Climate Change

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LFP supports community groups to manage over 396,000 hectares of forest, resulting in  improved forest condition, biodiversity and ability to capture and store carbon. The community forests also help local users to increase their ability to prepare for and adapt to effects of climate change. Although not originally designed with climate change in mind  the programme has responded and a range of activities are taking place based on the LFP climate change strategy.

Technical and financial support is provided to different national processes such as forest carbon financing through the mechanism of Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) and the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA)

Capacity building of different stakeholders across the sector (communities, service providers, local and national government, media, political leaders)is taking place to increase their understanding of climate change. This will assist them to support Nepal's response to climate change.

Studies are being carried out into a range of areas such as effects of climate change on forests and the contributions of forests to climate change mitigation and adaptation.  Studies are taking place to understand how local people respond to climate change and adapt, and how communities can be paid for their role in maintaining ecosystem services. See Impact of climate change on forests and forests dependent people: perceptions of local people: Jan 09.

Piloting practical action on climate change mitigation and adaptation is taking place throughout LFP areas. Pilots include linking FUGs with voluntary carbon markets,  FUG level mapping of hazards, risk and vulnerability,  and development of local and community level adaptation plans.

LFP has published reports entitled Can Nepal Benefit from Forest Carbon Financing? and Impact of Climate Change on Forests and Livelihoods: Issues and Options for Nepal.   It is developing information for FUGs on climate change (leaflets, posters and radio broadcasts) and materials for people supporting FUGs through participatory tools on adapting to effects of climate change.

LFP is providing support to community level adaptation through facilitating adaptation plan preparation and implementation. It is helping FUGs assess all their plans and activities in terms of climate vulnerability to ensure communities and individuals are as well prepared as possible.

LFP is encouraging efficient means of using fuel wood and the wider use of alternative renewable energy sources (eg improved cooking stoves and biogas.)  It is working to increase the engagement of owners of private forest. Discussion is currently taking place with the private sector on a carbon offsetting fund. LFP is also supporting the establishment of an alternative energy village with NGO partners.

Impacts

• Supporting over 4,500 Community Forest User Groups to manage over 396,000 hectares of forest resulting in improved forest condition, biodiversity and ability to absorb and store carbon. 
• Working with community forests that are estimated to sequester about half a million tonnes of carbon annually. If this carbon becomes tradable it will be worth a substantial amount.
• The numerous income generating activities and micro-enterprises that increase poor peoples' wealth and assets help them increase their resilience to effects of climate change.
• Conducting studies into impacts of climate change on the forestry sector, community level vulnerability and responses, and ecosystem services.
• Piloting practices relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Contributing to the REDD preparedness planning and working to ensure that community forestry becomes the model for implementing REDD with poor people particularly benefitting from the opportunities.  It is said that implementing the REDD mechanism in Nepal could draw in US$60-100m over 10 years.
• Helping shape the development of adaptation plans nationally, locally and at FUG level. Providing support to FUG level planning for climate change
• Expanding the use of alternative renewable energy sources.
• Building the capacity of partners and stakeholders, whether increasing awareness of the threats and opportunities of climate change or developing skills for international negotiation.

Challenges

• Data on climate change projections and impacts is not enough.
• National capacity is insufficient to respond to climate change issues, to negotiate internationally etc.
• Lack of tested pilots illustrating how financing mechanisms will work.
• The funding processes are complicated (and so progress is slow.)
• Balancing the focus on mitigation and adaptation.
• Being ready in time for funding offers.
• Ensuring that  funds from carbon markets reach the poorest.
• Ensuring Forest User Groups become a vehicle for channeling carbon financing to the communities who provide the mitigation and ecosystem services.
• Demonstrating that Forest user groups are competent to manage/utilise and distribute any adaptation funding that may be coming.
• Ensuring the voices of the poor and marginalized are well heard and influence national planning and negotiations.
• Developing adaptation plans in time – as effects of climate change are already being felt and the poorest are noticeably most vulnerable.
• Supporting the development of enabling policies that will  asset Nepal to respond to climate change (eg National REDD strategy)