Parbat, Nepal – In response to the increasing impacts of climate change, including prolonged droughts, drying water sources, floods, landslides, and other natural disasters, most community forests in Parbat District have prepared and implemented Community-Based Climate Change Adaptation Plans.

The Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN), Parbat District Chapter, with the support of the Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme (MSFP), facilitated the preparation and implementation of Community-Based Adaptation Plans in the majority of community forests across the district. During the four-year programme, implemented from 2012 to 2016, a wide range of activities were carried out to reduce the impacts of climate change and strengthen the adaptive capacity of local communities.

विज्ञापन

Under the programme, various interventions were undertaken, including the conservation of natural water sources, construction of recharge ponds, protection of springs and watershed areas, restoration of drought-affected sites, tree plantation, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable forest management. The programme also supported disaster preparedness through community awareness initiatives, disaster risk reduction planning, and the establishment of revolving emergency funds to respond to floods, landslides, forest fires, and other climate-induced disasters.

In addition, the programme promoted livelihood improvement by supporting income-generating activities, forest-based small enterprises, capacity building, leadership development, and institutional strengthening, particularly targeting women, Dalits, disadvantaged groups, and forest-dependent communities. As a result, community forests evolved beyond their traditional role of forest conservation to become important local institutions for climate change adaptation and disaster resilience.

According to Ganesh Paudel, who served as the Programme Officer of the FECOFUN Parbat District Chapter during the implementation period, the Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme played a significant role in translating the concept of climate change adaptation into practical community action.

“During the four-year implementation period, Community-Based Adaptation Plans were prepared and implemented in most community forests across Parbat District. Activities such as spring conservation, construction of recharge ponds, disaster risk reduction, establishment of revolving funds, sustainable forest management, and community capacity building significantly enhanced the ability of local people to cope with the impacts of climate change. The programme created a strong foundation for integrating natural resource conservation with community livelihoods and disaster management,” Paudel said.

Paudel further noted that the programme strengthened coordination among local communities, forestry authorities, community forest user groups, and other stakeholders, while promoting the effective use of local knowledge, skills, and resources to address climate change challenges.

Even after the completion of the programme, many community forests have continued implementing adaptation measures based on the plans developed during the project, including spring conservation, maintenance of recharge ponds, operation of revolving disaster funds, and sustainable forest management activities. Stakeholders believe that the Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme laid a lasting foundation for institutionalizing community-based climate change adaptation practices in Parbat District.