in market approaches under Article 6 by identifying MoFE as the National Designated Authority (DNA) to Article 6.4 of the agreement1. Nepal has stepped up into Article 6 of the Paris Agreement by signing the bilateral cooperation agreement on emission trading with the Swedish Energy Agency at the side-lines of CoP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2024. Hence, Nepal may have a legal foundation to speed up climate actions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement with a clear framework for Article 6. Nepal has recently formed a committee to design a framework for Article 6 and identify institutional arrangements and cooperative mechanisms and corresponding adjustments (e.g., approval, authorization process, reporting, monitoring, and verification) for the operation of this article. The framework expects the scope and mechanism for aligning the forestry sector and REDD+ with Article 6 considering Nepal’s priority, capacity, and expectation of utilization of mitigation outcomes generated from REDD+. Besides, Nepal is also in the process of formulating Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Guidelines which define the scope and provide a common framework for the implementation of project-level REDD+ initiatives under the voluntary carbon standards 1https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-Paris-agreement/article-64-mechanism/national- authorities#country ItoQ 5 and mechanisms to nesting in the Jurisdictional REDD+. Given the context, Nepal needs to have a clear mechanism to align REDD+ activities with NDC implementation, Long-Term Strategy, and the country’s overall climate mitigation goal. 1.4 Review of Existing Strategy (2018-2022) The review of the existing NRS (2018-2022) was conducted in early 2024 to understand the implementation status, gaps, and barriers of NRS in the context of both domestic and international developments in carbon finance and climate change initiatives. It found that most of the strategies and their priority actions have been implemented and limited progress has been made. Nevertheless, the review found several of the strategies and their actions are underperformed and need continued implementation of several strategies with specific priority actions in compliance with socio-economic context and national and international policies related to climate change mitigation and REDD+ . More specifically, the slow pace of handing over of the national forests to local communities along with a huge backlog of revision of operational plans of community forests and the absence of the national standard for sustainable forest management appears (Strategy 1) as a major challenge for improved and sustainable management of forest supporting REDD+ activities. A gap also exists in the documentation and systematic measurement and monitoring of non-carbon benefits which is needed for assessing the effectiveness of NRS and ER Program (Strategy 2). Similarly, despite some encouraging policies, limited progress is made in private forestry development contributing to emission reduction initiatives (Strategy 3). Besides, contradictory policy provisions namely between the Land Act and the Forest Act (related to Strategy 4), and inadequate recognition of and gaps in incorporating traditional knowledge and customary practices in forest management (Strategy 5) are additional barriers to successful REDD+ implementation in Nepal. Along with the absence of private sectors in REDD+ and ER Program-related decision- making processes, there is a lack of monitoring mechanisms and market standards which are essential to capitalize on the private sector’s contribution to ER program through their engagement in sustainable forest-based enterprises (Strategy 6). Likewise, despite some encouraging policies concerning agriculture and livestock development promotion, there are only limited activities such as climate-smart agriculture that are implemented targeting emission reduction and removal (Strategy 7). Similarly, limited progress has been made in reducing emissions from renewable energy (Strategy 8). Moreover, there is inadequate coordination and cooperation between the federal and provincial level forestry sector authorities and local communities to facilitate the effective implementation of REDD+ and ER programs (Strategy 9). There is limited knowledge of REDD+-related safeguards, Benefit Sharing Plan (in FCPF ER Program areas) mechanism, and a lack of common understanding of the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process among Indigenous Peoples (IPs), local communities, and government authorities (Strategy 11). NFMS and SIS are established but are not properly operated (Strategy 12) 6 mainly due to limited skilled human resources, inadequate knowledge, capacity, and limited financial resources (Strategy 10). 1.5 Strategy Formulation Process The strategy formulation process adopted a participatory, consultative, and transparent approach. The strategy was developed primarily based on a desk-based literature review and consultations with individual experts and groups of stakeholders and rightsholders (Figure 3). Figure 3: Strategy Development Process Specifically, the following tasks were accomplished for the formulation of the strategy: • Review and analysis of policy and legislative instruments and other relevant published and unpublished documents, including Climate Change Policy, 2019, Forest Act and Associated Rules, Environment Protection Act and its rules, periodic plans, NDC, LTS, and FCPF ERPD among others. • The review of the existing NRS (2018-2022) to understand the implementation status, gaps, and barriers of the NRS in the context of both domestic and international developments in carbon finance and climate change initiatives. • Assessment of the trends of changes and current status of Nepal’s land use and forest cover. • Identification and analysis of drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in the changing context. Literature Review & Expert Consultation Forest Cover Change Analysis Drivers of D&D Analysis Draft Strategy Development Consultation at Provincial Level Consultation at National Level Final Strategy Development 7 • Formulation of strategies and priority actions for providing common guidance and framework for advancing the country’s efforts in the REDD+ initiative including emission reduction programs. • Consultation with relevant stakeholders and rightsholders at the federal and provincial levels to seek feedback on the draft strategy. • Development of a detailed implementation plan including indicative budget, responsible organizations, and timeline. • Development of a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework. 1.6 Structure of the Strategy The strategy consists of 10 chapters. It comprises general background information on REDD+-related international context, Nepal’s REDD+ journey, policy, and legislative provisions, a brief review of the existing NRS, vision, goal, objectives, strategies, and priority actions, implementation arrangement, safeguard measures, benefit sharing mechanism, financing mechanism, monitoring and evaluation of the strategy. The drivers of D&D, a detailed implementation plan with an indicative budget and timeline, and a monitoring and evaluation framework are included in the annex of the strategy. 8 2 LAND USE, FOREST COVER CHANGE AND THEIR DRIVERS 2.1 Land Use and Forest Cover Change Land is a primary productive asset in Nepal. The dominant land cover in the country is forest (43.38%), followed by cropland (22.59%) and grassland (14.71%). The remaining 19.32% of the total land of the country is covered by snow, bare rock, other wooded land, glaciers, riverbeds, water bodies, and built-up areas (Table 1). Based on land cover data from 2000 and 2022, the forest area, built-up, grassland and glacier areas have increased, whereas cropland, bare rock, and other wooded land have decreased. Table 1: Nepal land cover statistics in 2000, 2019, and 2022 Land Cover Area (2000) Area (2019) Area (2022) Hectare % Hectare % Hectare % Water body 66,087 0.45 71,834 0.49 60,237 0.41 Glacier 449,371 3.05 448,781 3.04 450,719 3.06 Snow 568,913 3.86 919,353 6.23 557,212 3.91 Forest 5,901,759 40.01 6,152,806 41.71 6,399,341 43.38 Riverbed 170,907 1.16 163,989 1.11 114,024 0.77 Built-up 25,395 0.17 78,153 0.53 475,877 3.23 Cropland 3,900,458 26.44 3,590,492 24.34 3,332,566 22.59 Bare soil 151 0.001 4,010 0.03 1,885 0.01 Bare rock 1,083,416 7.34 830,695 5.63 722,360 5.24 Grassland 2,058,860 13.96 1,957,465 13.27 2,169,462 14.71 Other wooded land 526,281 3.57 534,022 3.62 397,916 2.70 Total 14,751,600 100 14,751,600 100 14,751,600 100 Source: FRTC, 2022; 2024 Note: Land cover area is adjusted to Nepal’s total area (147,516 sq km), so the statistics are slightly different from the NLCMS Report 2022. Table 2 shows an increasing trend of overall forest cover from 44.74% (of the total country land) in 2015 to 45.31% in 2022 and 46.08% in 2024. The increase in forest cover and decrease in other wooded land shows the country’s efforts towards addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. Table 2: Forest cover of Nepal in different periods (%) Land Cover LRMP 1978/79 NRSC 1984 Master Plan 1985/86 NFI 1994 FRA 2015 FRTC 2022 FRTC 2024 Forest 38.0 35.9* 37.4 29.0 40.36 41.69 43.38 Shrub 4.7 - 4.8 10.6 4.38** 3.62** 2.70** Total 42.7 35.9 42.2 39.6 44.74 45.31 46.08 Source: DFRS, 2015; FRTC, 2022; FRTC, 2024 *Includes some shrub area; **Other Wooded Land 9 Table 3 shows a variation of forest cover change across the provinces between 2000, 2019, and 2022. For example, forest cover in Madhesh and Karnali provinces has decreased from 2000 to 2019 while it has increased in the rest of the provinces in the same period. This indicates that drivers and their extent of deforestation and forest degradation vary across geographic regions. However, during the period between 2019 and 2022, forest area has increased in all the provinces and other wooded land has decreased in all provinces except in Koshi Province. Table 3: Province-wise Forest cover in different periods (ha) Province Year 2000 Year 2019 Year 2022 Forest Other Wooded Land Forest Other Wooded Land Forest Other Wooded Land Koshi 1,119,675 119,979 1,155,276 117,440 1,202,320 121,458 Madhesh 249,520 2,614 230,499 11,395 247,620 5,573 Bagmati 1,051,780 62,983 1,162,992 59,742 1,187,308 56,202 Gandaki 716,940 120,516 788,700 118,502 832,198 93,202 Lumbini 944,086 56,195 985,408 69,914 1,050,553 51,011 Karnali 858,890 108,584 842,584 99,728 854,823 87,062 Sudurpashchim 974,629 57,044 987,346 57,302 1,029,772 45,235 Total 5,915,520 527,915 6,152,806 534,023 6,404,594 459,743 Source: FRTC, 2022; FRTC, 2024 Forest cover has increased in the Terai, Siwalik, and Middle Mountain regions whereas it decreased in High Mountain and High Himal from 2000 to 2019. The area of other wooded land increased in the Terai and Siwalik regions whereas it decreased in the Middle Mountain, High Mountain, and High Himal regions from 2000 to 2019. From 2019 to 2022, the forest area has increased in all physiographic regions whereas the area of other wooded land has decreased in all regions (Table 4). Table 4: Forest cover according to Physiographic Regions in different time periods (ha) Physiographic Region Year 2000 Year 2019 Year 2022 Forest Other Wooded Land Forest Other Wooded Land Forest Other Wooded Land Terai 373,238 10,026 392,240 17,338 401,089 12,334 Siwalik 1,322,210 14,880 1,345,929 37,251 1,392,791 14,527 Middle Mountain 2,361,959 166,191 2,611,307 157,408 2,769,246 130,741 High Mountain 1,727,499 270,888 1,701,021 266,293 1,714,722 197,872 High Himal 130,611 65,930 116,269 56,889 121,495 42,442 Total 5,915,517 527,915 6,166,766 535,179 6,399,343 397,916 Source: FRTC, 2022; FRTC, 2024 10 Forests, in all categories of Local Levels, cover about 6.2 million hectares of land in the country. The rest of the forests are distributed in the core part of the Protected Areas (namely the National Park, Wildlife Reserve, and Hunting Reserve) and Development Council Land. At the national level, nearly half of the land in the Municipality is covered with forests. Even near about 1/3rd of the land in the Metropolitan is found with forest coverage. Table 5 below reveals the forest area statistics at local levels in the country. The Metropolitan and Sub-Metropolitan cities are relatively less covered with forests compared to Municipality and Rural Municipality (DFRS, 2018). Table 5: Forest Area Statistics by Local Levels Local Level Area in ha Forest Proportion in % Total area Forests Within local level In total Rural Municipality 9,874,308 4,202,447 42.6% 67.4% Municipality 4,028,588 1,891,860 47.0% 30.4% Sub-Metropolitan City 240,751 99,254 41.2% 1.6% Metropolitan City 118,920 36,976 31.1% 0.6% Grand Total 14,262,567 6,230,537 43.7% 100.0% Note: Forests including shrubs are excluded lying inside the Protected Areas and Development Council Land 2.2 Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation More than 104,000 ha of forest lands in 65 districts have been encroached so far (OAG, 2024). As of the fiscal year 2022/23, the encroached forest area in the PAs in the country is 4,039.12 ha (DNPWC, 2023). As of July 2022, more than 19,523 ha of forest land has been provided for other uses mainly for development projects (MoFE, 2024). According to the historical dataset in Nepal, about 40,000 ha of forest area is burnt every year of which the majority of forest fire incidents and affected areas are recorded between March and May (Martin et al., 2017). Fires were responsible for 13% of tree cover loss in Nepal between 2001 and 2023 (Global Forest Watch, 2023). Out of 182 naturalized plant species, 27 species (15%) are invasive in Nepal and four of them (Chromolaena odorata, Eichhornia crassipes, Lantana camara, and Mikania micrantha) are among the 100 of the world’s worst invasive alien species (Shrestha and Shrestha, 2021). The direct drivers and underlying causes are generic to the national scale which may vary across the physiographic regions and change over time. Table 6 presents the list of drivers and their primary association with deforestation and forest degradation, their overall prioritization, and their affecting regions. Altogether, eight direct drivers and seven broad underlying causes were identified. The underlying causes are believed to be dependent on each other and collectively underpin the direct drivers of accelerating deforestation and forest degradation. Of the total eight direct drivers, four are directly associated with forest degradation only, two with deforestation, and two with both deforestation and forest degradation. Unregulated and haphazard infrastructure development is the major direct driver of both deforestation and forest degradation in all physiographic regions and provinces. This is generally stimulated by high political interference, weak political commitment and law enforcement, and weak 11 coordination between forestry and non-forestry sectors. Forest fires are the second major in all regions. Agriculture expansion, human resettlement, and unplanned urban expansion appeared emerging drivers (Figure 4). Figure 4: Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation Table 6: Direct drivers, affected regions, priority, and associated underlying causes SN Direct Drivers Drivers for Deforestation or Forest Degradation Affected regions (T, S, MH, and HM) with magnitude ranging from 1 to 3 (High to low) Priority Associated underlying causes 1 Unregulated and haphazard infrastructure construction, especially rural road construction Forest degradation and Deforestation T (1), S (1), MH (1) and HM (2) 1 • Weak coordination among forestry and non-forestry (e.g., local government and infrastructure development) • High political interference, • Weak political commitment Unplanned infrastructure T (3), S (3), MH (1), HM (1) 5 • Weak coordination among forestry and non-forestry Deforestation Forests of different physiographic regions Forest degradation P ro xi m at e d ri ve rs • Haphazard and unplanned infrastructure development (Electricity transmission lines, hydropower dams, cement factory) • Agriculture expansion (subsistence & commercial agriculture) • Human (in the name of Sukumbasi) settlement and urban expansion • Mining and excavation (stone, sand, and boulder) Terai, Siwalik, Middle Hills, and High Mountain • Frequent forest fires • Unregulated rural road construction • Forest products extraction o Illegal logging o Unsustainable fuel wood collection o Unsustainale removal of medicinal plants • Rapid spread of invasive alien species • Unregulated livestock grazing Demographic factors: migration and population growth in specific areas U n d er ly in g ca u se s Policy & institutional factors: Inconsistent sector & cross-sector policy & legal provisions, weak coordination among forestry (within) & non- forestry authorities. Governance-related factors: Weak law enforcement (EIA, IEE, and monitoring), High political interferences, & lack of political commitment. Socio-economic factors: High forest product demand, high forest dependency, limited livelihood options, decreasing collective actions. Insecure and unclear land tenure: Forest loss in unrecognized areas due to unclear land tenure, and conflicts (in some cases) between traditional and formal management practices. Technological factors: Limited access to skills and technology (harvesting, forest fire) Climate Change: Prolonged drought leading to increased and intense forest firest incidences, extreme rainfall leading to floods and landslides. 12 development projects (e.g., Hydropower dams, transmission lines, and cement factors (e.g., local government and infrastructure development) • Weak law enforcement (e.g., EIA, IEE, monitoring of development projects.) 2 Frequent forest fires Forest degradation T (1), S (1) MH (1), HM (1) 2 • Prolonged drought due to climate change, • Lack of awareness among local communities • Weak law enforcement • Limited technology and skills 3 Agriculture expansion (Encroachment for subsistence agriculture) Deforestation T (1), HM (2), MH (3) 3 • Unclear and insecure land tenure • Population growth in a specific area due to migration • Weak law enforcement • Political motivation 4 Forest encroachment for human (in the name of Sukumbasi) resettlement Deforestation T (2), MH (2) 3 • Weak coordination among forest authorities and with non-forestry authorities across the levels, • High political interference/motivation • Inconsistency policies, strategies, and legal provisions across the sectors and levels • Weak law enforcement and impunity Unplanned urbanization (rapid expansion) T (1), S (3) MH (2), HM (3) 4 • Increased Migration from rural to urban areas and mid- hills to terai (Localized effects) • Scarcity of land in urban/semi-urban areas 5 The rapid spread of invasive alien species Forest degradation T (1), S (1), MH (2), HM (2) 6 • Temperature increased due to climate change inducing a conducive environment for alien plant species. • Limited technology, research, and skills of management 6 Unsustainable and illegal logging and harvesting. Forest degradation T (2), S (1), MH (3), HM (1) 6 • Weak law enforcement & impunity • Unclear and insecure land tenure • Inadequate technology and skill Unsustainable fuelwood extraction T (3) S(2), MH (3), HM (1) 8 • High forest dependency for specific communities • Lack of livelihood alternatives for some forest-dependent 13 households • Inadequate alternative energy sources 7 Uncontrolled and unregulated livestock grazing Forest Degradation T (2) S (1), MH (2), HM (1), 7 • A large number of low- productive livestock • Unclear and insecure land tenure • Weak law enforcement and impunity 8 Unsustainable mining and Excavation (Stone, sand, and boulder) Forest degradation and Deforestation T (2) S (1), MH (2), HM (3) 7 • Weak coordination among forestry and non-forestry authorities (e.g., Local Government, Land Management, and Infrastructure Development Authorities) • High political interference/motivation HM- High mountains, MH-Middle hills, T-Terai, S-Siwalik, 1-High, 2, Medium, 3- Low 2.3 Efforts to Address Deforestation and Forest Degradation The Government has been striving to address the issues of D&D through policy and legislative provisions, institutional arrangement, and programmatic interventions. For example, the Forest Regulation, 2022 has a provision to include drivers of deforestation and degradation in the management plan of government-managed and community-managed forests. Similarly, Rule 118 of the Regulations has mentioned the District Forest Protection Coordination Committee, Rule 119 about the District Encroachment Control Committee, and Rule 120 about forest fire control. The Forest Act, 2019 has spelled out compensatory plantations for the forest clearance done by development projects. The act has also incorporated some of the law enforcement provisions to control deforestation. The Environmental Protection Act 2019 and its Regulations 2020 as well as other sectoral legislations and policies have given high priority to environmental safeguards during forest land conversion for other purposes. From institutional perspectives, a total of 84 DFOs, 20 PA Offices, and more than 35,000 forest user groups are currently involved in the conservation and management of forests in the country. The three tiers of government have been implementing various programmes to protect and manage the forests. Specifically, the following efforts are in place to address the issue of D&D in Nepal: • Formulation and enactment of forest-related policy and legal instruments. • Active involvement of local communities in community forestry and other community- based forest management modalities. • Introduction of community-based conservation in and around PAs with expansion of buffer zone areas and conservation areas. • Provision of forest conservation areas and forest corridors for in-situ conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity, and better connectivity between the protected areas and adjoining forests. 14 • Expansion of soil conservation and watershed management services across the country and focused conservation efforts in the Chure region. • Conduction of forest research and inventory to provide information that helps develop strategies to reduce deforestation and forest degradation. • Institutional arrangements at three tiers of government and active civil society are in place. • Expansion of forestry education, human resource development, and capacity development of forestry staff, and local communities. • Awareness campaign to control encroachment, forest fire, overgrazing, and other drivers. • Tree plantation with the involvement of local communities and other stakeholders including provision of compensatory plantation. • Improvement of sectoral and stakeholder coordination at local, provincial, and national levels. • Provision and enforcement of environment assessment (EIA, IEE, and BES) to ensure environmental and social safeguards against negative impacts of development projects. 15 3 POLICIES, GOVERNANCE, INSTITUTIONS, AND TENURE 3.1 Existing Policy, Legislative, and Regulatory Framework For REDD+ The Constitution of Nepal provides the foundation for REDD+ in Nepal by recognizing the carbon services from the forest (Schedule 5 of the Constitution). The REDD+-related scope was first articulated in Nepal’s Forest Policy 2015 outlining that Nepal would engage in international REDD+ mechanisms including the World Bank’s Carbon Fund initiative by developing necessary policies and programs. Nepal developed a National REDD+ Strategy (NRS) in 2018 to provide a framework to address multidimensional and complex drivers of deforestation and forest degradation (D&D) while creating co-benefits such as improving livelihoods, biodiversity conservation, and forest governance. The scope of REDD+ in Nepal has been gradually institutionalized in the relevant sectoral and cross-sectoral policies and strategies. For example, the National Forest Policy, 2019 has recognized the forest-based emission reduction initiative including REDD+ as one of the major approaches to the country’s overall emission reduction targets. Similarly, Nepal’s National Climate Change Policy, 2019 recognizes the role of REDD+ and the related strategies towards establishing the agenda of forest-based climate change mitigation in Nepal through strategically addressing the drivers and causes of D&D. The policy further envisions REDD+, inter alia, as a means to access financial resources required to mobilize and strengthen ecosystem and social resilience. The policy emphasizes equitable benefit-sharing whereby at least 80% of the funds and benefits including from REDD+ and similar initiatives will be distributed to the communities (MoFE, 2019). In the transformative Strategies of Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Green Economy theme of the current 16th Plan (2024/25-2028/29), providing subsidies for carbon emission technology, increasing carbon stock in the forests through improved forest management, and increasing benefits from carbon trade have been highlighted (NPC, 2024). The Government of Nepal through its budget speech for the fiscal year 2024/25 showed its commitment to expand the emission reduction programs throughout the country including Koshi and Karnali provinces (MoF, 2024a). Some strategies such as the Forestry Sector Strategy (2016-2025), Forest Fire Control Strategy 2009, Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy, and Action Plan in Climate Change Sector 2021 are in place. REDD+-related legal provisions are in place in Nepal’s Environment Protection Act 2019 and Forest Act 2019, and their associated Regulations. Environment Protection Act, 2019 (Article 28) allows the Government of Nepal (GoN) to participate in the carbon trade with mechanisms established by the international treaty for the emission reduction and enhancement of carbon stock. The Forest Act 2019 outlines the provision for forest carbon trade and distribution of their benefits (Article 44 (a) and (b) of section 13) through the development of the Forest Development Fund (FDF). Similarly, Forest Regulations 2022 further specifies the emission reduction program development process (Rule 107), FPIC process (Rule 107 (6)), and carbon benefit distribution with the decision - making process of the FDF based on the benefit sharing plan (Rule 107 (7-8), 115). 16 The MoFE is currently in the process of amending the Environment Protection Regulations 2020 to provide a legal foundation for the implementation of Article 6. This underscores the expansion of carbon emissions trading by engaging in market mechanisms such as through ITMOs as referred to in Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. As a party to the Paris Agreement, Nepal will develop an Article 6 framework document (Operational Manual) to define Nepal’s readiness and approaches to engage in market approaches (i.e., Article 6.2 and 6.4) and non-market approaches (i.e., Article 6.8) stipulated in the Paris Agreement. The framework document will specify the detailed approaches to authorization, tracking , and monitoring of carbon emission under the bilateral cooperation (under Article 6.2) and central mechanism (under Article 6.4) to general ITMOs through a corresponding adjustment. The framework document will further outline the process to align land use and other sectoral emission reduction initiatives considering the targets of Nepal’s National Determined Contribution (NDC). The MoFE is preparing Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) Guidelines to ensure alignment of ongoing and future land-based and other voluntary carbon initiatives to the national climate plan including NDC. Besides, the MoFE is formulating a new National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) as per the Post- 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework which offers an opportunity to identify the activities synergizing both carbon, biodiversity, and other ecosystem services. Being a party to the UNFCCC, Nepal has prepared several documents related to climate change and REDD+. For example, Nepal prepared and submitted the National FRL to the UNFCCC secretariat in 2017 to fulfill the requirement of Decision 1/CP.16 (Cancun Agreement) as well as to express the country’s interest in and capacity for involvement in REDD+-related initiatives. Likewise, Nepal has established an NFIS and SIS and preparing safeguard-related documents including REDD+ FPIC Guideline and Summary of Information (SOI) to inform how safeguards are recognized, respected, and promoted during the REDD+ implementation. Moreover, Nepal also submitted the second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2020 and Long-term Strategy for Net Zero Emission 2021 to the UNFCCC secretariat which explicitly highlighted the role of REDD+ in achieving the country’s emission targets. The Long-Term Strategy for Net Zero Emissions also emphasizes engaging non-market mechanisms under Article 6.8 for the AFOLU sector to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045. Nepal is also preparing the NDC 3.0 which needs to align REDD+ strategies and actions to the plan. The preparation of the Biennial Update Report (BUR), Biennial Transparency Report (BTR), and MRV framework is ongoing. 3.2 Forest Management Practices Legally, Nepal’s national forests are categorized into different management regimes, namely government-managed forests, forest conservation areas, community forests, collaborative forests, leasehold forests, and religious forests. More than 35,000 Community-based Forest User Groups have been managing over 3.34 million ha of forests in Nepal. Out of the total such groups, there are a total of 23,601 community forest user groups managing more than 2.50 million ha of forests in Nepal (Table 7). Management 17 plans for all forest management regimes, protected areas, and wetlands have been prepared and are being implemented. Table 7: Details of Various Forest Management Modalities in Nepal SN Modality Number Area (ha) Affiliated HHs 1 Community Forest 23,601 2,508,326 3,168,449 2 Collaborative Forest 31 75,654 812,870 3 Leasehold Forest (Pro-poor) 7,731 44,399 74,495 4 Leasehold Forest (Commercial) 22 640 5 Private Forest 2,458 2,360 6 Religious Forest 179 2,809 7 Forest Conservation Area 11 194,156 8 Buffer Zone Community Forest 1,067 240,870 168,071 9 Buffer Zone Leasehold Forest 88 548.7 581 10 Buffer Zone Religious Forest 7 87 11 Forest managed by Conservation Area Management Committee 85 277,140 33,685 Total 35,280 3,346,990 4,258,151 Source: MoFE, 2021; MoF, 2024 3.3 Forest Governance and Tenurial Arrangements After federalization, forestry organizations were restructured in the country. The federal government is responsible for the formulation of forestry policies, legislative arrangements, national parks and wildlife reserve management, national and international environment management, and carbon services. The provincial government (i.e., the Provincial Forest Ministry) is responsible for managing the national forests while the local governments are responsible for conserving the forests and maintaining environmental capital. Accordingly, there are six divisions, four departments (Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation-DNPWC, Department of Forests and Soil Conservation-DoFSC, Department of Plant Resources-DPR, and Department of Environment-DoE), two centers (Forest Research and Training Center-FRTC and REDD Implementation Center) and three parastatals (Nepal Forest Corporation, Forest Products Development Board and Herbs Production and Processing Company Limited) under the federal ministry of forests and environment. At the Provincial level, there are seven ministries, seven province directorates, 84 division forest offices, 25 soil conservation and watershed management offices, and seven forest research and training centers under the provincial governments. Emission reduction-supportive programs such as Forests for Prosperity Project (FFPP) with support from the World Bank, two GCF-funded “Building a Resilient Churia Region (BRCRN) in Nepal”, and “Improving Climate Resilience of Vulnerable Communities and Ecosystems in the Gandaki River Basin” projects are in operation. Although these projects are not result-based payments, the ultimate goal is to contribute to the country’s efforts to reduce emissions through strengthening SFM and ecosystem resilience. 18 The National Forest Policy 2019 and the National Climate Change Policy 2019 have provisions for forest tenure security of women, IPs, Madhesi, Dalits, local communities, and forest-dependent poor. Recent legal provisions have recognized the contribution of collective tenure rights over forest resources. The provision of attaining prior and informed consent from the community groups exercising collective forest tenure such as community- based forest user groups has been mentioned in the Forest Regulation 2022 (Rule 107) and Environmental Protection Regulation 2020. Traditional knowledge and customary practices for forest management are recognized in history by legal instruments for the first time. Rule 15 and Annex 24 of the Forest Regulation 2022 have made a provision for CFUGs to include forest management-related traditional knowledge and customary practices of forest management in their FOP. 3.4 Institutional Arrangements Nepal established REDD+-specific decision-making and institutional arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the REDD+ initiatives. A 24-member National REDD+ Steering Committee (NRSC), chaired by the Minister for Forests and Environment, is the high-level policy institution for REDD+ in Nepal. Chaired by the Secretary of the MoFE, the 22-member National REDD+ Coordination Committee (NRCC) was formed in February 2020 which is an institution to make decisions on technical matters. Under the MoFE, a dedicated institution – the REDD Implementation Centre (REDD IC – previously REDD- Forestry and Climate Change Cell) was established in 2009 to coordinate and facilitate REDD+ activities across the country. REDD+ desks are provisioned at the provincial forest directorate and DFOs to coordinate and facilitate REDD+-related activities at the provincial and district levels. A multi-stakeholder forum and IPs and Civil Society Organization (CSO) alliances are also established as platforms for sharing experiences and progress , and for receiving feedback in the REDD+ implementation process. 3.5 Carbon Rights and Benefit Sharing According to the Constitution, carbon rights are retained by the federal government while management, use, and distribution of environmental services other than carbon rest with the provincial government and forest institutions such as FUGs based on the forest legislation. The Forest Act 2019 and its Regulations 2022; and the Environment Protection Act 2019 and its Regulations 2020 have made provisions for carbon trade. Section 2 (Bha) of the Forest Act 2019 recognizes forest carbon as one of the forest ecosystem services and Section 44 about management and benefit sharing of forest ecosystem services. In line with the Act, Chapter 13 of the Forest Regulations mentioned forest ecosystem services including carbon in detail. The National Climate Change Policy, 2019 has mentioned spending at least 80% of the climate fund at the local level. Rule 115 of Forest Regulations 2022 highlights the benefit-sharing mechanism as i) management of forest development fund-10%; ii) forest management authority or user group-80%; iii) private forest owner-5%; and iv) forest-dependent households 19 not affiliated with user group-5%. Forest Regulation (second amendment), 2022 has included REDD IC as a member of the FDF operation committee. Benefit-sharing plans with fair and equitable provisions considering collective forest tenure for the FCPF ER Program of the TAL area and LEAF jurisdiction have been prepared in an inclusive way considering Nepal’s legal provisions and methodological guidance. The detailed operation procedures of the Benefit Sharing Arrangements will be elaborated in the FDF Operational Procedures or Manual. 3.6 Gender Equity and Social Inclusion The Government of Nepal has endorsed the Gender Equality Policy 2021 and its Implementation Plan 2023. The Sexual Harassment at Workplace Prevention Act, 2017 provides the legal framework to ensure a safe working environment for all. There is a Regulation Concerning the Conduct of Employees of the Civil Service, 2008 in place. The MoFE has also prepared a Code of Conduct for its Staff in 2013 based on the Governance Act 2007. The MoFE has developed the Forest Sector Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy 2009, and the Gender and Social Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan in Climate Change Sector 2021. The REDD IC has prepared a Gender Integration in REDD+ and the ERPD in Nepal in 2017. There is a provision for assigning gender-focal persons at the government offices including forest and PA offices. Forest Act 2019 and its Regulations 2022 have stipulated at least 50% women's representation in the CFUG Executive Committee. In the 24-member National REDD+ Steering Committee and 22- member National REDD+ Coordination Committee, representation of women, IPs, local communities, Dalit, and Madhesi has been ensured. Despite the affirmative policies and actions in place, there are gaps in gender and equity at all levels of forest governance particularly in decision-making, resource allocation, opportunities, and sharing benefits from forest management. For example, at the national level, there are around 26.58% of women out of the total number of civil servants in Nepal2 whereas only 3% of women are working in civil service in the forestry sector. Focused programs such as increasing meaningful participation, income- generating activities, and capacity development are needed for the effective role of women in the forestry sector and REDD+ activities in particular. 3.7 Safeguard Arrangement The fundamental rights (rights to information, rights to positive discrimination and social justice, rights to environmental justice, etc.) guaranteed by the Constitution of Nepal are applicable in the context of REDD+ safeguards measures. The Environmental Protection Act, 2019 and its Regulations 2020 have incorporated strong environmental safeguards measures through environmental assessment (e.g., BES/IEE/EIA) of the development proposals or forest activities. Similarly, as per Rule 107 (2) of the Forest Regulation 2022, it should be ensured by the entity that there will be no environmental and socio-cultural harm during the development and implementation of emission reduction programs. Moreover, Rule 107 (6) of the Regulation mentions that prior informed consent from the affected local community is required before selling forest carbon by the Government of Nepal. Similar provisions are included in Rule 28 (4) 2 https://nepaloutlook.com/women-nepal-gender-data/ 20 of the Environmental Protection Regulations 2020. The MoFE has finalized REDD+/ER Program FPIC Guidelines to operationalize these domestic legal provisions on FPIC with detailed steps and processes. The Constitutional provisions have committed to allocating land for the landless Dalits at least once as per prevailing law. A large number of Nationally Prioritized Projects (e.g., roads, railways, transmission lines, petroleum pipelines, irrigation canals, etc.) are operating or under construction or proposed in the forest areas of Nepal. As per Section 3 of the Environmental Protection Act 2019, Environment Assessment (BES/IEE/EIA) is compulsory for nationally prioritized projects or any other development projects, if they use the forestland during construction or operating phases. Sections 12 and 42 of the Forest Act, 2019, and Chapter 12 (Rules 87-103) of Forest Regulations 2022 have made specific provisions to avoid forest areas for infrastructure development and resettlement and make compulsory provisions for tree planting to compensate for forest clearance. Nepal has drafted an SIS and is in the process of drafting a Summary of Information (SoI) to submit to the UNFCCC (http://sis.redd.gov.np/sis). Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act 2008 and its Regulations 2009, and Right to Information Act 2007 are in place for maintaining good governance and grievance handling in government offices which are important elements of REDD+-related safeguards measures. Hello Sarkar’ complaint box, and National Vigilance Centre have mechanisms for grievance handling at the federal level. In addition, every government office has a citizen charter in practice to which grievance handling official has been assigned. As per section 46 of the Local Government Operation Act 2017, each local government has formed a three-member judicial committee coordinated by its Vice-Chairperson/Deputy Mayor to settle disputes or complaints in their respective jurisdictions. At the community level, public hearings and public auditing are mandatory provisions for FUGs to improve and maintain governance. Nepal prepared the REDD+ SESA at the national level and ESMF at the sub-national/project level. There is also an updated ESMF 2021 for the project level. The FGRM study report was produced during the REDD+ readiness phase and REDD IC has also developed a REDD+-specific FGRM for implementation in the ER program area under LEAF Coalition. There is a need to add specific actions for the promotion of safeguards such as capacity building on safeguards, FPIC, and BSP at the community level and support for access to GRM and legal remedy. Efforts are needed for the safeguards-specific multi-stakeholder monitoring system. 3.8 Monitoring System The Planning, Monitoring, and Coordination Division and concerned agencies under the MoFE at the federal level execute regular monitoring of forest-related activities. Similarly, at the provincial level, the provincial ministry responsible for forests, provincial forest directorate, and division forest offices regularly implement and monitor the activities related to address drivers of D&D. Rules 122 and 123 of the Forest Regulations, 2022 have mentioned about formation and roles and responsibilities of the District Forestry Sector Coordination Committee. Local governments and community-based forest user groups are also involved in implementing and http://sis.redd.gov.np/sis 21 monitoring REDD+-related activities within their jurisdiction. Various institutions including Parliamentary Committees, the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), the Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers, the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the National Vigilance Centre (NVC), and the National Planning Commission (NPC), Provincial Policy and Planning Commission are involved in monitoring forest-related activities and governance issues. As outlined in the NRS, a 3-tiered institutional arrangement (NRSC, NRCC, and REDD IC) together with a Multi-Stakeholder Forum and a REDD+ CSOs & IPOs Alliance is established to operate REDD+-related activities. 22 4 STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS 4.1 Vision Enhanced sustainably carbon and non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems for contributing to national prosperity. 4.2 Mission Strengthen the forest ecosystem resilience for emission reductions and increased carbon and non-carbon benefits through improved policy measures and effective institutions with enhanced capacity, capability, and inclusiveness. 4.3 Objectives • Reduce carbon emissions, enhance carbon stock, conserve biodiversity, and strengthen ecosystem resilience by addressing the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation and promoting sustainable management of forests. • Improve forest land tenure security and ensure fair and equitable sharing of carbon and non-carbon benefits of forests among rights holders, women, IPs, Madhesis, Dalits, and forest-dependent local communities with effective implementation of safeguard measures. • Increase livelihood assets and diversify employment opportunities for women, IPs, Madhesis, Dalits, local communities, and forest-dependent poor. • Improve and harmonize policy and legal frameworks in line with national and international requirements and standards to harness carbon and non-carbon benefits. • Maintain good governance, strengthen institutional capability and coordination, and promote gender equality and social inclusion in the forestry sector. • Improve the National Forest Monitoring System with robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanisms. 4.4 Guiding Principles The guiding principles of the National REDD+ Strategy are as follows: • Coherent with overall national priorities and international policy instruments and obligations. • Building on successful community-based approaches and practices. • Enhancing horizontal and vertical collaboration and coordination among different sectors and agencies. • Foster collaboration and partnership with development partners, the private sector, and civil societies. • Utilizing and building the existing capacity and capabilities. • Maintaining ecosystem integrity and optimizing the wide range of ecosystem benefits . 23 • Promoting people-centric, gender, and socially inclusive practices and approaches, as well as equitable benefit sharing and social justice. • Addressing and respecting social and environmental safeguards. • Strengthening participatory, reliable, and efficient measurement, monitoring, and information systems. • Improving forestry sector governance and multi-stakeholder approaches. • Strengthening knowledge base through research and study. • Explore sustainable financing mechanisms. 4.5 Strategic Approaches • Formulation of 10-year target-based priority actions through multi-stakeholder engagement processes. • Mainstreaming REDD+-related issues into sectoral plans, policies, and programmes. • Achieving forest carbon benefits through emission reduction programmes and ensuring its equitable sharing. • Promotion of effective response measures against addressing drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. 4.6 Strategies and Actions Priority actions, defined in each strategy have different levels of contribution to address the five activities of REDD+ i.e., Deforestation (D), Forest Degradation (FD), Forest Carbon Conservation (FCC), Sustainable Management of Forest (SMF), and Carbon Stock Enhancement (CSE). The below section presents the strategies, corresponding priority actions, and their contribution to the address of five REDD+ activities. 4.6.1 Reduce carbon emissions, improve forest management and monitoring, and improve the supply of forest products. 4.6.1.1 Assess the potential and gradually hand over the national forests to community-based forest management modalities. (SMF) 4.6.1.2 Update forest management operational plans of all forest management regimes with provisions for carbon stock enhancement, mitigation actions, and control drivers of D&D. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.1.3 Strengthen and scale up sustainable management of forests in all potential forest management regimes. (SMF) 4.6.1.4 Improve forest law enforcement and monitoring to address drivers of D&D. (D and FD) 4.6.1.5 Develop and use tools and techniques to reduce the incidence and damage incurred by forest fires, and invasive and alien species. (D, FD, and FCC) 4.6.1.6 Restore degraded land and protect watersheds by promoting natural regeneration, plantation, and appropriate bioengineering and other soil conservation measures. (FCC, CSE) 4.6.1.7 Adopt a nested approach to emission reduction programs as necessary covering the different physiographic regions of the country. (D, FD, SMF, FCC, CSE) 4.6.1.8 Enhance production and improve the supply of forest products. (SMF) 4.6.2 Increase non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems. 4.6.2.1 Analyze and address key threats to biodiversity in an integrated and participatory manner. (FCC) 4.6.2.2 Develop a guideline and manage the potential forest areas as other effective conservation area measures (OECMs). (FCC and CSE) 4.6.2.3 Control wildlife poaching and illegal trade of wild fauna and flora and reduce human- wildlife conflict. (FCC) 4.6.2.4 Promote nature-based tourism in protected areas and other potential forests. (FCC) 4.6.2.5 Pilot and promote the payment of ecosystem services through appropriate institutional arrangements. (FCC) 4.6.2.6 Develop a framework for systematic measurement and documentation of non-carbon forest ecosystem services focusing on social safeguards. (FCC and CSE) 4.6.3 Promote afforestation, reforestation, and restoration activities across all physiographic regions. 4.6.3.1 Promote private forestry in less productive or marginal, abandoned, unutilized farmlands. (CSE, FD) 4.6.3.2 Promote climate-resilient agroforestry systems in potential private and public lands. (CSE, FD) 4.6.3.3 Expand public land forestry after assessing the potentiality of such lands for forestry development purposes. (FCC) 4.6.3.4 Promote urban forestry in partnership with local government, local communities, and the private sector. (FCC) 4.6.3.5 Provide quality planting materials and technical services to farmers or farmer groups for growing trees on private and public land. (CSE, FCC) 4.6.3.6 Simplify the regulatory procedures for the transportation and sale of privately grown trees and provide necessary support for production, processing, and marketing. (FCC, CSE) 4.6.3.7 Make effective compensatory plantations through forest clearance by development projects. (D, FD, FCC) 4.6.4 Improve forest tenure, ensure carbon rights, and fair and equitable benefit sharing. 4.6.4.1 Improve and secure the collective and community-based forest tenure rights of rights holders - forest-dependent Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women, Dalits, marginalized groups, and poor families. (FD, FCC. SMF, CSE) 4.6.4.2 Operationalize the carbon rights aligning with legally recognized collective and community-based forest rights through FPIC. (D, FD, SMF) 4.6.4.3 Establish and operationalize a transparent, localized, and inclusive mechanism for ensuring equitable sharing of benefits among forest managers, IPs, LCs, and other rights holders arising from the REDD+, emission reduction program, and various carbon markets. (FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.4.4 Empower and incentivize forest managers, rights holders, and relevant stakeholders to generate non-carbon benefits from REDD+ and forest-based emission reduction programs. (D, FD, FCC) 4.6.4.5 Recognize, ensure, and integrate traditional knowledge and customary practices in all types of forest regimes and their management plans. (SMF, CSE) 4.6.4.6 Implement alternative and sustainable livelihood development programs for forest- dependent landless people, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities. (SFM, FCC) 4.6.5 Enhance the role of the private sector in forestry to promote forest-based enterprises for livelihood and economic development. 4.6.5.1 Simplify regulatory provisions such as registration, transportation, sale, and processing of forest products that are conducive to private sector involvement in forest-based enterprises. (FD, CSE) 4.6.5.2 Encourage financial institutions to provide credit facilities and loans to private tree growers and forestry entrepreneurs similar to those available for agriculture. (SMF, FCC, CSE) 4.6.5.3 Promote partnerships between forest management groups and the private sector to increase investment in forestry businesses including eco-tourism enterprises. (SMF, CSE) 4.6.5.4 Deliver vocational and skill-based training opportunities for enterprise development and forest operations such as harvesting, logging, sawmilling, carpentry, and wood technologies, giving priority to women, and poor and socially disadvantaged groups. (SMF, CSE) 4.6.5.5 Encourage the private sector to use new technology and investment in forest-based enterprises, mainly in wood seasoning and treatment, compressed and particle board, wood processing, veneer production, palate production, and bamboo-laminated board/panel. (FD, SMF, FCC) 4.6.6 Increase access to sustainable, affordable, and reliable renewable energy. 4.6.6.1 Promote sustainable, cost-effective renewable energy and energy-saving technologies such as bio-briquettes, biogas, solar, wind, and clean cooking stoves through educational, financial, and technological interventions. (FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.6.2 Discourage the use of unsustainable biomass for household cooking purposes. (FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.6.3 Develop and operationalize the mechanism to increase access of forest-dependent poor and marginalized people to renewable energy and energy-saving technologies. (FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.6.4 Increase the efficiency of wood-using industries to reduce wood waste and encourage to use of available clean energy sources. (FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.7 Improve collaboration, cooperation, and synergy among sectoral policies, sectors, and agencies/actors. 4.6.7.1 Align policy, legal frameworks, and strategies in line with international commitments and harmonize cross-sectoral policies and legal instruments. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.7.2 Develop policies, legal frameworks, and institutions for investment in climate change mitigation and adaptation, including performance-based payment mechanisms. (D, FD, SMF) 4.6.7.3 Integrate REDD+ related activities into forestry sector planning of three tiers of government and in forest operational/management plans of CBFM. (D, FD, SMF, FCC, CSE) 4.6.7.4 Establish strong vertical and horizontal coordination mechanisms among relevant sectors and agencies for integrated planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of emission reduction-related sectoral policies, plans, and programs. (operationalize the existing coordinating mechanism). (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.7.5 Establish partnerships with development partners in building knowledge and human resources related to forestry, climate change, and REDD+ in particular. (SMF) 4.6.7.6 Conduct awareness generation and capacity-building activities on climate change, REDD+, and forest conservation. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.7.7 Include climate change and REDD+-related issues in formal curricula of academic institutions and informal education systems. (SMF, FCC) 4.6.8 Improve capacity, institutional performance, and service delivery of the forestry sector institutions, right-holders, and relevant stakeholders. 4.6.8.1 Restructure the forestry sector institutions in general and the REDD Implementation Center in particular in the changing context of the forest carbon market. (D, FD, SMF, FCC, CSE) 4.6.8.2 Institutionalize and strengthen the different tiers of REDD+ institutional mechanisms and multistakeholder forums with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.8.3 Assess the institutional capacity and needs of forestry institutions as well as relevant stakeholders and rights holders to address the drivers of D&D. (D, FD, SMF) 4.6.8.4 Strengthen capacity, knowledge, and awareness of relevant stakeholders and right holders through extension, training, exposure, and workshops for enhancing their contribution to addressing drivers of D&D and Sustainable Management of Forests. (D, FD, SMF) 4.6.8.5 Support to build capacity of forestry officials for financing mechanisms through both regulated and voluntary carbon markets. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.8.6 Strengthen the capacity of academic and research institutions in training, research, and technology development associated with forestry and REDD+. (D, FD, SMF) 4.6.8.7 Ensure adequate representation and meaningful participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, Madhesis, Dalits, local communities, private sector, and forest-dependent poor in relevant forestry decision-making processes through policy provisions, institutionalization, and capacity development. (SMF, CSE) 4.6.8.8 Strengthen existing feedback and grievance redress mechanisms to address the issues in REDD+. (SMF) 4.6.8.9 Provide support for capacity and institutional development to maintain good governance of CF, CFM, and other CBFM groups through activities such as public hearings, public audits, and performance monitoring. (SMF, CSE) 4.6.8.10 Ensure transparency of quality information (policies, plans, programs, budget, etc.) at various levels. (FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.9 Ensure social and environmental safeguards including environment-friendly development. 4.6.9.1 Ensure social and environmental safeguards during the formulation and implementation of land use plans and forest management plans. (SMF, CSE) 4.6.9.2 Ensure the integration and implementation of national and relevant international social and environmental safeguards standards in all REDD+ programs and activities. (SMF) 4.6.9.3 Receive Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) of rights holders particularly affected Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities before transferring carbon titles to buyers by applying national guidelines and best practices. (SMF) 4.6.9.4 Ensure equitable governance practices, social inclusion, socio-culturally acceptable norms, and gender equality in the planning, decision-making, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation process of the REDD+ program at all levels. (SMF) 4.6.9.5 Develop and implement alternative rehabilitation arrangements for landless people living in forest lands. (FD, CSE) 4.6.9.6 Ensure effective implementation of forest laws and environmental protection laws while using forest land for other purposes under nationally prioritized development projects and effectively comply with the mitigation measures defined in the environmental laws including compensatory plantations. (D, FD, SMF) 4.6.9.7 Avoid forest areas for infrastructure development and resettlement and make compulsory provisions for tree plantingto compensate for the forest area being cleared by the project proponents themselves or by investing in the Forest Development Fund generated from the infrastructure development projects. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.9.8 Upgrade, institutionalize, and operationalize the Safeguards Monitoring System under the improved Safeguards Information System (SIS). (FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.10 Establish and operationalize a robust and well-functioning National Forest Monitoring System by upgrading the existing National Forest Information System with an updated database and clear institutional arrangements. 4.6.10.1 Enhance capability with investment, technology, and human resources to conduct forest resource mapping and inventories on a periodic basis. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.10.2 Develop the capacity of government agencies and local communities to collect, analyze, store, manage, and disseminate carbon and non-carbon-related data and information for planning and MRV. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.10.3 Upgrade the National Forest Information System (NFIS) with an updated database to the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS). (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.10.4 Develop an NFMS framework document with clear data management systems, institutional arrangements, operational procedures, and necessary infrastructure to effectively and efficiently operationalize the NFMS. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.10.5 Strengthen and integrate community-based monitoring systems to the NFMS and MRV process with identified monitoring indicators in community-based forest management. (SMF, CSE) 4.6.10.6 Operationalize and maintain a NFMS with robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanisms. (D, FD, SFM, CSE) 4.6.10.7 Establish a National Carbon Registry mechanism with legal and institutional arrangements. (D, FD, SMF, CSE) 4.6.10.8 Develop MRV framework and conduct studies and research on REDD+ and MRV process periodically. 4.7 Theory of Change The vision of the strategy is to enhance sustainable carbon and non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems to contribute to national prosperity. It is assumed that investment in sustainably addressing drivers of D&D will contribute significantly to reducing carbon emissions, managing forests sustainably, improving the supply of forest products, increase carbon and non-carbon benefits thereby contributing to national, provincial, local, and household economies and ecosystem resilience. The theory of change is presented in Figure 5 below: Figure 5: Theory of Change 31 5 IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK 5.1 Institutional Arrangement for REDD+ Implementation Implementation of the strategy will be guided by the principles of good governance, inclusiveness, meaningful participation of concerned stakeholders, cost efficiency, and accountability among others. Several mechanisms such as the National REDD+ Steering Committee, National REDD+ Coordination Committee, REDD Implementation Center, REDD+ IP and CSO Alliance, REDD+ Multistakeholder Forum, Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee, etc. will be functional in providing guidance and delivering REDD+-related interventions (Figure 6). Figure 6: Institutional arrangement for REDD+ implementation DIS TRI CT/ LOC AL LEV EL Local Government Local Level Coordination Committee Forest/Environm ent Section NGO/Networks/Federations/ Forest User Groups Private Sector Projects/Programs Division Forest Offices/PA Offices Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee P R O V IN C IA L LE V EL Sectoral Ministries Private Sector Projects/Programs Ministry Responsible for Forests, Environment, and Climate Change Forest Directorate REDD Implementation Centre National REDD+ Coordination Committee REDD Multistakeholder Forum Private Sector Sectoral Ministries National REDD+ Steering Committee Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) FE D ER A L LE V EL REDD CSOs and IPOs Alliance Development Partners 32 National REDD+ Steering Committee The National REDD+ Steering Committee (NRSC) at the national level will be the apex body for providing overall policy direction, enhancing coordination among REDD+-related agencies, oversee operating procedures. The NRSC will be a 25-member body chaired by the Honourable Minister of Forests and Environment which is represented by the government, NGOs, academic institutions, networks/associations of Indigenous People and Local Communities, and independent experts (Table 8). Generally, the NRSC will meet once a year or more if needed. Table 8: Composition of National REDD+ Steering Committee SN Designation/Organization Position 1 Honorable Minister, Ministry of Forests and Environment Chairperson 2 Honorable Member (Forestry and Environment Portfolio), National Planning Commission Member 3 Secretary, OPMCM (Provincial Coordination Portfolio) Member 4 Secretary, Ministry of Forests and Environment Member 5 Secretary, Ministry of Finance Member 6 Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Member 7 Secretary, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Member 8 Secretary, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply Member 9 Secretary, Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Member 10 Secretary, Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Member 11 Secretary, National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission Member 12 Two Professors of Forestry/Environmental Science (at least one woman) nominated by the MoFE Member 13 Chairperson, FECOFUN Member 14 Chairperson, ACOFUN Member 15 Chairperson, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Member 16 President, Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade, Nepal (FenFIT) Member 17 Chairperson, Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) Member 18 Chairperson, National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal Member 19 Two representatives from Women and Dalit-related networks/associations nominated by the MoFE Member 20 Two independent experts (at least one woman) nominated by the MoFE Member 21 Gender Focal Person, MoFE Member 22 Chief, REDD Implementation Centre Member Secretary The roles and responsibilities of the NRSC include providing strategic leadership, guidance, and facilitation support for the REDD+/emission reduction implementation programs in the country. It also plays a role in enhancing coordination and collaboration among different sectors and agencies and in exploring and securing sustainable financing for REDD+ activities in the country. 33 National REDD+ Coordination Committee A 25-member National REDD+ Coordination Committee (NRCC) will be formed to be chaired by the secretary of the MoFE. The main responsibilities of the NRCC are to make decisions on technical matters such as endorsing study/research documents, implementation, and monitoring of REDD+ programs and recommending agenda for NRSC meetings. The composition of the NRCC is presented in Table 9. Generally, the NRCC will meet at least twice a year or more if needed. Table 9: Composition of National REDD+ Coordination Committee SN Designation/Organization Position 1 Secretary, Ministry of Forests and Environment Chairperson 2 Joint Secretary, Planning, Monitoring and Coordination Division Member 3 Joint Secretary, Climate Change Management Division Member 4 Director General, Department of Forests and Soil Conservation Member 5 Director General, Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Member 6 Director General, Forest Research and Training Center Member 7 Secretary of seven Provincial Ministry responsible for forests, environment, and climate change Member 8 Representative, FECOFUN Member 9 Representative, ACOFUN Member 10 Representative, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Member 11 Representative, Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade, Nepal (FenFIT) Member 12 Representative, Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) Member 13 Representative, National Association of Rural Municipalities in Nepal Member 14 Two representatives from Women and Dalit-related networks/associations nominated by the MoFE Member 15 Two independent experts (at least one woman) nominated by the MoFE Member 16 Gender Focal Person, MoFE Member 17 Chief, REDD Implementation Centre Member Secretary REDD Implementation Centre Under the MoFE, a dedicated institution – the REDD Implementation Centre (REDD IC– previously REDD-Forestry and Climate Change Cell) was established in 2009 to coordinate and facilitate REDD+ activities across the country. Headed by the Joint Secretary of the MoFE, the REDD IC is the mandated government agency to lead and coordinate REDD+-related activities in the country. The roles and responsibilities of the center will be as follows: • Lead the program planning and implementation of REDD+-related activities. • Coordinate with federal, provincial, and local level agencies and sectors for effective implementation of the strategy. 34 • Establish and operate a national safeguards information system and periodically to the UNFCCC in accordance with the COP decisions. • Act as a national carbon management authority. • Regularly update the forest-based GHG emissions data and maintain FREL, and periodically to the UNFCCC in accordance with the COP decisions. • Coordinate with FRTC for a credible MRV system, for making the National Forest Information System and Carbon Registry System functional. • Develop benefit sharing plan/mechanism of ER programs. • Facilitate the capacity building of forest officials and other stakeholders for REDD+ at the federal, provincial, district, and local levels. • Carry out study/research related to REDD+. • Explore, under the guidance of the MoFE, the financing opportunities for the implementation of programs to address the drivers of D&D. • Report to the MoFE, NRCC, and NRSC on a regular basis. The REDD+ Multi-Stakeholder Forum The forum will act as the principal outreach and communication platform for issues relating to REDD+-related activities in the country. The forum includes representatives from the private sector, civil society, media, government organizations, community-based organizations, IPs organizations, local and international NGOs, donors, academic and research institutions, women and youth-related organizations, and other stakeholders interested in REDD+. The forum is the key mechanism for ensuring that the opinions and priorities of all stakeholders are represented during the implementation of the strategy and will act as a supportive body to the REDD IC. Coordinated by the REDD IC Chief, the forum will meet at least twice a year. The REDD+ CSOs & IPOs Alliance The alliance is the forum to discuss and develop a common understanding of REDD+ on behalf of a wide spectrum of women, IP organizations, Madhesis, Dalits, and civil society organizations. The alliance will be the forum for sharing experiences from IPOs and CSOs and for seeking their feedback in the REDD+ implementation process. The alliance will meet at least once a year. Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee As the management of forests is one of the exclusive rights of the provincial government as per the Constitution of Nepal, the provincial forest agencies have the major responsibility for the implementation of REDD+ activities. There will be a 21-member Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee (PRCC) formed in each province housed at the Ministry responsible for forest, environment, and climate change. The provinces will be encouraged to develop their provincial- level Action Plan for REDD+. The composition of the PRCC is presented in Table 8. Generally, the NRCC will meet twice a year or more if needed. Table 10: Composition of Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee SN Designation/Organization Position 1 Secretary, Ministry responsible for Forests, Environment and Climate Change Chairperson 2 Division Chief (Environment and Climate Change) Member 3 Division Chief (Planning and Monitoring) Member 35 4 Chief, Forest Research and Training Center Member 5 Under Secretary/Officer, Office of Chief Minister and Council of Ministers Member 6 Under Secretary/Officer, Ministry responsible for Finance Member 7 Under Secretary/Officer, Provincial Policy and Planning Commission Member 8 Under Secretary/Officer, Ministry responsible for agriculture Member 9 Under Secretary/Officer, Ministry responsible for energy Member 10 Under Secretary/Officer, Ministry responsible for industry Member 11 Gender Focal Person, Ministry responsible for Forests, Environment and Climate Change Member 11 Representative, Provincial FECOFUN Member 12 Representative, Provincial ACOFUN Member 13 Representative, Provincial NEFIN Member 14 Representative, Provincial FenFIT Member 15 Representative, Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Member 16 Representative, Federation of Forest Based Industry and Trade, Nepal (FenFIT) Member 17 Two representatives from Women and Dalit-related networks/associations nominated by the Ministry Member 18 Two independent experts (at least one woman) nominated by the Ministry Member 19 Director, Province Forest Directorate Member Secretary The responsibilities of the PRCC are as follows: • Facilitate the implementation and monitoring of the National REDD+ Strategy in the province. • Provide guidance in preparation of the REDD+ action plan. • Oversee REDD+ preparation and implementation by forest offices, community-based forestry user groups, etc. • Provide guidance to concerned agencies for technical and institutional support towards the implementation of REDD+ activities. • Advise concerned agencies in providing data and information in relation to REDD+ activities, for example, the national forest monitoring system. Local/community-level REDD+ mechanism The forest and environment-related section or coordination committee of local governments will coordinate REDD+ programs in order to implement the strategy at the local level. The local government may develop an action plan for REDD+ program implementation and monitor the activities implemented at the local level. The REDD+ nodal persons are provisioned at the Division Forest Office and protected area offices to facilitate the REDD+-related activities implementation at the field level. At the community level, CBFM groups such as Community Forest User Groups, and Collaborative Forest Management User Groups will implement REDD+- related activities as per their respective forest operational/management plans. 36 There should be effective coordination and cooperation between the Federal and Provincial REDD+ mechanisms. 5.2 Institutional Arrangement for Monitoring, NFMS, and MRV Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC) is a mandated government agency under the Ministry of Forests and Environment for conducting forestry research and survey activities in the country. The objectives of the FRTC are to conduct national-level forest inventory and develop a forest resource database; to carry out forest cover mapping and prepare forest maps, and to impart forestry training and extension services. FRTC has a dedicated division namely the ‘Forest Survey and Carbon Monitoring Division’ that generates valuable statistics information and acquires remote sensing data to generate useful products for conducting forest inventory and mapping carbon measurements necessary to plan overall forestry development at national, provincial, and district levels. The federal FRTC is responsible for operating the NFMS and facilitating the MRV process in close consultation and collaboration with the REDD IC and provincial forest authorities. The federal FRTC is responsible for organizing measurement monitoring and preparing emission reports required for MRV of the result-based REDD+/ER Programs. In consultation with the provincial forest ministry/forest directorate, the FRTC, jointly with the provincial FRTC will form a forest inventory team consisting of the representatives of respective Division Forest Offices, Protected Area offices, CBFM groups, and IP communities for undertaking forest inventory including the sample plot measurements. The FRTC compiles all the data. Then it analyses data for forest resource assessment, activity data, and carbon accounting and emission reductions by mainly using sample plot data, satellite images, and emission factors. In consultation with the REDD IC, the FRTC will prepare the emission report with the results of analyzed data submitted to the assigned verification and validation bodies. The information and reports received from the FRTC will be compiled by the REDD IC and submitted to the concerned agencies and international instruments through MoFE. The verified carbon data will be uploaded to the forest carbon registry. Nepal expects to establish a Carbon Registry System will be established at the REDD IC aligning with the utility for Article 6 and result-based REDD+ for the tracking and monitoring of carbon credit transactions. 5.3 Benefit Sharing Mechanism The benefit-sharing plan of the result-based REDD+/ER Program will be developed based on prevailing policy and legislative instruments in the country. Section 44 of the Forest Act 2019 has mentioned that the Government of Nepal shall make provisions for the management, use, and distribution of benefits of the environmental services to be obtained from the forest area. Rule 107 of Forest Regulations 2022 has highlighted the provision of carbon trade. Similarly, Rule 115 of Forest Regulations 2022 highlights benefit-sharing mechanisms as (i) management of forest development fund-10%; (ii) forest management authority or user group-80%; (iii) private forest owner-5%; and (iv) forest-dependent households not affiliated with user group-5%. Benefits distribution will be undertaken by the FDF Program Selection and Implementation Committee described in Rule 109 of the Forest Regulations 2022 which will be chaired by the Secretary of the MoFE where REDD IC chief and 2 representatives of forest user groups are included in the committee. The FDF secretariat is housed at the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation. Specific provisions will be incorporated in instruments and forest operational/management plans to ensure and protect the customary practices of IPs during the implementation of the 37 REDD+ program. Rule 15 and Schedule 24 of the Forest Regulations 2022 have made a provision for CFUGs to include forest management-related traditional knowledge and customary practices of forest management in their forest operational plan. The benefit-sharing plan and mechanism among different regimes and levels will be based on the performance of emission reduction and forest carbon stock and non-carbon benefits enhancements. 38 6 SAFEGUARD MEASURES 6.1 Safeguards Principles Safeguards can be broadly understood as policies and legal measures that aim to address both direct and indirect impacts on communities and the environment from REDD+ strategy and actions, such as enhancement of positive impacts and minimizing negative impacts. As a party of UNFCCC, Nepal is committed to complying with the Cancun Safeguards Principles of REDD+ and relevant decisions made by the COP of UNFCCC for the operationalization of these principles by establishing a functional Safeguards Information System (SIS) at the national level during the different phases of REDD+. Nepal has also integrated the project-based safeguards standards of relevant organizations in implementing emission reduction programs at the sub-national level and learned the lessons from the exercise of SESA-ESMF of FCPF, REDD+ Social and Environmental Standards (REDD+ SES) and Environmental, Social, and Governance Safeguards under TREES. ART-TREES has unpacked the Cancun Safeguards into three levels of indicators – Structural, Process, and Outcome. The substantial provisions for social and environmental safeguards are incorporated in the Constitution of Nepal as fundamental rights and the procedural rights of the rightsholders (IPs and LCs, women, and relevant social groups including Dalits, marginalized and poor groups) are elaborated in the sectoral legislation. All these safeguard systems will be promoted and supported during the implementation of strategies and actions of NRS and SoI will be regularly submitted to the REDD+ Web Platform of UNFCCC by providing information on how all of these safeguards are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of the NRS and REDD+ activities. 6.2 Social and Environment Safeguards System The safeguards system outlines a framework of social, environmental, and governance principles, and aims not only to mitigate the risk of adverse social and environmental impacts but also to actively promote positive impacts and social benefits in addition to carbon emission reductions, such as strengthening collective forest tenure security, improving forest governance and empowering rightsholders and relevant stakeholders by ensuring their rights and full and effective participation in the REDD+ process. The safeguards system will also ensure that REDD+ strategies and actions do not cause negative social and environmental impacts. The positive and adverse impacts of the strategies and actions were identified by stakeholder consultations held at different levels during the review of the previous NRS and formulation of this new NRS. The future impacts of strategies and actions might be cumulative and may also occur simultaneously or stepwise. The implementation of actions of this strategy will likely lead to a range of positive environmental and social impacts including non-carbon benefits for various stakeholders and the environment. Strategies and actions will bring multiple benefits which can be much more than emissions reduction. Depending on the scale of REDD+ activities, these benefits potentially include addressing and respecting the rights of forest-dependent IPs and LCs, promoting sustainable forest management, improving livelihoods of forest-dependent people, poverty alleviation, transforming technical knowhow, sustainable use of forest resources and biodiversity conservation through community empowerment and their collective actions. As an important aspect of social safeguards, the strategy calls for enhanced good governance at the 39 community level which is particularly important for the equitable sharing of REDD+ benefits among IPs, LCs, women, Dalits, marginalized groups, and poor families. The implementation of strategies and actions might incur some adverse impacts on social, cultural, economic, and environmental aspects. Some of the potential negative impacts include the restriction on forest resource use, increased costs for forest management, elite capture and social exclusion leading towards social conflicts, human-wildlife conflict, loss of traditional knowledge and customary practices, and decrease in biodiversity if proper safeguard measures are not adopted. Nepal has incorporated different policy and legal measures in the following instruments which will be implemented to promote and support Cancun Safeguards Principles (Table 11): Table 11: Alignment of National Policy Instruments with Cancun Safeguard Principles Cancun Safeguards Principles National policy/legal measures for promoting and supporting safeguards Relevant Strategies of NRS Safeguard A • National Forest Policy 2018 (sec 8.5) • Forest Act, 2019 (Sec. 44) • Forest Regulation, 2022 (Rule 107) Strategy - 1, 7 Safeguard B • Forest Act, 2019 (Sec. 11, 73 and 80) • Forest Regulation, 2022 (Rule 14, 15, 121, 122, 134) Strategy - 7, 10 Safeguards C and D • Constitution of Nepal (Art 18, 24, 27, 39, 32, 36, 37, 38, 40, 42, 43) • Forest Act, 2019 (Sec. 11.3) • Forest Regulation, 2022 (Rule 107.2, 107.6) • Environment Protection Act, 2019 (Chapter 4) • Environment Protection Rule, 2020 (Rule 28.4) • Rights to Information Act, 2007 (Sec. 4-10) • Good Governance (Management and Operation) Act, 2008 • National Forest Policy 2018 (Sec. 8.8) • FPIC Guidelines 2024 Strategy - 1, 4, 5, 6 8, 9 Safeguards E • Forest Regulation, 2022 (Rule 107.2) • Environment Strategy - 2, 3 https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EcdWbAojOlRIsXhqJ5GR69QB9rX3gvOl8OaWAdgOMnFP8w?e=gmYbiK https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EcWb9yI9QjhGqyr6kXgM120BloHujHI3tN3CSzuytyjYmA?e=b5LBpR https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EcWb9yI9QjhGqyr6kXgM120BloHujHI3tN3CSzuytyjYmA?e=b5LBpR https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EctekBFRaIpJmYky9SVTkNEBIx3qK3mAqh9UM1fiERWzrw?e=Xc0bUd https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EctekBFRaIpJmYky9SVTkNEBIx3qK3mAqh9UM1fiERWzrw?e=Xc0bUd https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EcWb9yI9QjhGqyr6kXgM120BloHujHI3tN3CSzuytyjYmA?e=b5LBpR 40 Protection Act, 2019 (Chapter 2) • Environment Protection Rule, 2020 (Chapter 2) • Land Act, 1964 (8th Amendment 2021) (Sec. 52b (4)) Similarly, some of the specific strategies and actions (safeguards elements) are included in this strategy for maintaining alignment with these safeguard principles. Environmental legislation will be the main instrument for environmental safeguards. The FPIC is an integral part of Nepal's REDD+ process, which is addressed in the national legislation. The details of positive and adverse social and environmental impacts likely to have occurred because of the implementation of each REDD+ strategy and action will be assessed during the mid-term review of this strategy in 2030. 6.3 Safeguard Information System Nepal has established a Safeguards Information System (SIS) in 2018 with 7 principles, 33 Criteria, and 76 Indicators in line with Cancun Safeguards Principles and relevant project-based safeguards standards. The SIS will be used to provide a systematic approach for collecting and providing information on how Cancun safeguards are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of this strategy at the national level. The REDD IC will be responsible for operationalizing the SIS, and the preparation of the Summary of Information (SoI) report based on the collected information through SIS and its monitoring framework. The monitoring framework will be updated regularly as required and considering the feedback of the rightsholders and stakeholders. Well-defined and easy-to-use safeguards, a safeguards-specific multi-stakeholder and participatory monitoring, and evaluation framework will be developed namely for the collection of information regularly to identify how all of these safeguards are being addressed and respected throughout the implementation of the NRS and REDD+ activities. The study reports on the impacts of NRS will be prepared and published periodically as a part of the SIS monitoring system and the information from such study reports will be used for the preparation or review of SoI. Sufficient financial and human resources will be mobilized at the ground level to facilitate safeguard-related promotional activities. 6.4 Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanism The Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanisms (FGRMs) are designed to overcome potential grievances, concerns, and issues while implementing strategies and actions for this strategy, its institutional/governance mechanisms, and benefit-sharing arrangements. GRMs are intended to complement formal legal mechanisms for managing grievances. The strategy will be applied for the utilization of the existing formal and informal mechanisms at different levels for collecting feedback and redressing REDD+-related grievances. The FGRMs at different levels are required to address the grievances of rightsholders and stakeholders and connect the positive impacts of strategies and actions including sub-national or project-level forestry-sector emission reduction programs. Appeal and grievance processes will be reviewed and updated regularly considering the requirements of jurisdictional and nested REDD+/ER programs. REDD+ specific grievance processes will be published and information on grievance processes will be disseminated transparently. The REDD IC will assign the FGRM Officer to review the complaints registered in https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EcWb9yI9QjhGqyr6kXgM120BloHujHI3tN3CSzuytyjYmA?e=b5LBpR https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EctekBFRaIpJmYky9SVTkNEBIx3qK3mAqh9UM1fiERWzrw?e=Xc0bUd https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EctekBFRaIpJmYky9SVTkNEBIx3qK3mAqh9UM1fiERWzrw?e=Xc0bUd 41 the SIS and to recommend addressing the grievances at the relevant level promptly and responsible way. 42 7 NATIONAL FOREST MONITORING SYSTEM and FOREST REFERENCE LEVEL 7.1 National Forest Monitoring System Nepal has established the National Forest Information System (NFIS) available at http://nfis.redd.gov.np/nfis as the first step of the development of the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) to fulfill one of four requirements to be eligible for results-based REDD+ payments under the UNFCCC (Paragraph 71 Decision 1/CP.16). NFIS development procedures comply with the guidance of modalities and procedures outlined in Decision 11/CP.19 of the UNFCCC. NFIS is currently an available forest-related data management system (hub) for Nepal that envisions generating reliable and high-quality forest-related data including forest-carbon and supporting measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) functions of result-based REDD+. NFIS is also realized as an essential tool for demonstrating the transparency and accountability credentials of Nepal’s REDD+ initiative. The NFIS is built on the existing relevant system of forest resource monitoring and applies the phased approach of updating and continuously improving with updated and reliable information. The NFIS is available to the public and has currently included some information related to the land cover and forest-type maps providing information for Activity Data (AD). The National Forest Database (NFD) system is complementary to the NFIS and has included NFI data derived from FRA (2010-2014) data providing information for Emission Factor (EF). The NFI (FRA report) involves biophysical forest data obtained through ground-based inventory, a key data source for national GHG reporting, FRL, and MRV of mitigation outcomes of the result-based REDD+. However, the NFIS and NFD further need to be maintained coherently with an updated land cover map, and forest-based carbon and non-carbon data to make them comparable, compatible, and suitable for measuring, reporting, and verifying mitigation outcomes resulting from the implementation of the REDD+ and similar emission reduction initiatives. FRTC is the mandated government agency to operate and maintain NFIS with an updated database available from the forest resource inventory in Nepal supporting and related to REDD+ for which the government is allocating resources for the purpose. In coordination and leadership of REDD IC, FRTC will be further equipped with skilled human resources with sustainable financial sources to upgrade NFIS to the NFMS with updated forest-related information and data. Nepal has developed permanent-plot-based information during the FRA executed from 2010 to 2014 using existing tools and methodologies aligning with IPCC. FRTC (previously DFRS) developed an Open-Source Forest Information System (OSFIS) consistent with the UNFCCC Guidance for inventory data management and monitoring of permanent sample plots with an advanced use interface, modules, and database structure. Besides, the National Land Cover Monitoring System executed by the FRTC in 2021 provides a land use change database across the physiographic regions and administrative jurisdictions (national and provincial levels). Similarly, for MRV work, FRTC has prepared a Manual on “data analysis and results generation” and on “Quality Control and Quality Assurance of National Forest Inventory”. The existing NFIS will be upgraded to the NFMS with an updated database, operational infrastructures, and institutional arrangements. Nepal will develop an NFSM framework/operational guidelines as a guiding document to effectively and efficiently operationalize the NFMS which will include the data types, their collection process across the levels and sectors, the necessary infrastructure of transparent database management, and http://nfis.redd.gov.np/nfis 43 institutional arrangements and their coordination and collaboration mechanisms among the federal and provincial and community levels to efficiently, effectively, and inclusively operationalize the NFMS including MRV. As indicated in section 5.2, FRTC will oversee the operation and function of NFMS in close coordination and consultation with REDD IC and progress and status will be shared with the National REDD+ Steering Committee (NRSC)/National REDD+ Coordination Committee (NRCC) periodically. NFMS status will be shared with the provincial-level stakeholders through the Provincial REDD+ Coordination Committee. The provincial forest ministry will oversee the provincial-level institution to ensure the proper management and share forest-related data in their jurisdiction with the NFMS. The provincial FRTC will be engaged appropriately in the REDD+-related monitoring process including the MRV. The community-based monitoring system will be appropriately integrated into the NFMS process for monitoring carbon and non-carbon benefits. 7.2 Forest Reference Emission Level The Cancun Agreement (para 70, Decision 1/CP.16 of the UNFCCC) has mandated REDD+ countries to develop a national Forest Reference Emission Level (FREL)/ and or Forest Reference Level (FRL) as one among four elements. As per the Agreement and methodologies guided by decisions 12/CoP17 and 13/CoP19, FREL/FRL is the benchmark for assessing each country's performance of the REDD+ implementation. The agreement enables developing countries to undertake REDD+, based on their national circumstances, capacities, and capabilities. REDD+ countries are privileged to adopt a stepwise approach in establishing the FRL with key steps including (i) estimation with simple projections, based on historical data for the sub- national level, (ii) progressively updating the FRL based on more robust national datasets for country-appropriate extrapolations and adjustment, and (iii) ultimately basing the FRL on more spatially explicit data and driver-responsive information. Nepal prepared the National FRL with an annual historical average considering the reference between 2000 and 2010 and submitted it to the Secretariat of UNFCCC on 8 January 2017. The national FRL included carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and removals associated with deforestation, forest degradation, and afforestation/reforestation among the activities included in decision 1/CP.16, paragraph 70. The National FRL has considered only emissions from the fuelwood extraction under the forest degradation. Technical assessment process by UNFCCC Technical Assessment Team (TAT) in 2017. In line with the TAT’s recommendation, Nepal revised and resubmitted the modified FRL to the UNFCCC on 18 September 2017. (Available at https://redd.unfccc.int/submissions.html?sortCountry=asc&sortLevel=asc&country=npl). The national FRL included two carbon pools: AGB and BGB and Carbon dioxide (CO2). The FRL was established in a combination of the Activity Data (AD)3 and Emission Factor (EF)4 data determined with appropriate techniques guided by the IPCC guidance and guidelines. AD was determined by using Remote sensing data of Landsat TM for the period 2000-2010 while EF was 3The quantity of an activity that results in emissions/removals. In most cases, activity data are measured as changes in forest area (ha) over time. 4 The amount of emissions/removals per unit area per year. https://redd.unfccc.int/submissions.html?sortCountry=asc&sortLevel=asc&country=npl 44 determined with National Forest Inventory (NFI) data along with appropriate allometric equations. For analyzing AD, the object-based image was analyzed and classified by using e-cognition software. The maps were verified and updated using high-resolution Google Earth Imagery and GPS-tagged field information from permanent sample plots. The FRL of Nepal contains emissions of 929,325 tCO2e/year for deforestation, emissions of 408,500 tCO2e/year for degradation, and removals of -151,077 tCO2e/year for enhancement (Net annual carbon emission is 1.186 mtCO2e). In line with the TAT recommendation to Nepal’s proposed FRL (7 February 2018), the GoN assessed carbon emissions from forest degradation caused by forest fires, grazing, and illegal felling besides fuelwood collection (which was only included in Nepal’s first FRL) and the national FRL will be updated with the emission reduction data from these additional drivers. There is no national-level emission reduction assessment executed for the forestry sector to evaluate the mitigation outcome progress against the FRL. However, the national GHG inventory report prepared for the Third National Communication Report (MoFE, 2021b p. 62) has indicated forests as a net sink of carbon removal (17,077.81 Gg CO2-eq yr-1) due to the removal of CO2 in forest lands and non-forest-lands-including-shrublands. The GoN is preparing the national GHG inventory report which may provide national scale information comparable to measuring the mitigation outcomes against FRL. 7.2.1 Sub-national Level FRL and their Alignment with the National FRL Nepal had initially developed a landscape-level (Sub-national) FRL for the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) area in 2013, considering the reference period between 1999 and 2011. The purpose of TAL area FRL was to determine the historical average of annual carbon emission to meet one of the FCPF requirements for submission of the Emission Reduction Project Idea Note (ER-PIN). This FRL was later updated and revised in 2018 in line with the scope of methodologies applied in the National FRL as part of the baseline for the result-based ER program with the FCPF carbon fund. The FCPF ER Program FRL also considers a reference period of 10 years from 2004 to 2014 and includes only CO2 resulting from two carbon pools – AGB and BGB through three forest activities i.e., Deforestation, Forest Degradation, and Carbon Stock enhancement (from afforestation). Other carbon pools such as deadwood, litter, and soil organic carbon (SoC) were not included due to a lack of reliable data. Considering the historical average of the reference period (between 2004 and 2014), the FCPF ER Program FRL determines annual carbon emission from deforestation and forest degradation is 1.04 mtCO2e and 0.453 tCO2e respectively. The annual removal is estimated to be 0.656 tCO2e (Net annual emission is 0.84 mtCO2e). LEAF Coalition ER Program- Nepal’s second jurisdictional result-based ER program calculated baseline as five years of historical emission data between 2017 and 2021. The LEAF ER program used methods of Guidance Documents (MGD 3.0 version) of Global Forest Observation Initiatives (GFOI) and Sourcebook for Land Use, Land Use-Change, and Forestry Projects. CO2 emitted only from anthropogenic causes was considered in the LEAF ER Program which was calculated using IPCC approach 2 representing land use changes. AD (gain or loss of land cover- deforestation) for 2017-2019 of the LEAF area was calculated with the information of the National Land Cover Monitoring System (NLCMS) 2000-2019. The gain and loss of forest area in 45 2020 and 2021 were estimated by forecasting interpolation using the land cover from 2015 to 2019 derived from the NLCMS. The degradation area (AD) in the LEAF area from 2017 to 2021 was calculated by referring to the forest degradation information analysis of Aryal et al. 20215 between 2010 and 2020. The EF for the deforestation and afforestation for the LEAF area was generated based on the EF used in the FCPF ER Program FRL (ERPD). The national and sub-national FRLs have several commonalities except for some aspects, especially in the LEAF FRL. Nepal’s national and sub-national (for the FCPF and LEAF ER Program) FRLs included the AGB and BGB carbon pools. The FRLs have included three activities of 5 REDD+ including the emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and removal from afforestation. The national and FCPF FRL (sub-national) have considered a reference period of 10 years. However, the LEAF FRL realizes historical emission averages from five years between 2017 and 2021 considering a year crediting period starting in 2022. Table 12: Key Elements of the National and Sub-national FRL Key elements National FRL Sub-national FRL FCPF Carbon Fund LEAF Coalition Reference period 2000-2010 2004-2014 2017-2021 Emission estimation Historical emission (10 years) Historical emission (10 years) The reference period for the crediting level under TREES is 5 calendar years. Scope of activities • Reducing emissions from deforestation • Reducing emissions from forest degradation (fuelwood extraction) • Afforestation (Removal) • Reducing emissions from deforestation • Reducing emissions from forest degradation (fuelwood extraction) • Afforestation (Removal) • Reducing emissions from deforestation • Reducing emissions from forest degradation (fuelwood extraction) • Removal (except from forests remaining from forests) Methods of calculation Carbon stock difference with gross emission for reduced deforestation, forest degradation, and net removal for enhanced carbon Carbon stock difference with gross emission for reduced deforestation, forest degradation, and net removal for enhanced carbon stock. Carbon stock difference with gross emission for reduced deforestation, forest degradation, and net removal for enhanced carbon stock. 5 Aryal et al. (2021). Lessons Learned While Implementing a Time-Series Approach to Forest Canopy Disturbance Detection in Nepal, Remote Sensing, 13(14), 2666. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/14/2666 https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/14/2666 46 stock. Calculation of AD and EF AD was calculated by using freely available Landsat images and EF with FRA data (2010- 2014), biomass table, allometric equation, and IPCC default values. AD was calculated by using LiDAR images along with Landsat Image and EF with NFI data from the FRA project (2010-2014), biomass table, allometric equation, and IPCC default values. AD for deforestation based on NLCMS and for degradation (Aryal et al., 2021). EF for deforestation and removal (through afforestation) with the data of National FRL and EF for degradation as per the FCPF ER FRL. Gases Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon pools Above-ground biomass (AGB) and Below-ground biomass (BGB) Above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) Above-ground biomass (AGB) and below-ground biomass (BGB) Approach for uncertainty calculation Tier 2 (error propagation) WISDOM Model for fuelwood extraction. Monte Carlo simulation Techniques outlined in ART/TREES Version 2.0 Project period 2018-2025 2022-2026 Net Annual Emission or Removal Annual emission- tCO2e (deforestation- 929,325 & degradation- 408,500) and removals -151,077 tCO2e/year. Net annual carbon emissions are 1.186 mtCO2e. Annual emission- 1,499,393.1 tCO2e from (deforestation 1,046,340 & degradation- 4,530,53.1) and removal- 656,260.6 tCO2e. Net annual carbon emissions are 0.84 mtCO2e. Annual emission: 888,743 tCO2e (deforestation- 170,394 & degradation) and Removal 1,887,665 tCO2e). Nepal is committed to the continuous improvement of its FRL estimation in line with the stepwise approach based on its national capabilities. Nepal may need further considerations and adjustments of improved methodology, modified scope activities, and additional carbon pools as follows to increase the scope and priority of emission reduction and removals in the updated FRL. • The increased forest fire incidence is increasingly realized as an emerging driver of forest degradation. Measurement and inclusion of non-CO2 gases released through forest fires along with the inclusion of emissions from other carbon pools – deadwood, litter, and SOC in the updated FRL will enhance the REDD+ scope. 47 • National FRL has included forest degradation due to only fuelwood extraction. The inclusion of forest degradation due to grazing and illegal felling, and infrastructure development/expansion can enhance the scope of REDD+. • Indirect measurement and use of proxy information are needed to replace direct measurement of fuelwood, grazing, and illegal felling to provide consistent and accurate monitoring. • Pursuant to decision 13/CP.19, annex, paragraph 2(a) and the suggestion of the Technical Assessment Team (TAT) to Nepal’s first National FRL, Nepal should ensure and maintain methodological consistency between future proposed FRLs and the forest-related GHG emissions in the national GHG inventory for the future reporting process – BUR and BTR. • The FCPF and LEAF ER Program FRLs considered removal only from afforestation (non-forest areas becoming forests) and did not take into account steady sequestration in the forest remaining forests. Nepal would be allowed to report on forest carbon stock enhancement in the forest remaining forest realizing the significance of and strengthening the improved and sustainable management of forests through the community-based forest management systems. 7.2.2 Available Data and Information for FRL Nepal experiences a problem of lacking accurate and reliable information on land use and land cover change required to determine AD. Similar challenges remain in lacking forest inventory data with biomass and allometric equations of the tree species distributed in all physiographic regions to determine accurate EF. The most comprehensive yet non-compatible data sets are the data from the Land Resource Mapping Project 1976 -1984 (LRMP 1986) for AD and NFI data from the Resource Assessment (FRA) project (2010-2014). FRA report (2015) presents a species- wise growing stock, biomass, and carbon stock (above ground and below ground) by forest type of five physiographic regions. The FRA adopted both sample plot system forest inventory and remote-sensing technology including LiDAR-Assisted Multi-Source Program (LAMP) methods to produce forest biomass maps. These data sets were used for Nepal’s National FRL and FCPF FRL to determine AD and EF with additional LiDAR. The forest inventory data sets derived from the FRA report were updated with remeasurement in the Permanent Plots in 2021 which were used to determine the carbon emission performance and produce an Emission Reduction Monitoring Report of the FCPF ER Program. FRTC in collaboration with ICIMOD analyzed the National Land Cover Monitoring System (NLCMS) in 2022. This analysis provides the latest national-level land cover change with physiographic region-wise and province-wise information useful to develop the national and sub-national level FRL. Yet, there is a lack of data about more subtle forest degradation, which can result from fuel wood collection, timber harvesting, forest fires, and insect damage. Nevertheless, Nepal has developed an allometric equation of 7 major tree species in Nepal. This can enhance accuracy and reliability in estimating carbon stock and EF. Besides, there is still a lack of a database of non-CO2 GHGs such as Nitrous Oxide (N2O) released from forest fires. As per the UNFCCC methodological framework, Nepal is committed to refining its FRL with improved methodologies and efficient and reliable data sources. The future FRL will accommodate additional carbon pools, REDD+ activities, and non-CO2 GHGs. 48 8 SUSTAINABLE FINANCING Financial resources will be required to translate the strategic actions into practice. The main financial source for implementing the strategy may be the budget allocation by the three tiers of government. However, these resources are not sufficient to implement the REDD+-related activities in the country. Hence, sustainable, predictable, and adequate financial resources need to be explored, accessed, and mobilized through various domestic and international mechanisms. For example, efforts can be made to attract funds from international financing instruments and the private sector. Moreover, the forest development fund may also be mobilized to implement activities related to REDD+ in the country. The result-based payments received through the ER program may be re-invested into the implementation of the strategy. 8.1 Domestic Sources Most of the REDD+-related activities are financed through the annual budget allocated by the federal, provincial, and local governments. In addition, the forest development fund may also be mobilized to implement activities related to REDD+ in the country. The government may also consider non-market-based approaches such as fiscal instruments, fees, and taxes suitable for REDD+. The private sector may also be attracted to invest in REDD+-related programs and activities through mobilizing their corporate social responsibility or compensation for the use of environmental services and products. The contributions from a wide range of stakeholder groups may also be mobilized in implementing the priority actions mentioned in the strategy. Voluntary carbon projects may be an additional sources that rely on site-specific interventions and provide financing based on project-level arrangements. 8.2 International Sources As emphasized in Nepal’s Second NDC and the NAP, the cost of achieving the NDC’s target and adaptation needs is inadequate, the country needs to explore financial, technological, and capacity-building support from international financial instruments such as the Green Climate Fund, Global Environment Facility, Adaptation Fund, may invest in building the capacity of concerned agencies to access and secure funds from these mechanisms. 49 9 DETAIL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN The detailed implementation plan for a total of 69 priority actions with performance indicators, expected outputs, point of intervention, and approach of implementation, responsible agencies, and time duration is presented in Annex 4. The plan will help to ease the implementation of REDD+-related programmes and activities at national and sub- national levels. 50 10 MONITORING AND EVALUATION Overall monitoring of the strategy implementation will be carried out based on the monitoring and evaluation framework (Annex 5). The progress will be monitored periodically by the REDD IC and the respective province forest directorate in coordination with concerned agencies and stakeholders. If needed, the NRSC, NRCC, and PRCC may monitor the activities related to REDD+ within their jurisdiction. The results of the monitoring will be presented and discussed in the meeting of the PRCC at the province level and NRSC and NRCC at the national level. The PRCC will send the monitoring report to the REDD IC through the Ministry responsible for forests, the environment, and climate change. The REDD IC will prepare the annual progress of the implantation of the strategy and report to the NRCC and NRSC. The mid-term review of the strategy will be done in 2030 to incorporate corrective actions and recommended changes into the priority actions. The REDD IC might involve third parties (independent external reviewers) for mid-term and terminal evaluation of strategy implementation. 51 11 REFERENCES DFRS. 2018. Forest Cover Maps of Local Levels (753) of Nepal. Department of Forest Research and Survey, Kathmandu, Nepal. DNPWC. 2023. Annual Report. Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Kathmandu. FRTC. 2022. National Land Cover Monitoring System of Nepal. Forest Research and Training Center, Kathmandu, Nepal. FRTC. 2024. National Land Cover Monitoring System of Nepal (2020-2022). Forest Research and Training Center, Kathmandu, Nepal. Global Forest Watch. 2023. https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/NPL/?category=fires. Guizar‐Coutiño, A., Jones, J. P., Balmford, A., Carmenta, R., & Coomes, D. A. (2022). A global evaluation of the effectiveness of voluntary REDD+ projects at reducing deforestation and degradation in the moist tropics. Conservation Biology, 36(6), e13970. Maniatis, D., Scriven, J., Jonckheere, I., Laughlin, J., & Todd, K. (2019). Toward REDD+ implementation. Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 44(1), 373-398. Matin, M.A., V.S. Chitale, M.S.R. Murthy, K. Uddin, B. Bajracharya, and S. Pradhan. 2017. Understanding forest fire patterns and risk in Nepal using remote sensing, geographic information systems, and historical fire data. International Journal of Wildland Fire 26: 276-286. MoF. 2024. Economic Survey 2023/24. Ministry of Finance, Kathmandu, Nepal. MoF. 2024a. Budget Speech 2024/25. Ministry of Finance, Kathmandu, Nepal. MoFE. 2019. National Forest Policy 2019, National Environment Policy 2019, and National Climate Change Policy 2019. Ministry of Forests and Environment, Kathmandu. MoFE. 2021. Present Situation of Community-based Forest Management in Nepal. Ministry of Forests and Environment, Kathmandu. MoFE. 2024. Progress of result framework of the 15th Plan (unpublished). Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Kathmandu. NPC. 2024. The 16th Plan (2024/25-2028/29). National Planning Commission Secretariat, Kathmandu. OAG. 2024. The Auditor General's Sixty Oneth Annual Report, Summary. Office of the Auditor General. Kathmandu, Nepal. Shrestha, B. B. and Shrestha, K. K. 2021. Invasions of Alien Plant Species in Nepal. In “Invasive Alien Species: Observations and Issues from Around the World, Volume 2: Issues and Invasions in Asia and the Pacific Region”, First Edition. T. Pullaiah and Michael R. Ielmini (eds). John Wiley & Sons Ltd. https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/NPL/?category=fires 52 12 ANNEXES Annex 1: Checklist for Identification and Prioritization of Drivers of D&D A. Matrix for prioritization of Proximate drivers6 of deforestation and forest degradation 1. Please kindly review the indicated activities that trigger deforestation and forest degradation. 2. Add any drivers that you experience and observe in your jurisdiction. 3. Provide your judgmental value of each driver based on your experiences, observations, and available information (if any) from 1 to 5 as follows. Where, 1- Very low 2- Low 3- Moderate 4- High 5- Very high SN Categories of drivers Potential proximate (direct) drivers Extent and intensity of impact Total aggre gation Priori ty Geograph ical coverage and distributi on (1-5) The economic cost of reversal or control (1-5) Social- political cost of reversal or control (1- 5) The contributi on to carbon emission (1-5) Futu re pote ntial (1-5) 1 Biomass extraction and Unsustainable harvesting Illegal logging Over and unregulated grazing Fuelwood collection 2 Agriculture expansion Encroachment for agricultural purposes Sukumbasi resettlement 3 Infrastructure development Unregulated/haphaza rd infrastructure development (e.g., rural road construction) inside forest lands Mining and excavation Hydropower and transmission lines Urbanization and resettlement 4 Natural causes Forest Fires Expansion of alien invasive species B. Matrix for prioritization of Underlying causes7 of deforestation and forest degradation 6 According to Geist and Lambin (2001), proximate’ refers to the land-based human activities that directly result in the loss of forest area or its quality. Proximate causes are the most visible and immediate, and any analysis on land-use change including deforestation and forest degradation. 53 1. Please kindly review the indicated underlying causes that lead to the Underlying (Indirect causes of deforestation and forest degradation. 2. Add any drivers that you experience and observe in your jurisdiction. 3. Provide your judgmental value of each driver based on your experiences, observations, and available information (if any) from 1 to 5 as follows. Where, 1- Very low 2- Low 3- Moderate 4- High 5- Very high SN Categori es of drivers Potential Underlying causes Extent and intensity of impact Total aggre gatio n Priority Geographical coverage and distribution (1-5) The economic cost of reversal or control (1-5) Social- political cost of reversal or control (1-5) The contribution to carbon emission (1- 5) Future potential (1-5) 1 Economi c Increased demand for forest products High dependency on forests for survival livelihoods Limited alternative livelihood options 2 Policy, institutio ns, and governa nce High political interference in some activities (e.g., unregulated rural road construction) Poor coordination within the forestry sector governance Weak inter-agency coordination Weak law enforcement 3 Socio- political Increased rent-seeking behavior (decreasing ownership and collective action practices) Decreased collective action behavior due to Social differentiation and inequality 4 Demogra phic factors Migration – increased periurban population and pressure on forests of specific locations 5 Technolo gical factors Limited access to improved technology 6 Climate change Prolonged drought leading to increased forest fire incidences C. Based on your experiences and observations, please provide key barriers to enhancing and conserving the forest carbon stock. Annex 2: List of Major Documents (not limited to) to be Reviewed 7 ‘Underlying causes’ refers to the fundamental socio-economic and institutional forces that underpin the more obvious causes of D&D. These constitute initial conditions in the human-environmental relations that are systemic in nature and may operate at different levels, from local to global (Kaimowitz and Angelsen 1998: 95). 54 • Constitution of Nepal • The 15th Plan and the 16th Plan • Nepal’s SDG Roadmap (Goals 13 and 15 in particular) • National Forest Policy 2018 • National Climate Change Policy 2019 • The National Civil (Code) Act 2017 • Forest Act 2019 • National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973 • Environment Protection Act 2019 • Environment Protection Rule 2020 • Forest Regulation 2022 • National Park and Wildlife Conservation Regulations 1974 • The Government of Nepal (Allocation of Business) Rules 2017 • Unbundling/Detailing Report of List of Exclusive and Concurrent Powers of the Federation, the State (Province), and the Local Level Provisioned in the Schedule 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 of the Constitution of Nepal • Provincial Forest Act (Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, and Sudur Pashchim Provinces) • Local Government Operation Act, 2017 • Forestry Sector Strategy (2016-25) • National REDD+ Strategy (2018-2022) • Landscape-level strategies (TAL, CHAL, and others) • Carbon Fund--related documentation (not limited to the following) Nepal | Forest Carbon Partnership: ▪ Emission Reduction Program Document (ERPD), MRV report, Benefit Sharing Plan, Environmental and Social Management Framework, Gender Action Plan, etc. • Second Nationally Determined Contributions 2020 and NDC Implementation Plan (2023-2030) • Nepal's Long-Term Strategy for Net-Zero Emission 2021 • National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (2014- 2020) • The NRS Review Report 2024 • REDD+-related decisions made by COP (specifically Cancun decisions and Warsaw Frameworks on REDD+) • National communication reports on UNFCCC, CBD, and UNCCD • VNR report of SDG implementation in Nepal (2020) and Nepal's SDG status and roadmap (2016-2030) • Commitments made during the UNFCCC COP meetings since the last NRS’ issuance, https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/ETayL-gGPYxOqAo7DQVL7IcBYVtntySX1iI-hIR-43FZZg?e=ksmhMB https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EcdWbAojOlRIsXhqJ5GR69QB9rX3gvOl8OaWAdgOMnFP8w?e=gmYbiK https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:b:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EcWb9yI9QjhGqyr6kXgM120BloHujHI3tN3CSzuytyjYmA?e=b5LBpR https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EctekBFRaIpJmYky9SVTkNEBIx3qK3mAqh9UM1fiERWzrw?e=Xc0bUd https://unfao.sharepoint.com/:w:/s/FAORAP-UN-REDD-TA-Team/EZHETlZJrzdFq4WcJ9aXXMYBOMLEDh uAsG tmoLxJakxQ?e=Q1ntZm https://www.forestcarbonpartnership.org/country/nepal 55 • Commitments made with the key donors and facilities such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that may relate to the implementation of REDD+ and other related international and domestic commitments. • FRTC publications- States of Forests 2015, land cover mapping reports, and others • Recent annual reports from FRTC, REDD IC, MoFE, and the Provincial Forest Ministry • Recent FRA reports of Terai, Chure, and National level prepared by the FRTC • Available reports from the LEAF ER Program • REDD+ financing and governance-related reports/publications • BSP of FCPF ER program and proposed BSP for LEAF area • Operation Guideline of Forest Development Fund (Draft 2024) • REDD+ FPIC Guideline (Draft 2024) • Safeguard related reports/publications, SOI, SIS indicators, institutional arrangement for GRM, etc. • National Strategy of Other Countries • UN-REDD Program (2020)- REDD+ and Safeguard Information System: Moving from Designed to Operation (Info Brief) • REDD+ and Article 6 Rulebook (by Krebich and Arens 0 2022, Carbon Mechanisms Research Policy Paper No. 01/2022 • REDD+ related decision of UNFCCC (e.g., UNFCCC. (2021a). Decision 12a/CMA.3- guidance on cooperative approaches referred to in Article 6, paragraph 2, of the Paris Agreement advanced unedited version. • Post-2020 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework • Published Journal Articles regarding the Global REDD+ implementation (e.g., Guizar-Coutino et al., 2022- A global evaluation of the effectiveness of voluntary REDD+ projects at reducing deforestation and degradation in the moist tropics. Andoh et al., 2022- REDD+ and Paris Agreement, Atmadja et al. 2022- REDD+ and Paris Agreement, etc. 56 Annex 3: List of Participants at Various Consultation Meetings Annex 3.1: Inception Report Presentation at REDD IC (12th August 2024) SN Name Designation Organization 1 Nabaraj Pudasaini Joint Secretary & Chief REDD IC 2 Prakash Thapa Under Secretary REDD IC 3 Prakash Nepal Under Secretary REDD IC 4 Shanta Kaphley Officer REDD IC 5 Bishnu Adhikari Officer REDD IC 6 Birkha Shahi Senior Vice Chairperson FECOFUN 7 Parvata Gautam General Secretary FECOFUN 8 Yubaraj Jirel Vice Chairperson NEFIN 9 Govind Lama Hyolmo Secretary NEFIN 10 Mohan Poudel Coordinator UN-REDD FAO Nepal 11 Bishwa Nath Oli Team Leader FAO Nepal 12 Eak Rana Consultant FAO Nepal 13 Dil Raj Khanal Safeguard expert UNEP Annex 3.2: Consultation with Officials at FRTC (27th August 2024) SN Name Designation Organization 1 Rabindra Maharjan DDG FRTC 2 Bimal Kumar Acharya Senior Survey Officer FRTC 3 Raj Kumar Giri Senior Forest Inventory Officer FRTC 4 Thakur Subedi Senior Research Officer FRTC 5 Kiran Pokharel Scientific Officer FRTC 6 Bishnu Prasad Dhakal Research Officer FRTC 7 Amul Kumar Acharya Research Officer FRTC 8 Anand Khadka Research Officer FRTC 9 Bishwa Nath Oli Team Leader FAO Nepal 10 Eak Rana Consultant FAO Nepal Annex 3.3: Provincial Level Consultation in Koshi Province (09th September 2024) SN Name Gender Organization Designation Contact Number 1 Rajendra Khadka Male FECOFUN, Koshi Province Vice- Chairperson 9842050941 2 Agni Poudel Male FECOFUN, Koshi Province Member 9842438462 3 Renuka Dahal Female FECOFUN, Koshi Province General Secretary 9852054263 4 Dhruba Kumar Bhandari Male MTFE Undersecretary 9845438363 5 Dipak Pokhrel Male MTFE Forest Officer 9852025481 6 Birendra Prasad Shah Male Forest Directorate Forest Officer 9842530659 7 Dila Ram Rai Male Association of SFM Chairperson 9842320616 8 Rajesh Kumar Ghimire Male DFO, Morang Assistant Forest Officer 9807913600 9 Ranganath Male Private Forest Network, Secretary 9842033289 57 Chapagain Koshi 10 Manoj Kumar Chaudhary Male AFFON Member 9842034974 11 Dharma Nath Yadav Male DFO, Sunsari Officiating DFO 9852055363 12 Pradip BK Male DANAR Member 9745253501 13 Utsav Thapa Male DFO, Dhankuta Forest Officer 9852080529 14 Indra Koirala Male Association of Leasehold CF Chairperson 9842599100 15 Akhilesh K Gupta Male Forest Officer 9845290024 16 Ram Mandupa Rai Male NEFIN, Koshi Chairperson 9842039627 17 Maya Ram Rajbansi Male NEFIN Sunsari Chairperson 9842069117 18 Bishal Ghimire Male MTFE Secretary 9843151222 19 Dr. Indra Sapkota Male Forest Directorate Director 9841258928 20 Raj Kumar Oli Male AFFON Judiciary Committee 9851003305/980 1280111 21 Prakash Poudel Male ACOFUN Chairperson 9852023453 22 Bharat Babu Shrestha Male DFO, Dhankuta DFO 9852050529 23 Bhima Devi Khanal Female HIMAWANTI Representative 9842054669 24 Hemanta Parajuli Male DFO, Morang DFO 9852025774 25 Pramila Neupane Female Association of Rural Municipality Representative 9842650724 26 Prakash Nepal Male REDD IC, Kathmandu Under- secretary 9841704694 27 Dr. Bishaw Nath Oli Male Team Leader Team leader 9841217761 28 Gopal Kafle Male Freelance Facilitator 9852050228 29 Dr. Mohan Poudel Male UN-REDD National Coordinator 9802330589 30 Dr. Eak Rana Male REDD+ Expert REDD+ Expert 9869497394 31 Bom Bdr Karki Male Forest Director Driver 32 Sapan Kamat MTFE Driver 33 Chiranjibi Pyakurel MTEF Driver 34 Bikash Chandra Pandey DFO Sunsari Driver 35 Ajaya Katwal DFO Driver Annex 3.4: Provincial Level Consultation in Madhesh Province (11th September 2024) SN Name Gender Organization Designation Contact Number 1 Manoj Singh Danuwar Male Provincial NEFIN Chairperson 9854028817 2 Jamuna Bhujel Female P NEFIN Vice-chairperson 9854028905 3 Ramo Mahara Male Samyukta Dalit Sangharsa Samittee, Madhesh Province Member 9815808448 4 Bechan Kumar Male Soil and Watershed Office Chief 9854030948 58 Mahato Conservation Office, Mahottari 5 Lalu Babu Shah Male President Chure Terai Conservation Development Committee Ranger 9846915965 6 Mohan Chandra Shah Male Association of Nepal Forest Product Industrial Professional Member 9854025372 7 Sujit Shah Male Association of Nepal Forest Product Industrial Professional Member 9854022588 8 Dharma Nath Shah Male Association of Nepal Forest Product Industrial Professional Member 9854026023 9 Jagannath Pd Jayasawal Male Forest Directorate Director 9854021072 10 Sunil Kumar Karna Male Ministry of Forests and Environment, Madhesh Province Forest Officer 9854080729 11 Subhash Chandra Das Male Division Forest Office, Saptari Divisional Forest Office 9852821082 12 Bechan Chaudhary Male Forest Directorate Forest Officer 9844651123 13 Subhash Chandra Sharma Male Janakpur Sub- metropolitan city Forest Technician 9844129992 14 Ram Kumar Mahato Male AFFON Chairperson 9854026914 15 Uddhab Ghimire Male MoFE/Madhesh Province Secretary 9847113107 16 Binod Singh Male DFO Dhanusha DFO 9854025357 17 Manjur Ahammad Male DFO Parsa DFO 9855036787 18 Rekha Jha Female HIMAWANTI Nepal Chairperson 9844030688 19 Ganesh Prasad Shah Male ACOFUN Madhesh Province Chairperson 9855029984 20 Rajanti Kant Jha Male ACOFUN, Madhesh Province Vice Chairperson 9854036702 21 Mira Dahal Female FECOFUN, Dhanusa Secretary 9842145614 22 Manju Bhandari Female FECOFUN, Dhanusa Chairperson 9844291547 23 Anjana Kayastha Female Ministry of Forests and Environment, Madhesh Province Forest Officer 9845117572 24 Ram Ballav Mishra Male Ministry of Forests and Environment, Madhesh Province Forest Officer 9854020146 25 Dipendra Shah Male Association of Nepal Forest Product Professional Member 9804494864 26 Som Prasad Sharma Male FECOFUN Madhesh Province Chairperson 9854026866 27 Shailendra Male Division Forest Office, DFO 98055040339 59 Kumar Mishra Siraha 28 Prakash Nepal Male REDD IC, Kathmandu Under-secretary 9841704694 29 Dr. Bishaw Nath Oli Male Team Leader Team leader 9841217761 30 Gopal Kafle Male Freelance Facilitator 9852050228 31 Dr. Mohan Poudel Male UN-REDD National Coordinator 9802330589 32 Dr. Eak Rana Male REDD+ Expert REDD+ Expert 9869497394 33 Dil Raj Khanal Male Safeguard Expert Safeguard Expert 9851258370 Annex 3.5: Provincial Level Consultation in Bagmati Province (13th September 2024) SN Name Gender Organization Designation Contact Number 1 Radhika Sharma Female DFO Makwanpur Forest Officer 9855088657 2 Lilu Magar Female AFU Associate Professor 9845675528 3 Subhas Bishowkarma Male SWMO Makwanpur Officer 9855048290 4 Bishnu Prasad Lamichhane Male Private Forest Representative 9845105761 5 Sadhu Ram Chaulagain Male FECOFUN, Makwanpur Chairperson 9855071336 6 Nani Maya Rumba Female FECOFUN, Bagmati Treasure 9863554001 7 Nabin Shrestha Male President Chure program Watershed M Officer 9857083155 8 Sanjeev Subedi Male MoFE, Bagmati Forest Officer 9855088438 9 Pradip Nath Sharma Male MoFE, Bagmati Forest Officer 9856052567 10 Lok Nath Lamsal Male Forest Directorate Deputy Director 9851146940 11 Ajaya Bikram Manandhar Male DFO, Marin Sindhuli DFO 9851098397 12 Shiva Sapkota Male MoFE, Bagmati 9851158372 13 Govinda Aryal Male Forest Directorate Forest Officer 9845568769 14 Kamal Kr. Bishowkarma Male NFN Bagmati Acting Chairperson 9855072790 15 Saroj Rai Male BRCRN, Sindhuli Forest Officer 9767265982 16 Sarada Rai Female HIMAWANTI Representative 9845032090 17 Chandra Khadka Female Hetauda Sub- metropolitancity Environmental Engineer 9851087942 18 Shambhu Prasad Nepal Male Association of Industrial Market Executive Director 9845125199 19 Binod Sapkota Male FECOFUN, Bagmati Chairperson 9841522088 20 Binaya Mishra Male MoFE Forest Officer 21 Prakash Nepal Male REDD IC, Kathmandu Under-secretary 9841704694 22 Dr. Bishaw Nath Oli Male Team Leader Team leader 9841217761 60 23 Gopal Kafle Male Freelance Facilitator 9852050228 24 Dr. Mohan Poudel Male UN-REDD National Coordinator 9802330589 25 Dr. Eak Rana Male REDD+ Expert REDD+ Expert 9869497394 26 Dil Raj Khanal Male Safeguard Expert Safeguard Expert 9851258370 Annex 3.6: Provincial Level Consultation in Gandaki Province (20th September 2024) SN Name Gender Organization Designation Contact Number 1 Indra Pd Adhikari Male Forest Directorate Officiating Director 9849512702 2 Megh Natha Poudel Male MoFE Division Chief 9846035314 3 Komal Raj Kafle Male DFO, Kaski DFO 9856937507 4 Durga Bahadur Sunar Male National Dalit Association President 9856021594 5 Kalidas Subedi Male FECOFUN, Gandaki Chairperson 9856037992 6 Prabati Subedi Female FECOFUN Kaski Secretary 9804126211 7 Rajesh Poudel Male MoFE Forest Officer 9804126211 8 Tilak B. Thapa Male Panchase Forest Protection Forest Officer 9846051717 9 Umesh Poudel Male MoFE Forest Officer 9846264724 10 Santosh Adhikari Male MoFE Forest Officer 9864897692 11 Khum Pd. Subedi Male AFFON Representative 9857623435 12 Ghandra Khanal Chhetri Male Forest Directorate Division Head 9846467375 13 Rabindra Ghimire Male MoFE Forest Officer 9856087674 14 Dr. Deepa Poudel Female IOF, Pokhara Associate Professor 9841695590 15 Santosh Bhattarai Male Pokhara Metropolitan City Representative 9860290315 16 Roshan Panthi Male DFO, Baglung DFO 9867310558 17 Nirmala Kumar Phulara Female Forest Directorate Forest Officer 9846624091 18 Safalta Shrestha Female Forest Directorate Forest Officer 9846166197 19 Krishna Kumar Nepali Female HIMAWANTI, Kaski Member 9846859482 20 Deepak Prasad Pandit Male DFO, Lamjung DFO 9856046630 21 Sujal Kumar Lama Male NEFIN, Gandaki General Secretary 9856074212 22 Kamal Bahadur Bhuel Male NEFIN, Gandaki Sub-Secretary 9846996241 23 Chet Bahadur Kumal Male NEFIN Secretary 9869622486 Annex 3.7: Provincial Level Consultation in Lumbini Province (22nd September 2024) SN Name Gender Organization Designation Contact Number 61 1 Mohan Kafle Male MoFE, Lumbini Secretary 9857075666 2 Yagna Murti Khanal Male Forest Directorate Officiating Director 9857059970 3 Mahendra Raj Wagle Male DFO, Deukhuri DFO 9857841514 4 Dila Ram Poudel Male FD, Lumbini Senior Forest Officer 9857078880 5 Rajendra Somai Magar Male MoFE, Lumbini Forest Officer 9857822699 6 Raju Chhetri Male DFO, Kaplivastu, Gautam Buddha DFO 9851181536 7 Ishwori Pd Poudel Male DFO, Ghorahi Dang DFO 9857838514 8 Hari Prasad Pokharel Male Shivaraj Col FUG Member 9857022878 9 Nagesh Nath Tiwari Male ACOFUN Member 9847543864 10 Sunil Kumari Agrahari Male Soil & Watershed Conservation Engineer 9768294994 11 Jitendra Khadka Male FRTC Directorate 9857075098 12 Topendra Bdr. Pun Male NEFIN District Member 9868605836 13 Hari Bhusal Male FECOFUN, Dang Chairperson 9857840395 14 Sumitra Aacharya Female FECOFUN, Rupandehi Chairperson 9857039136 15 Kalpana Bhandari Female FECOFUN, Lumbini Chairperson 9847138811 16 Bishnu Pd. Bhattarai Male MoFE 9764343153 17 Hom Bahadur Gurung Male Association of Scientific Forest Management, Lumbini Chairperson 9867025825 18 Amrita Pariyar Female Dalit Network Representative 9847905278 19 Shanti Sharma Female MoFE Forest Officer 9868632432 20 Govinda Sapkota Male MoFE MoFE 9867233677 21 Prabhat Sapkota Male MoFE Division Chief 9846049112 22 Suraj Bhusal Male Rapti RM Users Users 9846842683 23 Bipin Bhusal Male Rapti RM User 9866825166 24 Amrita Nepal Female FECOFUN, Lumbini Member 9868017008 Annex 3.8: Provincial Level Consultation in Karnali Province (18th September 2024) SN Name Gender Organization Designation Contact Number 1 Kedar Baral Male MoITFE Secretary 9856033052 2 Rajendra Giri Male Nepal Forest Product Committee, Member 9858052300 3 Rejina Aacharya Female MoITFE Forest Officer 9843822223 4 Balam Chaudhary Male DFO, Bheri DFO 9858054237 5 Hari Thapa Male FenFIT Advisor 9848062311 6 Pare Khadka Male Allo Association Chairperson 9868912404 7 Ram Bahadur Gurung Male Ram Janaki Paper Plate Member 9848167866 8 Topendra Jung Shahi Male Agriculture Market Chairperson 9848047378 62 Management 9 Moti Raj Sharma Male Jatibuti Entrepreneurs Association Chairperson 9858062790 10 Surya Pd Sharma Male Provincial Forest Directorate For Director 9852054888 11 Lalit Kumar Karna Male Provincial Forest Directorate Forest Directorate 9858322486 12 Laxmi Bhattarai Female Green Karnali 9858050399 13 Renuka Neupane Female MoITFE Senior Forest Officer 9841570523 14 Sher Bahadur Shrestha Male MoITFE Division Chief 9858322033 15 Shikhar Chapai Male Watershed Management Officer Chief 9858020745 16 Bhawani Pd Adhikari Male FECOFUN Chairperson 9848312950 17 Om Pd Dhakal Male FECOFUN Member 9767519432 18 Basant Babu Shrestha Male DFO, Surkhet DFO 9858066254 19 Rojina Shrestha Female MoITFE Forest Officer 9845286918 20 Dipesh KC Male Division Watershed Management Office Officer 9846380648 21 Kalpan Gyanwali Female AFFON Central Committee Member 9848288810 22 Sabitra Khadka Female FRTC Forest Officer 9858088343 23 Mahesh Nepali Male MoITFE Forest Officer 9846262620 24 Bed Pd Dhakal Male DFO Forest Officer 9851182518 25 Sangita Pariyar Female FEDO Member 9745888815 26 Sapana Pariyar Female Navajyoti Kendra, Youth Club Secretary 9745909245 27 Jagat Sapkota Male Forest Environment Journalist Society Member 9745900280 Annex 3.9: Provincial Level Consultation in Sudurpashchim Province (16th September 2024) SN Name Gender Organization Designation Contact Number 1 Pramod Ghimire Male MoITFE Secretary 2 Hem Raj Bista Male Forest Directorate Director 9858488625 3 Keshav Parajuli Male FRTC, Geta Training Officer 9805267603 4 Tara Prasad Bhatta Male SWMO, Kailali Sub-Engineer 9848879842 5 Dipendra KC Male MoITFE Forest Officer 9846590670 6 Surendra Bdr Kadayet Male DFO Pahalmanpur Officiating DFO 9858477033 7 Mohan Ayer Male Suklaphanta NP Assistant Warden 9858775310 8 Chandra Bdr. Bhandari Male MoITFE Forest Officer 9858422483 9 Tika Dutta Joshi Male NEFUG Chairperson 9848423035 10 Jhuma Chaudhary Female FECOFUN, Sudurpashchhim Chairperson 9868404412 63 11 Bhim Prasad Kandel Male DFO, Kanchanpur DFO 9858750981 12 Bhakta Raj Giri Male Forest Directorate Forest Officer 9849572282 13 Krishna Dutta Bhatta Male MoITFE Division Chief 9848721943 14 Dala Bahadur Gharti Magar Male NEFIN, Sudurpashchhim Chairperson 9848437679 15 Ram Kumari Chaudhary Female NEFIN Vice-chairperson 9847420439 16 Gauri Lama Male Barahban ColFUG Member 9769001194 17 Karna Rawal Male FECOFUN, Kailali Chairperson 9851187590 18 Ram Chandra Kandel Male DFO, Kailali DFO 9851034390 19 Gopi Krishna Joshi Male DFO Kailali Forest Officer 9846620979 20 Prem Khatri Male FECOFUN Sudurpashchhim General Secretary 9851210506 21 Shyam Bdr. Bisa Male FECOFUN national Member 9848534777 22 Yadav Bhandari Male ACOFUN Secretary 9858425960 Annex 3.10: Consultation with Development Partners in Kathmandu (04th October 2024) SN Name Designation Organization 1 Mr. Naba Raj Pudasaini Chief REDD IC 2 Mr. Prakash Nepal Under Sec REDD IC 3 Mr. Santosh Nepal STC World Bank 4 Mr. Einar Telnes Norwegian Embassy 5 Ms. Lina Fngecsuoll Norwegian Embassy 6 Mr. Sudarshan C. Khanal Sr. Manager ANSAB 7 Mr. Bishnu Singh Thakuri Sr. Cons Officer NTNC 8 Dr. Ananta Bhandari Head Forest & Landscape, WWF Nepal WWF 9 Mr. Pradeep Budhathoki Deputy Director RECOFTC 10 Mr. Pashupati Nath Koirala Sr. Specialist FPPP 11 Mr. Sujan Maharjan US BRCRN 12 Dr. Shalu Adhikari Climate Change Specialist FAO 13 Ms. Kyalima Khanal Asso. Pro. Specialist FAO 14 Mr. Vijaya Singh ARR UNDP 15 Dr. Bishnu Hari Poudyal TA BRCRN 16 Ms. Liza KC Communication Officer REDD IC 17 Ms. Prabha Bhattarai Admin REDD IC 18 Ms. Bishnu Kumari Adhikari Soil Conservation Officer REDD IC 19 Dr. Bishwa Nath Oli Team Leader NRS Formulation Team 20 Dr. Eak Bahadur Rana Member NRS Formulation Team 21 Mr. Dil Raj Khanal Member NRS Formulation Team 22 Mr. Gopal Kafle Member NRS Formulation Team Annex 3.11: National Level Sharing Workshop in Kathmandu (27th December 2024) SN Name Designation Organization 1 Dr. Deepal Kumar Kharal Secretary MOFE 2 Mr. Nabaraj Pudasaini Chief REDD IC 64 3 Mr. Bhupal Baral Joint Secretary MOFE 4 Dr. Sanjiv Kumar Rai DG DOPR 5 Dr. Maheshwor Dhakal Joint Secretary MOFE 6 Dr. Rajendra KC DG FRTC 7 Mr. Gyan Raj Subedi DG Department of Environment 8 Ms. Sangita Swar Under Secretary DOPR 9 Mr. Rabindra Maharjan DDG FRTC 10 Ms. Aarati Shrestha Vice Chair HIMAWANTI 11 Mr. Shiva Khanal Under Secretary MOFE 12 Mr. Arun Poudel Land Use Expert UNREDD 13 Mr. Prakash Lamichhane Under Secretary MOFE 14 Mr. Ambika Khatiwoda Senior Program Officer NTNC 15 Mr. Buddha Gharti Senior Vice Chair NEFIN 16 Mr. Badri Raj Dhungana Joint Secretary MOFE 17 Mr. Keshar Aauli Advisor DANAR 18 Mr. Bed Kumar Dhakal DDG DNPWC 19 Mr. Brika Bahadur Shahi Senior Vice Chair FECOFUN 20 Ms. Parbata Gautam General Secretary FECOFUN 21 Mr. Mahesh Dhungana Officer REDD IC 22 Mr. Ramesh Basnet Under Secretary MOFE 23 Ms. Neera Dhakal Pokhrel Member ACOFUN 24 Mr. Jog Raj Giri Chair AFFON 25 Dr. Yadav Kandel Consultant UNREDD 26 Dr. Sindhu Prasad Dhungana Chair HPPCL 27 Ms. Rema Dhungana REDD IC 28 Dr. Suhsila Nepali Safeguards Expert REDD IC 29 Ms. Liza KC Communication Officer REDD IC 30 Ms. Deepa Oli Under Secretary MOFE 31 Dr. Bishwa Nath Oli Team Leader NRS Formulation Team 32 Dr. Eak Bahadur Rana Member NRS Formulation Team 33 Mr. Dilraj Khanal Member NRS Formulation Team 34 Gopal Kafle Member NRS Formulation Team 35 Mr. Govinda Kumar Shrestha Member REDD IC 36 Mr. Tara Prasad Pun Administration REDD IC 37 Dr. Kiran Paudel Chair President Chure Board 38 Mr. Chandraprakash Ghimire REDD IC 39 Ms. Susmita KC REDD IC 65 Annex 4: Detail Implementation Plan Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration Strategy 1: Reduce carbon emissions, improve forest monitoring and management, and improve the supply of forest products. Activity 1.1. Assess the potential and gradually hand over the national forests to community- based forest management modalities. Potential forests are handed over as CBFM. Total forest area (Ha) by management regimes and districts. Federal and Province Assess the potential forests to be handed over as CBFM in all districts. Hand over the forests as CBFM. Provincial Forest Ministry and DFOs. DoFSC, REDD IC & developmen t partners Starting in 2025, regular Activity 1.2. Update forest management operational plans of all forest management regimes with provisions for carbon stock enhancement, mitigation actions, and control drivers of D&D. At least 50% (now 6158) of FOP/FMPs are updated/amended with the provision of carbon stock enhancement, mitigation actions, and control measures of D&D drivers. The No. of updated/amend ed Forest Operational Plans with the provisions of carbon stock enhancement, mitigation actions, and D&D control measures. DFOs, CBFM groups Orient CBFM groups regarding the carbon enhancement and mitigation activities, and measures of controlling drivers of D&D and revise the FOP accordingly. DFOs, CBFM groups, and their networks. Provincial Forest Ministry, REDD IC, DoFSC, LGs, & Developmen t Partners Starting in 2025 Regular Activity 1.3. Strengthen and scale up sustainable management of forests in all potential forest management regimes. Sustainable management of forest practices is aligned with all forest management regimes. Forest area (Ha) under SMF that aligns with the national/provinc ial standards by physiographic regions and management regimes. Province, DFOs, CBFM groups, and Local Communities Consultation with Provincial Forest Authorities and CBFM groups to integrate/align National/provinci al Standards. Capacity building of CBFM groups and DFOs. Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, CBFM groups Relevant IPs and LCs networks, REDD IC, DoFSC Starting in 2025, Regular 66 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration Activity 1.4. Improve forest law enforcement and monitoring to address drivers of D&D. The deforestation rate in all physiographic regions is reduced due to the implementation of measures addressing the drivers of D&D. Deforestation rate by physiographic region and rehabilitated forest area (ha). Federal and Province Assess the status of law enforcement concerning the controlling drivers of D&D. Assess the deforestation rate in all physiographic regions. MoFE Provincial Forest Ministry, FRTC, DFOs, PA authorities. DoFSC, REDD IC Regular Activity 1.5. Develop tools and techniques to reduce the incidence and damage incurred by forest fire, invasive and alien species. Tools and techniques to reduce the incidents of forest fires, invasive alien species, and natural disasters (e.g., landslides) are developed. No. of forest fire incidences and forest area (ha) affected by forest fires. Forest area (ha) affected by IAS. Province, District, PAs, and Communities Mapping the existing tools and techniques and identifying new tools and technologies. DFOs, PAs, CBFM groups, Provincial Forest Ministry, REDD IC, security agency, FRTC, LGs, developmen t partners, NDRRMA, Academia, and media. Regular Activity 1.6. Restore degraded land and protect watersheds by promoting natural regeneration, plantation, and appropriate bioengineering and other soil conservation measures. Degraded forest lands and watersheds are identified and restored through appropriate measures (e.g., natural/assisted regeneration, plantation, bioengineering, and other soil Area (ha) of restored degraded lands and watersheds. Types of restoration activities. Districts, watersheds, and Communities Identify the degraded land and watersheds through interaction among DFOs, DoFSC, and CBFM groups and identify, plan, and implement the appropriate DFOs, SCWMO, CBFM groups Provincial Forest Ministry, DoFSC, LGs, Developmen t partners Regular 67 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration conservation techniques). restoration measures. Activity 1.7. Adopt a nested approach for the implementation of emission reduction programs covering the different physiographic regions of the country. Jurisdictional and Nested REDD+ (JNR) framework is developed and implemented. JNR framework. No. of the nested ER projects (including REDD+) implemented. Federal: JNR Framework development Province/District: JNR implementation. Review and consultation for the development of the JNR framework and nested projects implemented accordingly. MoFE/CCMD, REDD IC Provincial Forest Ministry Concerned government agencies. ER (e.g., REDD+) Project proponents. By the end of 2025 (Framew ork develop ment) and regular Activity 1.8. Enhance production and improve the supply of forest products. Forest products increased and supply is improved. Mean annual increment per ha. Quantity of timber and firewood harvested and supplied in the market and distributed among forest users. District and communities Consultation with DFOs, PAs, and CBFM groups regarding data management of harvested forest products (e.g., timber, firewood) DFOs, PAs (BZ) CBFM groups, Provincial Forest Ministry, Private forests, Private sector Regular Strategy 2: Increase the non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems. Activity 2.1. Analyze and address key threats to biodiversity in an integrated and participatory manner. Key threats to biodiversity are identified and measures to address these threats are implemented. Nature, types, and category/intensi ty of threats. District, PAs, and communities Prepare a threat analysis framework aligning with NBSAP and orient relevant government authorities, CBFM groups, and IPs to REDD IC, DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, PAs, CBFM groups, and customary institutions. MoFE, Developmen t partners. By the end of 2025, regular 68 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration identify the threats and measures to address them. Activity 2.2. Develop a guideline and manage the potential forest areas as other effective conservation area measures (OECMs). A guideline is developed with a clear objective of OECMs in the Nepali context. A clear understanding of OECM among CBFM groups, DFOs, PA authorities, and customary institutions is developed. Area (Ha) of forests managed under the OECM. District and Communities Define the OECM aligning with the NSBAP and develop guidelines. MoFE DoFSC, DNPWC REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, PAs, CBFM groups, and customary institutions. By the end of 2026, regular Activity 2.3. Control wildlife poaching and illegal trade of wild fauna and flora and reduce human-wildlife conflict. The incidences of wildlife poaching, illegal trade, and human-wildlife conflict are reduced. No. of incidence of human- wildlife conflict & No. of cases of illegal trade and poaching. PAs, District, communities Law enforcement, collaboration, and mobilization of wildlife crime control and anti- poaching units. DFOs, PA authorities, BZ council and communities, and CBFM groups. DNPWC, DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry, Security agencies Starting from 2025, regular Activity 2.4. Promote nature-based tourism in protected areas and other potential forests. Nature-based tourism in PAs and potential community forests is promoted and revenue from nature- based tourism is increased. The types of nature-based tourism & amount of revenue from nature-based tourism. PAs, CBFM groups, Communities (Buffer Zone, CFs) Diversify nature- based tourism in and around PAs, and CFs in collaboration with local governments. PAs, DFOs, CBFM groups Provincial Forest Ministry, DNPWC Start from 2025, Regular Activity 2.5. Pilot and promote payment of The model of PES is developed. No. and types of PES practices District, Communities, PAs Documentation of the existing PA authorities, DFOs, LGs, CBFM MoFE, DoFSC, Start in 2025 69 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration ecosystem services through appropriate institutional arrangements. (e.g., drinking water) informal PES practices (e.g. drinking and irrigation-based), Institutionalize these systems in line with formal institutional arrangements. groups DNPWC, REDD IC, regular Activity 2.6. Develop a framework for systematic measurement and documentation of non- carbon forest ecosystem services focusing on social safeguards. A framework for measuring and monitoring non- carbon forest ecosystem services is developed. Measuring and monitoring framework. No. of CBFM groups and government agencies practicing the framework. CBFM groups, DFOs, and PAs Review and consultation for the development of a framework that highlights the provisions for monitoring of non-carbon forest ecosystem services and social safeguards. DFOs, PAs, CBFM groups. DNPWC, REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry. Strategy 3. Promote afforestation, reforestation, and restoration activities across all physiographic regions. Activity 3.1. Promote private forestry in less productive or marginal, abandoned, unutilized farmlands. Area (ha) under private forestry is increased. Area (ha) managed under private forests. DFOs and communities (private households) Collaboration with Networks of Private Forest Owners and private sectors DFOs, LGs, Private Forest owners, Private sector Network of private forest owners, Provincial Forest Ministry Start in 2025, regular Activity 3.2. Promote climate-resilient agroforestry systems in The number of households practicing climate-resilient No. of households practicing Farmlands Collaboration with state and non-state actors DFOs, LGs, Private Forest owners Network of private owners, Start in 2025, regular 70 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration potential private and public lands. agroforestry systems is increased. climate-resilient agroforestry systems. Provincial Forest Ministry, and Developmen t partners Activity 3.3. Expand public land forestry after assessing the potentiality of such lands for forestry development purposes. Public land forestry is expanded/increased. Area coverage (Ha) by public land forestry. Public land Mapping and documentation of potential public land for forest development by DFOs and LGs. Collaborative planning by DFOs and LGs for forest development on public land. DFO, LGs, Provincial Forest Ministry, concerned government agencies. Start in 2025, regular Activity 3.4. Promote urban forestry in partnership with local government, local communities, and the private sector. Urban forestry is increased. Nature and area (Ha) of urban forests. Urban areas Collaboration with the LGs and communities for developing urban forests. DFOs, LGs, Private Sector Provincial Forest Ministry Start in 2025, regular Activity 3.5. Provide quality planting materials and technical services to farmers for growing trees on private and public land. Planting materials support is increased for the private and public land plantations. No. of planting materials by types of plant species. Public and private land Collaboration between DFOs, LGs, and private farmers. DFOs, LGs, Private sector Provincial Forest Ministry, developmen t partners Start in2025, regular Activity 3.6. Simplify the regulatory procedures for the transportation The regulatory procedures for the transportation and No. and content of regulatory procedures Federal level/Provincial Consultation and identification of regulatory MoFE/DoFSC, and Provincial Forest Ministry DFOs/REDD IC, Start in 2025, regular 71 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration and sale of privately grown trees and provide necessary support for production, processing, and marketing. sale of privately grown trees are simplified. concerning the transportation and sale of privately grown trees. procedures that need to facilitate the transportation and sale of privately grown trees. Activity 3.7. Make effective compensatory plantations through forest clearance by development projects. Compensatory plantation by the development projects is effective. Area (Ha) under the compensatory plantations. District/Project sites Update the development projects in the forests/PAs (project details, locations, forest clearance (ha), duration). Review the monitoring mechanism of the projects’ performance. DoFSC, PAs, DFOs MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, Project proponents Start in 2025, regular Strategy 4: Improve forest tenure, ensure carbon rights, and fair and equitable benefit sharing. Activity 4.1. Improve and secure the collective and community-based forest tenure rights of rights holders - forest- dependent IPs, LCs, women, Dalits, marginalized groups, and poor families. The gaps in securing and improving the collective/community –based forest tenure rights holders are assessed, identified, and addressed in the forestry legislations, and other relevant directives or procedures as well as respect for those The number of regulatory provisions securing and improving the collective and community- based forest tenure rightsholders. Federal level/Provincial level Consultation in a participatory way with rightsholders and identification of regulatory gaps and appropriate measures to address these identified gaps both at the federal and provincial level MoFE/DoFSC and Provincial Forest Ministry REDD IC, IPs and Forest Group Networks By the end of 2026 72 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration rights. policies and laws. Activity 4.2. Operationalize the carbon rights aligning with legally recognized collective and community-based forest rights through FPIC. The FPIC Guideline is approved and exercised; specific procedures for community-based participatory monitoring and evaluation are developed and implemented. No. of people participated in the ER program development process and FPIC. Federal level/Provincial level Orient IPs and LCs on carbon rights and community through the FPIC guideline. REDD IC MoFE/DoFS C and Provincial Forest Ministry Start in 2025, regular Activity 4.3. Establish and operationalize a transparent, localized, and inclusive mechanism for ensuring equitable sharing of benefits among forest managers, IPs, LCs, and other rights holders arising from the REDD+, emission reduction program, and various carbon markets. An equitable and inclusive benefit Distribution Mechanism/Plans of the result-based REDD+/ER programs is developed and access of IPs, LCs, and other rights holders to the benefits is ensured. Amount, types, and no. of beneficiaries by sex, ethnic groups, and forest managers Federal and Provincial, Communities Develop FDF Operational Manual and inclusive committee therein Provincial committee, and CBFM groups (intra-group benefit distribution decision-making) MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, CBFM groups REDD IC and DoFSC (FDF) By mid of 2025, regular Activity 4.4. Empower and incentivize forest managers, rights holders, and relevant stakeholders to generate non-carbon benefits from REDD+ and forest- based ER programs. Workshops and dialogues on non- carbon benefits among the forest managers (Government authorities and FUGs) are organized. Non- carbon benefits Types and nature of non- carbon benefits generated through REDD+/ER Program. Federal, District, communities Workshop among the DFOs and CBFM group representatives to discuss the documentation of non-carbon benefits generated by the DFOs, CBFM groups REDD IC, Provincial Ministry, Worksho p in 2025, regular 73 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration generated through REDD+ are documented as part of ER monitoring. REDD+/ER Program. Activity 4.5. Recognize and integrate traditional and customary knowledge and practices in all types of forest management plans. Traditional knowledge and customary practices are documented and included in the forest management plans of all regimes. No. of forest operational/ma nagement plans that included traditional and customary knowledge and practices. District/Communiti es Update the provisions mentioned in Annex 24(9) of the Federal Forest Regulation, 2079 BS. Discuss the Environmental and Social safeguards - the requirements of the Result-based REDD+. Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, PA authority, REDD IC CBFM groups, Developmen t Partners Start in 2025 and regular Activity 4.6. Implement alternative and sustainable livelihood development programs for forest-dependent indigenous people and local communities. Alternative and sustainable livelihood activities are implemented targeting forest- dependent IPs and LCs. No. of households and people benefitted including livelihood and employment opportunities by ethnic groups and sex. District and Groups (communities) Implementation of alternative and sustainable livelihood development activities for marginalized IPs, Dalits, Madheshi, Muslims, and Women. DFOs, CBFM groups, REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry, developmen t partners Start in 2025 regular Strategy 5: Enhance the role of the private sector in forestry to promote forest-based enterprises for livelihood and economic development. Activity 5.1. Simplify regulatory provisions such as registration, Regulatory provisions are simplified. No. of regulatory provisions Federal and Province Review and consultation MoFE and Provincial Forest Ministry REDD IC, DoFSC, Private By the end of 2025 74 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration transportation, sale, and processing that are conducive to private sector involvement in forest-based enterprises. simplified. No. of the private sector involved in forest-based enterprises. sector regular Activity 5.2. Encourage financial institutions to provide credit facilities and loans to private tree growers and forestry entrepreneurs similar to those available for agriculture. The amount of credit facilities is increased. Amount of credit facilities and loans disbursed. Federal and province Interaction with financial institutions and the private sector MoFE, Financial institutions, NRB, MoF Private sector By the end of 2025 regular Activity 5.3. Promote partnerships between forest management groups and the private sector to increase investment in forestry businesses including eco- tourism enterprises. Investment by the private sector in CBFM Groups increased. No. and amount of investment by the private sector in forestry businesses. District, communities Interaction with the private sector Private Sector, CBFM groups DFOs, PA authorities, LGs By the end of 2025, regular Activity 5.4. Deliver vocational and skill- based training opportunities for enterprise development and forest operations such as harvesting, logging, sawmilling, carpentry, and wood technologies, giving priority to women, and Vocational and skill- based training events are organized for forest entrepreneurs targeting women, IPs, Dalits, Madhesis, and Muslims. No. of trained individuals by ethnic groups and sex. Enterprise level (Federal, Province, District, Local) Collaboration with the private sector, CTEVT Private sector, CTEVT REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, PAs Start in 2025 regular 75 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration poor and socially disadvantaged groups. Activity 5.5. Encourage the private sector the use new technology and investment in forest- based enterprises, mainly in wood seasoning and treatment, compressed and particle board, wood processing, veneer production, and bamboo- laminated board/panel. Investment by the private sector in new technologies for producing diversified products is increased. Amount of investment by the private sector in the forest industry and technologies. Enterprise level (Federal, Province, District, Local) Collaboration with Private sectors Private sector, MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, REDD IC, CBFM groups, LGs Start in 2025, regular Strategy 6: Increase access to sustainable, affordable, and reliable renewable energy. Activity 6.1. Promote sustainable, cost- effective renewable energy and energy-saving technologies such as bio- briquettes, biogas, solar, wind, and clean cooking stoves through educational, financial, and technological interventions. Sustainable and cost- effective renewable energy technologies are promoted. Disaggregate data on the use of Renewable Energy Technologies (RET). Federal (for collaboration) and Local communities- (for energy promotion) Discussion with AEPC and other concerned agencies regarding the promotion of RET. REDD IC AEPC, Renewable Energy Promotion Agencies, LGs Provincial Forest Ministry, CBFM groups Start in 2025 regular Activity 6.2. Discourage the use of unsustainable biomass for household cooking purposes. Biomass-based energy uses is reduced. No. of HHs using traditional biomass. Federal and communities Consultation regarding the appropriate strategy for energy transition. REDD IC, AEPC, LGs, Individual Households MoFE, CBFM groups Start in 2025 regular Activity 6.3. Develop a mechanism to increase The number of poor households having No. of households by Communities Review the existing AEPC, Renewable Energy Promotion REDD IC, CBFM Start in 2025 76 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration access of forest- dependent poor and marginalized people to renewable energy and energy-saving technologies. access to renewable energy schemes are increased. ethnic groups having access to renewable energy schemes. distribution mechanism and develop the mechanism to increase access to renewable energy for forest- dependent poor and marginalized households. Agencies, LGs groups, Developmen t Partners regular Activity 6.4. Increase the efficiency of wood-using industries to reduce wood waste and encourage to use of available clean energy sources. The use of clean energy by industries is increased. No. of industries (by types) using clean energy. Enterprises (Federal, province, district, & local) Consultation with industries regarding the use of clean energy. Private sector, AEPC, REDD IC, MoICS Start 2025, regular Strategy 7: Improve collaboration, cooperation, and synergy among sectoral policies, sectors, and agencies/actors. Activity 7.1. Align policy, legal frameworks, and strategies in line with international commitments and harmonize cross-sectoral policies and legal instruments. Carbon mitigation provisions are coherently designed across the national policies, laws, and climate Action Plan - NDC & strategies (across all government levels and sectors) Level and status of harmonization of the emission reduction provisions across the national climate action plan, & policy and legal frameworks. Federal and Provincial policies and plans Organize dialogue in the federal and provincial inter- ministerial coordination committee to identify the scope of harmonization among the sectoral policy process. REDD+ strategies and priority actions MoFE/CCMD, and sectoral ministries, Provincial Forest Ministry REDD IC Start in 2025 Regular 77 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration are aligned with the current and future NDCs, Long-term Strategy for Net Zero Emission, and climate mitigation commitment. Activity 7.2. Develop policies, legal frameworks, and institutions for investment in climate change mitigation, including performance- based payment mechanisms. Policies and legal arrangements are developed/updated/r evised in line with global provisions of climate change mitigation and result- based climate change mitigation programs. No. of policy and legal frameworks include the investment provisions in climate change mitigation. Federal and Provincial laws, policies, strategies, and plans. Review and consultation MoFE and other sectoral ministries both at the federal and province. REDD IC Start in 2025 Regular Activity 7.3. Integrate REDD+-related activities into forestry sector planning of three tiers of government and in forest operational/managemen t plans of CBFM. REDD+-related activities are included in the Forestry sector’s strategies and plans by three three- tier governments. No. and types of plans and contents include in strategies and plans. Federal, province Review, consultation NPC, MoFE, PPC Provincial Forest Ministry, LGs REDD IC, Developmen t Partners Start in 2025 Regular 78 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration Activity 7.4. Establish strong vertical and horizontal coordination mechanisms among relevant sectors and agencies and operationalize the existing and new mechanisms for integrated planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of emission reduction-related sectoral policies, plans, and programs. REDD+-specific federal and provincial level inclusive institutional arrangements are established and operationalized. The functional coordination mechanisms are developed and implemented. Types of functional institutional arrangements and their coordination and collaborative mechanism. Federal, Province, and Local Establish a REDD+ Implementation Unit at the Provincial Forest Ministry. Organize regular meetings and interaction of the existing REDD+-specific institutional arrangements (e.g., NRSC and NRCC) and develop functional coordination and cooperation between the Federal and Provincial Level arrangements. MoFE, REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry Right holders and concerned CSOs Establish by the end of 2025 and regular. Activity 7.5. Establish partnerships with development partners in building knowledge and human resources related to forestry, climate change, and REDD+ in particular. Collaboration and partnership are developed with the development partners concerning climate change awareness, forestry, and REDD+ capacity-building activities. No. of development partners working with REDD+-related programs and activities. Federal, Province, and Communities Mapping the development partners working on forestry, climate change, and REDD+ and collaborating with them for Climate change, Forestry, and REDD+ capacity-building MoFE, REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry and Developmen t partners Start in 2025 Regular 79 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration activities. Activity 7.6. Conduct awareness generation activities on climate change, REDD+, and forest conservation. Awareness-raising activities on REDD+- related issues are implemented. No. of people (by ethnic groups and sex) participated in the REDD+- related awareness programs. Province, district, and local communities Include REDD+- related awareness activities in the annual plan of DFOs and CBFM groups. Collaborate with relevant development partners. Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, PAs, and REDD IC CBFM groups and Developmen t Partners Start in 2025 regular Activity 7.7. Include climate change and REDD+-related issues in formal curricula of academic institutions and informal education systems. REDD+ and Climate change-related issues are included in formal curricula and informal education systems. No. and content of the curriculum. Federal, Provincial, Local Collaborate with relevant institutions to include REDD+ and climate change content. MoFE, REDD IC, CTEVT, LGs Academic Institutions, By the end of 2026 regular Strategy 8: Improve capacity, institutional performance, and service delivery of the forestry sector institutions, right-holders, and relevant stakeholders. Activity 8.1. Restructure the forestry sector institutions in general and the REDD Implementation Center in particular in the changing context. The REDD Implementation Centre is restructured with adequate staff, roles, and resources. Updated O & M Federal O & M Survey of the RIC. MoFE, MoF, MoFAGA REDD IC By the end of 2025 Activity 8.2. Institutionalize and strengthen the different tiers of REDD+ institutional mechanisms REDD+-specific institutional arrangements are in place at the federal, provincial, and DFOs. Functional institutional arrangement at the federal, provincial, and Federal province, district Scope analysis and formation of appropriate institutional arrangements at MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO REDD IC By the end of 2025 80 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. district levels (REDD+ desk) with clear roles and responsibilities. the federal, provincial, and district levels. Activity 8.3. Assess the institutional capacity and needs of forestry institutions as well as relevant stakeholders and rights holders to address the drivers of D&D. Organizational roles of forest authorities and stakeholders to address the drivers of D&D are identified. Nature, type, and existing capacity of relevant institutions Federal, Province, District, Local Government/Com munities Institutional assessments for addressing the drivers of D&D. MoFE, REDD IC, DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry DFO and CBFM groups Developmen t partners By the end of 2025 Activity 8.4. Strengthen the capacity, knowledge, and awareness of relevant stakeholders and rights holders through extension, training, exposure, and workshops for enhancing their contribution to addressing drivers of D&D and Sustainable Management of Forests Forestry sector authorities and stakeholders are capacitated to address the drivers of D&D and Sustainable Management of Forests. No. of individuals and organizations capacitated. Federal, Province, District, and Local Government and communities Relevant training, workshops, and exposure visits. MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, LGs, and CBMF groups REDD IC By the end of 2025, periodic Activity 8.5. Support to build capacity of forestry officials and relevant stakeholders for financing mechanisms through both regulated and voluntary carbon Forest officials and relevant stakeholders are capacitated with the carbon markets. No. of individuals capacitated. Federal, Province, District, Local Government, & communities Capacity building activities REDD IC Provincial Forest Ministry, DFOs, LGs, CBFM groups, Developmen By the end of 2025 periodic 81 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration markets. t Partners Activity 8.6. Strengthen the capacity of academic and research institutions in training, research, and technology development associated with forestry and REDD+ Relevant academic and research institutions are capacitated about the result-based REDD+. No. of institutions and individuals capacitated. Federal and Province Capacity-building activities, research, and studies REDD IC Developmen t partners, academic and research institutions By the end of 2026 periodic Activity 8.7. Ensure adequate representation and meaningful participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, Madhesis, Dalits, local communities, private sector, and forest- dependent poor in relevant forestry decision-making processes through policy provisions, institutionalization, and capacity development. Meaningful representation of IPs, women, local communities, private sector is ensured in any REDD+-related decision-making process. Percentage of representation of relevant groups in policy and decision- making, program implementation, and monitoring Federal, provincial, and Local Government, Communities Review existing representation in REDD+-related decision-making processes and ensure inclusion through necessary policy provisions. MoFE, REDD IC, DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry Developmen t partners, concerned CSOs By the end of 2025 regular Activity 8.8. Strengthen existing feedback and grievance redress mechanisms to address the issues in REDD+. Feedback and Grievance Redress Mechanisms (FGRM) are defined and operationalized in a transparent way at concerned agencies at the local, provincial, and federal levels. The existence, nature, and function of FGRM and the number of addressed feedback and redressed grievances, Federal, provincial, and local levels Review the existing FGRM in the context of REDD+, ER program and revise the FGRM as required in line with safeguards commitment. MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, and PA authorities DoFSC, REDD IC, local government s (judicial committees) By mid- 2025 and regular 82 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration FGRM database in the website of REDD IC Organizing awareness and capacity-building activities on FGRM at CBFM group levels. Activity 8.9. Provide support for capacity and institutional development to maintain good governance of CF, CFM, and other CBFM groups through activities such as public hearings, public audits, and performance monitoring. Capacity development activities are designed and implemented to maintain good governance at CBFM groups. No. of public hearings, general assemblies, executive committee meetings, performance monitoring, account keeping, and auditing. CBFM groups Assess the role of CBFM groups’ governance in enhancing the environment and social safeguards of result-based REDD+ and ER Program. Organize governance- strengthening activities with the CBFM groups. Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, CBFM groups REDD IC, Developmen t partners By the end of 2025 and Regular Activity 8.10. Ensure transparency of quality information at various levels. Communication and information sharing of the REDD+ mechanism are functional to ensure transparency. Mechanisms that ensure public availability of relevant information, decisions, plans, policies, programs and budgets, audit reports, etc. (website, Federal, Province, Local Communities Assess the existing communication and information- sharing process and improve the mechanism of disclosing information. MoFE, REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, PA Authority CBFM Groups Start from 2025 and Regular 83 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration publications, self-disclosure) Strategy 9: Ensure social and environmental safeguards including environmentally friendly development. Activity 9.1. Ensure social and environmental safeguards during the formulation and implementation of land use plans, forestry sector strategy, and forest management plans. The safeguards are integrated into the land use plans, forestry sector strategy, and forest management plans at relevant levels; periodically assessed the implementation status and effectiveness of the safeguards arrangement of these plans and strategies. No. of the land use plans, strategy, and forest management plan that include the provision of safeguards. Federal, Provincial, and local government level, CBFM groups Assess the effectiveness of safeguards arrangements integrated into land use plans, strategy, and forest management plans in a participatory and consultative way and disseminate the findings periodically. MoFE and provincial ministries in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation REDD IC, DFO, PA Authority, and local government s By the end of 2025, periodic Activity 9.2. Ensure by integration and implementation of national and relevant international social and environmental safeguards standards in all REDD+ programs & activities. Environmental and Social Safeguard standards are fully included in the REDD+ program or result- based ER program with institutional arrangement and sufficient resources for the effective implementation of such safeguards arrangement with the Provisions and processes adopted to include environmental and social safeguards in the ER programs and REDD+ activities; ER program document with the mandatory Federal, provincial level, landscape level, or jurisdictional level. Carry out a periodic assessment of the safeguards provisions of ER program documents in a participatory way to evaluate their effectiveness implementation and disseminate the results REDD IC Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, Networks of IPs and LCs CSOs, By the end of 2026 and at the end of each ER program 84 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration full and effective participation of affected communities. provisions of safeguards. regularly. Activity 9.3. Receive FPIC of rights holders particularly affected IPs and LCs before transferring carbon titles to buyers by applying national guidelines and best practices. FPIC received from the REDD+/ER program affected communities by following the steps and process as defined in the FPIC Guidelines. No. of events of FPIC carried out and no. of individuals/ communities/ IPs organizations participated in the FPIC process and agreed with decisions (minutes) on consent or agreements. ER program areas, community level (FUG and customary institutions) Interaction and consultation with FPIC providers communities (FUGs including IPs and LCs); assess the implementation status of FPIC in a consultative and participatory way for the effective implementation of FPIC documents. ER program implementing agencies, Provincial ministries, DFO REDD IC Networks of IPs and LCs CSOs Concerned projects Start from 2025 and regular Activity 9.4. Ensure equitable governance practices, social inclusion, socio-culturally acceptable norms, and gender equality in the planning, decision- making, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation process of the REDD+ program at all levels. Equitable governance, gender equality, social inclusion, and socio- culturally acceptable norms are ensured and explicitly mentioned in the REDD+/ER Program Documents and Appropriate activities are implemented to enhance these elements. Disaggregated information on participation in planning, decision- making, implementation, and monitoring. ER program areas, Provincial level or jurisdictional level, communities Review the provisions of ER Program Documents and assess the status of representation in REDD+-related decision-making processes, implementation, and monitoring at the federal and provincial level and ensure MoFE, REDD IC, Carbon project developers DFO, Relevant Networks of IPs and LCs and CSOs Concerned projects Start from 2025 and regular. 85 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration enhanced these elements through necessary interventions. Activity 9.5. Develop and implement alternative rehabilitation arrangements for landless people living in forest lands. Rehabilitation plans are developed and landless people are rehabilitated outside of forest areas. No. of rehabilitated individuals by ethnic groups and gender. ER program areas, communities Map out and organize interactions at the local level for the development of rehabilitation plans and allocation of sufficient financial resources. MoFE, Ministry of Home Affairs DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry REDD IC DFO, LGs, CBFM groups Start from 2025 and regular Activity 9.6. Ensure effective implementation of forest laws and environment protection laws while using forest land for other purposes and effectively comply with the mitigation measures defined in the environment protection laws including compensatory plantation. Forest areas are allocated for other purposes only after alternative analysis and community consent; Environment Assessment reports are approved and mitigation measures are implemented. No. of BES, IEE, and EIA reports developed, EMP implemented. Project sites Annual assessment and auditing of the EMP implementation status at project sites in a consultative way with stakeholders. MoFE, DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry REDD IC, DoEnv, DFO, PA Authority, Environment al NGOs Start in 2025 and Regular Activity 9.7. Avoid forest areas for infrastructure development and resettlement and make compulsory provisions Infrastructure development inside forest areas is decreased and compensatory Area (Ha) of forests provided for development projects, area of compensatory Local communities and project sites Ensure the implementation of the regulatory provisions of compensatory MoFE, DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry, PA authorities, DFO, LGs REDD IC Start in 2025 and Regular 86 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration for tree planting to compensate for the forest area being cleared by the project proponents themselves or by investing in the Forest Development Fund generated from the infrastructure development projects. plantation by the project developers is enhanced. plantation. Amount of FDF generated from the compensatory schemes and invested for compensatory plantation. No. of LGs follow environmental- friendly infrastructure development, especially Road Construction. plantation. Efficient monitoring by DoFSC, PAs, and DFOs and publishing the report annually. Activity 9.8. Upgrade, institutionalize, and operationalize the Safeguard Monitoring System under the improved Safeguard Information Systems (SIS) The existing SIS is upgraded, fully institutionalized, and operationalized. Upgraded SIS is in place and fully operationalized. Federal Review the existing SIS and upgrade with updated safeguards- related requirements. REDD IC MoFE and concerned departments . By the end of 2025 and regular. Strategy 10: Establish and maintain a robust and well-functioning national forest monitoring system. Activity 10.1. Enhance capability with investment, technology, and human resources to conduct forest resource mapping and inventories on a periodic basis. The capacity of the relevant government authorities for Forest resources (including carbon) assessment is enhanced with updated technologies. No. of human resources trained, type of technologies, and types of equipment. Forests and PAs Impart training to concerned individuals, introduce technology and equipment, and increase FRTC and REDD IC Provincial FRTC, DFO, PA Authority, Developmen t partners Periodic 87 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration resources. Activity 10.2. Develop the capacity of government agencies and local communities for the collection, analysis, storage, management, and dissemination of carbon and non-carbon-related data and information for planning and MRV. The capacity of the relevant government authorities on carbon and non-carbon monitoring required for NFMS and MRV is strengthened. No. of officials and stakeholders capacitated. Types of capacity development activities implemented. Federal and Provincial Forest Directorate, FRTC, DFOs, CBFM groups Federal, Province, and DFOs, Community FRTC & REDD IC DFO, PA Authority, Developmen t partners By the end of 2025, regular 88 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration Activity 10.3. Upgrade the National Forest Information System (NFIS) with an updated database to the National Forestry Monitoring System (NFMS) The existing NFIS is upgraded to NFMS. NFMS is in place with an updated database. Federal, provincial Assess the gaps of NFIS to upgrade to NFMS. REDD IC and FRTC Developmen t partners By the end of 2026 Activity 10.4. Develop an NFMS framework document with clear data management systems, institutional arrangements, operational procedures, and necessary infrastructure to effectively and efficiently operationalize the NFMS. An Operational Framework for the implementation of NFMS is developed. An operational Framework of NFMS is in place. Federal Review the existing framework of other countries and international requirements. Assess the existing practices in Nepal. Develop an operational framework with clear roles for stakeholders, data sources, and a sharing mechanism. FRTC, REDD IC MoFE, Developmen t Partners. By the end of 2025 Activity 10.5. Strengthen and integrate community-based monitoring systems to the NFMS and MRV process with identified monitoring indicators in community-based forest Available community- based monitoring databases (e.g., geo- visualized customary practiced forests) and best lessons are integrated into the national forest/carbon No. of local communities/in dividuals involved in carbon monitoring, Practice, and MRV process. Federal, Provincial, and Local communities (CBFM groups) Map out and document the community-led forest resource monitoring (by CBFM groups and IPs). Integrate their results FRTC, REDD IC, CBFM groups, IPs Provincial FRTC, Verification and Validation Bodies (VVB) Start in 2025 and regular 89 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration management. monitoring system and MRV process. appropriately and involve them in the MRV, FRL, and NFMS processes. Activity 10.6. Operationalize and maintain a NFMS with robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanisms. An updated National Forest Monitoring System is functional. Functional NFMS (i.e., NFMS becomes a data source for FRL, baseline setting, and MRV process) Federal Upgrade NFIS to NFMS, Develop NFMS operational framework, and integrate community-based forest monitoring practices. REDD IC, FRTC, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO Provincial FRTC, Department s, Developmen t partners By the end of 2026, regular Activity 10.7. Establish and operationalize a National Carbon Registry mechanism with legal and institutional arrangements. A National Carbon Registry mechanism is established and operationalized. Existence of the National Carbon Registry Federal Consultation and review for establishing a National Carbon Registry System appropriate for result-based JNR REDD and Article 6. MoFE/CCMD, REDD IC, FRTC, Developmen t partners By the end of 2027 Activity 10.8. Develop MRV framework and conduct studies and research on REDD+ and MRV process periodically. Domestic MRV is developed and relevant studies and research on the REDD+ and MRV process are conducted. Domestic MRV framework, studies and research reports on REDD+ and MRV process Federal, Provincial, and Local Organize studies and research in collaboration between MoFE/REDD IC, academic institutions, and development partners. Develop a domestic MRV framework for the MoFE, CCMD, REDD IC, FRTC Provincial Forest Ministry, Provincial FRTC, Developmen t partners Start in 2025 90 Strategies and Priority Action Expected Outputs Performance indicators Where it is implemented (Point of Intervention) Approach of Implementation (How the activity is done) Main responsible Organizations (Federal, Province) Supporting organization Time duration forestry sector and REDD+ including other sectors. 91 Annex 5: Monitoring and Evaluation Framework Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions Vision: Enhanced sustainably carbon and non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems for contributing to national prosperity. Mission: Strengthen the forest ecosystem resilience for emission reductions and increased carbon and non-carbon benefits through improved policy measures and effective institutions with enhanced capacity, capability, and inclusiveness. Strategy 1: Reduce carbon emissions, improve forest monitoring and management, and improve the supply of forest products. Activity 1.1. Assess the potential and gradually hand over the national forests to community-based forest management modalities. Total forest area (ha) by management regimes and districts. Annual reports and Forest Resource Assessment Report Periodic (5 years) DoFSC, Provincial Forest Ministry, FRTC • Enabling policy environment • Collective understandin g, readiness, and support of the government, communities, rights holders, media, and other stakeholders. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 1.2. Update forest management operational plans of all forest management regimes with provisions for carbon stock enhancement, mitigation actions, and control drivers of D&D. The No. of updated/amended Forest Operational Plans with the provisions of carbon stock enhancement, mitigation actions, and D&D control measures. 6,158 Departments MIS and annual reports, records Annual DFO, CFUGs, ColFUGs, BZCFUGs Activity 1.3. Strengthen and scale up sustainable management of forests in all potential forest management regimes. Forest area (Ha) under SMF that aligns with the national/provincial standards by physiographic regions and management regimes. District Forest Management Plan, CFOP, ColFUG Plan Annual DoFSC, DFO, CFUGs, ColFUGs Activity 1.4. Improve forest law enforcement and monitoring to address drivers of D&D. Deforestation rate by physiographic region and rehabilitated forest area (ha). FRA and MRV Reports 5 years FRTC, REDD IC Activity 1.5. Develop tools and techniques to reduce the incidence and damage incurred by forest fire, invasive and alien species. No. of forest fire incidences and forest area (ha) affected by forest fires. Forest area (ha) affected by IAS. Records at DFO, BIPAD Portal, ICIMOD, Annual Report of REDD IC Annual REDD IC, FRTC Activity 1.6. Restore degraded land and protect watersheds by promoting Area (ha) of restored degraded lands and MRV Report, annual reports Annual DFO, PA Office, 92 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions natural regeneration, plantation, and appropriate bioengineering and other soil conservation measures. watersheds. Types of restoration activities. NDRRMA Activity 1.7. Adopt a nested approach for implementing emission reduction programs covering the different physiographic regions of the country. JNR framework. No. of the nested ER projects (including REDD+) implemented. REDD IC annual report Annual or periodic REDD IC FRTC Activity 1.8. Enhance production and improve the supply of forest products. Mean annual increment per ha. Quantity of timber and firewood harvested and supplied in the market and distributed among forest users. Records at DFO, Annual Report of Provincial Ministries and Federal Ministry Annual REDD IC DFO, Provincial Forest Ministry, MoFE Strategy 2: Increase the non-carbon benefits of forest ecosystems. Activity 2.1. Analyze and address key threats to biodiversity in an integrated and participatory manner. Nature, types, and category/intensity of threats. NBSAP, Study reports, FRA reports Periodic MoFE, FRTC, Provincial Forest Ministry DNPWC • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 2.2. Develop a guideline and manage the potential forest areas as other effective conservation area measures (OECMs). Area (Ha) of forests managed under the OECM. Guidelines, framework, annual report of DNPWC Continuous DNPWC & Provincial Forest Ministry. Activity 2.3. Control wildlife poaching and illegal trade of wild fauna and flora and reduce human-wildlife conflict. No. of incidence of human- wildlife conflict & No. of cases of illegal trade and poaching. Annual reports of DNPWC and provincial forest ministry Continuous DNPWC & Provincial Forest Ministry Activity 2.4. Promote nature-based tourism in protected areas and other potential forests The types of nature-based tourism & amount of revenue from nature-based tourism. Annual reports of DNPWC, provincial forest ministry, and LGs Continuous DNPWC & Provincial Forest Ministry, LGs Activity 2.5. Pilot and promote payment of ecosystem services through appropriate institutional arrangements. No. and types of PES practices. Annual reports of MoFE, DoFSC, DNPWC, and provincial forest ministry Continuous MoFE, REDD IC, DoFSC, DNPWC, 93 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions Provincial Forest Ministry Activity 2.6. Develop a framework for systematic measurement and documentation of non-carbon forest ecosystem services focusing on social safeguards. Measuring and monitoring framework. No. of CBFM groups and government agencies practicing the framework. Study reports, framework and Management/Operational Plans, and annual reports of DFOs and CBFM groups Periodic at every five years REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry Strategy 3. Promote afforestation, reforestation, and restoration activities across all physiographic regions. Activity 3.1. Promote private forestry in less productive or marginal, abandoned, unutilized farmlands. Area (ha) managed under private forests. Annual reports of LGs, DFOs, and PA Offices Annual LGs, DFO, PA Office Activity 3.2. Promote climate-resilient agroforestry systems in potential private and public lands. No. of households practicing climate-resilient agroforestry systems. Annual report of LGs and DFOs Annual LGs, DFO, PA Office, Ag. Knowledge Center • Enabling policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 3.3. Expand public land forestry after assessing the potentiality of such lands for forestry development purposes. Area coverage (Ha) by public land forestry. Annual reports of LGs and DFOs Annual LGs, DFO, PA Office Activity 3.4. Promote urban forestry in partnership with local government, local communities, and the private sector. Nature and area (Ha) of urban forests. Annual reports of LGs and DFOs Annual LGs, DFO, Local Government, Communities Activity 3.5. Provide quality planting materials and technical services to farmers for growing trees on private and public land. No. of planting materials by types of plant species. Annual reports of LGs and DFOs Annual LGs, DFO, SCWMO, PA Office Activity 3.6. Simplify the regulatory procedures for the transportation and sale of privately grown trees and provide necessary support for production, processing, and marketing. No. and content of regulatory procedures concerning the transportation and sale of privately grown trees. Policy document Periodic MoFE, REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry Activity 3.7. Make effective Area (Ha) under the Annual report Annual/Period Provincial 94 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions compensatory plantations through forest clearance by development projects. compensatory plantations. ic Forest Ministry, DoFSC, DFO, PA Office Strategy 4: Improve forest tenure, ensure carbon rights, and fair and equitable benefit sharing. Activity 4.1. Improve and secure the collective and community-based forest tenure rights of rights holders - forest- dependent IPs, LCs, women, Dalits, marginalized groups, and poor families. The No. of regulatory provisions securing and improving the collective and community-based forest tenure rightsholders. Legislation, forest operational/management plans Annual MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, CFUGs/ColFU Gs • Enabling policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 4.2. Operationalize the carbon rights aligning with legally recognized collective and community-based forest rights through FPIC. No. of people participated in the ER program development process and FPIC. Legislations, Benefit Sharing Plan, REDD IC annual report Periodic MoFE, REDD IC Activity 4.3. Establish and operationalize a transparent, localized, and inclusive mechanism for equitable sharing of benefits among forest managers and rights holders arising from the REDD+, emission reduction program, and various carbon markets. Amount, types, and no. of beneficiaries by sex, ethnic groups, and forest managers ER Program Document, REDD IC annual report Periodic MoFE, REDD IC, DoFSC Activity 4.4. Empower and incentivize forest managers, rights holders, and relevant stakeholders to generate non- carbon benefits from REDD+ and forest- based ER programs. Types and nature of non- carbon benefits generated through REDD+/ER Program. ER Program document, Benefit Sharing Plan, REDD IC annual report, ER Monitoring report Annual REDD IC/DFO, VVB Activity 4.5. Recognize and integrate traditional and customary knowledge and practices in all types of forest management plans. No. of forest operational/management plans that included traditional and customary knowledge and practices. Forest operational/management plans Annual Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, PA Office, CFUG, ColFUG Activity 4.6. Implement alternative and No. of households and Annual reports of CBFM Annual DFO, PA 95 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions sustainable livelihood development programs for forest-dependent indigenous people and local communities. people benefitted including livelihood and employment opportunities by ethnic groups and sex. groups and DFOs Office, REDD IC Strategy 5: Enhance the role of the private sector in forestry to promote forest-based enterprises for livelihood and economic development. Activity 5.1. Simplify regulatory provisions such as registration, transportation, sale, and processing that are conducive to private sector involvement in forest-based enterprises. No. of regulatory provisions simplified. No. of the private sector involved in forest- based enterprises. Policy and legislations Periodic MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry Activity 5.2. Encourage financial institutions to provide credit facilities and loans to private tree growers and forestry entrepreneurs similar to those available for agriculture. Amount of credit facilities and loans disbursed. Report of Financial Institution, FenFIT, REDD IC Annual MoFE, REDD IC, Private Sector, FenFIT • Enabling policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 5.3. Promote partnerships between forest management groups and the private sector to increase investment in forestry businesses including eco-tourism enterprises. No. and amount of investment by the private sector in forestry businesses. Records at FenFIT, CFUGs, ColFUGs Annual Private Sector, FenFIT, CFUGs, ColFUGs Activity 5.4. Deliver vocational and skill- based training opportunities for enterprise development and forest operations such as harvesting, logging, sawmilling, carpentry, and wood technologies, giving priority to women, and poor and socially disadvantaged groups. No. of trained individuals by ethnic groups and sex. Reports of CTEVT, REDD IC Annual REDD IC, CTEVT Activity 5.5. Encourage the private sector the use new technology and investment in forest-based enterprises, mainly in wood seasoning and Amount of investment by the private sector in the forest industry and technologies. Reports of FenFIT, REDD IC Annual REDD IC, Private Sector, FenFIT 96 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions treatment, compressed and particle board, wood processing, veneer production, and bamboo-laminated board/panel. Strategy 6: Increase access to sustainable, affordable, and reliable renewable energy. Activity 6.1. Promote sustainable, cost- effective renewable energy and energy- saving technologies such as bio- briquettes, biogas, solar, wind, and clean cooking stoves through educational, financial, and technological interventions. Sustainable and cost- effective renewable energy technologies are promoted. Annual report of AEPC and projects Annual AEPC, projects • Enabling policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 6.2. Discourage the use of unsustainable biomass for household cooking purposes. Biomass-based energy uses is reduced. Annual report of AEPC, MoEWRI, CBFM groups, and Alternative Energy Promoting Agencies. Annual MoEWRI, AEPC, CBFM groups Activity 6.3. Develop a mechanism to increase access of forest-dependent poor and marginalized people to renewable energy and energy-saving technologies. The number of poor households having access to renewable energy schemes is increased. Annual Report of AEPC and Alternative Energy Promoting Agencies Annual AEPC, CBFM groups Activity 6.4. Increase the efficiency of wood-using industries to reduce wood waste and encourage to use of available clean energy sources. The use of clean energy by industries is increased. Annual reports of MoICS, AEPC Annual MoICS, AEPC, Department of Industry Strategy 7: Improve collaboration, cooperation, and synergy among sectoral policies, sectors, and agencies/actors. Activity 7.1. Align policy, legal frameworks, and strategies in line with international commitments and harmonize cross-sectoral policies and legal instruments. Level and status of harmonization of the emission reduction provisions across the national climate action plan, & policy and legal frameworks. Policy and legal instruments Periodic MoFE, REDD IC • Enabling policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration 97 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions Activity 7.2. Develop policies, legal frameworks, and institutions for investment in climate change mitigation, including performance-based payment mechanisms. No. of policy and legal frameworks include the investment provisions in climate change mitigation. Policy and legal instruments Periodic MoFE, REDD IC from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 7.3. Integrate REDD+-related activities into forestry sector planning of three tiers of government and in forest operational/management plans of CBFM. No. and types of plans and contents include in strategies and plans. Periodic and annual plans of three tiers of government, management plans of CBFM groups Periodic, annual NPC, PPC, MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, LGs Activity 7.4. Establish strong vertical and horizontal coordination mechanisms among relevant sectors and agencies and operationalize the existing and new mechanisms for integrated planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of emission reduction-related sectoral policies, plans, and programs. Types of functional institutional arrangements and their coordination and collaborative mechanism. Institutional mechanism Annual CBFM groups MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, LGs, CBFM groups. Activity 7.5. Establish partnerships with development partners in building knowledge and human resources related to forestry, climate change, and REDD+ in particular. No. of development partners working with REDD+-related programs and activities. Project document, REDD IC annual report Annual MoFE, REDD IC Activity 7.6. Conduct awareness generation activities on climate change, REDD+, and forest conservation. No. of people (by ethnic groups and sex) participated in the REDD+-related awareness programs. Annual reports Annual DFO, PA Office, REDD IC, CBFM groups. Activity 7.7. Include climate change and REDD+-related issues in formal curricula of academic institutions and informal education systems. No. and content of the curriculum. Curriculum, annual report of REDD IC Periodic Academic institutions, Informal Education Promoting 98 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions Agencies, REDD IC Strategy 8: Improve capacity, institutional performance, and service delivery of the forestry sector institutions, right-holders, and relevant stakeholders. Activity 8.1. Restructure the forestry sector institutions in general and the REDD Implementation Center in particular in the changing context. Updated O & M O&M report, Institutional Structure of REDD IC Periodic MoFE, REDD IC • Enabling policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 8.2. Institutionalize and strengthen the different tiers of REDD+ institutional mechanisms with clearly defined roles and responsibilities. Functional institutional arrangement at the federal, provincial, and district levels (REDD+ desk) with clear roles and responsibilities. National REDD+ Strategy, Annual Report of REDD IC, meeting minutes, agenda and decision Periodic MoFE, REDD IC, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO Activity 8.3. Assess the institutional capacity and needs of forestry institutions as well as relevant stakeholders and rights holders to address the drivers of D&D. Nature, type, and existing capacity of relevant institutions Study report, Annual report of REDD IC, CBFM groups progress report Annual REDD IC, DFO, Relevant IPs and LC networks, CBFM groups Activity 8.4. Strengthen the capacity, knowledge, and awareness of relevant stakeholders and rights holders through extension, training, exposure, and workshops for enhancing their contribution to addressing drivers of D&D and Sustainable Management of Forests. No. of individuals and organizations capacitated. Annual report, participants' lists of training, exposure visits, workshops, and awareness-raising activities Annual REDD IC, DFO, Relevant IPs and LC Networks, CBFM groups Activity 8.5. Support to build capacity of forestry officials and relevant stakeholders for financing mechanisms through both regulated and voluntary carbon markets. No. of individuals capacitated. Annual report, Workshop/Training report, and participants’ lists Annual REDD IC Activity 8.6. Strengthen the capacity of academic and research institutions in No. of institutions and individuals capacitated. Annual report, participants’ lists of Annual REDD IC 99 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions training, research, and technology development associated with forestry and REDD+ training Activity 8.7. Ensure adequate representation and meaningful participation of women, Indigenous Peoples, Madhesis, Dalits, local communities, private sector, and forest- dependent poor in relevant forestry decision-making processes through policy provisions, institutionalization, and capacity development. Percentage of representation of relevant groups in policy and decision-making, program implementation, and monitoring Annual reports, meeting minutes, participant lists, Annual MoFE, REDD IC, DoFSC, DFO, PA Office, CBFM groups Activity 8.8. Strengthen existing feedback and grievance redress mechanisms to address the issues in REDD+. The existence, nature, and function of FGRM and the number of addressed feedback and redressed grievances, FGRM database in the website of REDD IC FGRM-related documents, Annual reports Annual All government offices, CBFM groups Activity 8.9. Provide support for capacity and institutional development to maintain good governance of CF, CFM, and other CBFM groups through activities such as public hearings, public audits, and performance monitoring. No. of public hearings, general assemblies, executive committee meetings, performance monitoring, account keeping, and auditing. Annual reports, monitoring reports, constitution and FOP of CFUGs and ColFUGs Annual DFO, PA Office, Local Government, CBFM groups Activity 8.10. Ensure transparency of quality information at various levels. Mechanisms that ensure public availability of relevant information, decisions, plans, policies, programs and budgets, audit reports, etc. (website, publications, self-disclosure) Annual reports, website, social media, and other publications. Annual All government offices, CBFM groups Strategy 9: Ensure social and environmental safeguards including environmentally friendly development. Activity 9.1. Ensure social and No. of the land use plans, Land use plans Periodic REDD IC, Local • Enabling 100 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions environmental safeguards during the formulation and implementation of land use plans, forestry sector strategy, and forest management plans. strategy, and forest management plan that include the provision of safeguards. Government policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 9.2. Ensure by integration and implementation of national and relevant international social and environmental safeguards standards in all REDD+ programs & activities. Provisions and processes adopted to include environmental and social safeguards in the ER programs and REDD+ activities; ER program document with the mandatory provisions of safeguards. ER Program documents Periodic REDD IC Activity 9.3. Receive FPIC of rights holders particularly affected IPs and LCs before transferring carbon titles to buyers by applying national guidelines and best practices. No. of events of FPIC carried out and no. of individuals/ communities/ IPs organizations participated in the FPIC process and agreed with decisions (minutes) on consent or agreements. Annual report, FPIC document Annual REDD IC, DFO, PA Office Activity 9.4. Ensure equitable governance practices, social inclusion, socio-culturally acceptable norms, and gender equality in the planning, decision-making, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation process of the REDD+ program at all levels. Disaggregated information on participation in planning, decision-making, implementation, and monitoring. Annual reports, Consultation Workshop Reports, and Participants’ Lists. Annual REDD IC, DFO, PA Office Activity 9.5. Develop and implement alternative rehabilitation arrangements for landless people living in forest lands. No. of rehabilitated individuals by ethnic groups and gender. Annual report Periodic MoFE, MoLMPAC Activity 9.6. Ensure effective implementation of forest laws and environment protection laws while using No. of BES, IEE, and EIA reports developed, EMP implemented. Annual report Annual MoFE, Line Ministries, Provincial 101 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions forest land for other purposes and effectively comply with the mitigation measures defined in the environment protection laws including compensatory plantation. Forest Ministry, Local Government Activity 9.7. Avoid forest areas for infrastructure development and resettlement and make compulsory provisions for tree planting to compensate for the forest area being cleared by the project proponents themselves or by investing in the Forest Development Fund generated from the infrastructure development projects. Area (Ha) of forests provided for development projects, area of compensatory plantation. Amount of FDF generated from the compensatory schemes and invested for compensatory plantation. No. of LGs follow environmental-friendly infrastructure development, especially Road Construction. Annual reports Annual MoFE, Provincial Forest Ministry, DFO, PA Office Activity 9.8. Upgrade, institutionalize, and operationalize the Safeguard Monitoring System under the improved Safeguard Information Systems (SIS) Upgraded SIS is in place and fully operationalized. Safeguards-related web platform, safeguards- related documents, and reports submitted to the UNFCCC and ER credit buyers Annual REDD IC, ER Program Proponents Strategy 10: Establish and maintain a robust and well-functioning national forest monitoring system. Activity 10.1. Enhance capability with investment, technology, and human resources to conduct forest resource mapping and inventories on a periodic basis. No. of human resources trained, type of technologies, and types of equipment. FRA report, Annual report Periodic, annual FRTC, REDD IC • Enabling policy environment. • Cooperation and collaboration from other sectors and Activity 10.2. Develop the capacity of government agencies and local communities for the collection, analysis, storage, management, and No. of officials and stakeholders capacitated. Types of capacity development activities Annual reports Annual FRTC, REDD IC 102 Strategies and Priority Actions Performance Indicators Baseline Means of Verification or Sources of Information Frequency Responsibility Risks and Assumptions dissemination of carbon and non- carbon-related data and information for planning and MRV. implemented. agencies. • Availability of adequate financial and human resources. Activity 10.3. Upgrade the National Forest Information System (NFIS) with an updated database to the National Forestry Monitoring System (NFMS) NFMS is in place with an updated database. Annual reports, dedicated website of NFMS Annual FRTC, REDD IC Activity 10.4. Develop an NFMS framework document with clear data management systems, institutional arrangements, operational procedures, and necessary infrastructure to effectively and efficiently operationalize the NFMS. An operational Framework of NFMS is in place. Annual reports, Framework document printed or digital version Annual FRTC, REDD IC Activity 10.5. Strengthen and integrate community-based monitoring systems to the NFMS and MRV process with identified monitoring indicators in community-based forest management. No. of local communities/individuals involved in carbon monitoring, Practice, and MRV process. ER Monitoring and Verification reports, Forest Inventory Field Reports, Annual reports, Annual, periodic FRTC, REDD IC, DFO, CBFM groups Activity 10.6. Operationalize and maintain a NFMS with robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification mechanisms. Functional NFMS (i.e., NFMS becomes a data source for FRL, baseline setting, and MRV process) NFMS website with data availability to MRV process and FRL, Annual reports Annual FRTC, REDD IC Activity 10.7. Establish and operationalize a National Carbon Registry mechanism with legal and institutional arrangements. Existence of the National Carbon Registry NCR website, Annual report Once and regular REDD IC Activity 10.8. Develop MRV framework and conduct studies and research on REDD+ and MRV process periodically. Domestic MRV framework, studies and research reports on REDD+ and MRV process. Annual reports of REDD IC, MoFE, website Annual MoFE, REDD IC, FRTC 103 if,'T delf Fr€sr: locl laCS ,4its Frql.q{r }=i, te fiqiq{{ iE .,ri i - VA Fdn- \oc?/ov /oz ffR: toql/oY/otr l..fd Ecqer {al iFrdrc it$ qq+ aQq k q{ Tr{R tolt- lotl. {q *-#ro,a+--' d hff.oarlo3/:. 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