RECOFTC-Nepal

02/06/2026

🌳 Starting tomorrow in Kathmandu!

At , we’ll be highlighting a simple but powerful message: communities are not just stakeholders in biodiversity conservation, they are the solution.

From Cambodia’s Tonle Sap fisheries to Nepal’s protected area buffer zones, local governance is proving that conservation works best when communities lead.

Communities are not just stakeholders in biodiversity conservation. They are the solution.

At the 6th Conservation Asia Congress ( ) in Kathmandu this week, RECOFTC researchers are presenting evidence from Cambodia and Nepal that makes the case. From community fisheries around Cambodia's Tonle Sap to protected area buffer zones in Nepal, locally rooted governance is what makes conservation work.

The findings are clear. Ecological interventions alone are not enough. Biodiversity outcomes depend on governance systems that are strong, equitable and community-led.

29/05/2026

🌿 RECOFTC Nepal, in collaboration with the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Lumbini Province, and FAO’s Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) Programme, successfully organized a Provincial Workshop on Integrated Fire Management in Dang on 22 May 2026.

The workshop convened representatives from government agencies, security agencies, civil society organizations, and local communities to share experiences, strengthen collaboration and identify strategic priorities for effective forest fire management in Lumbini Province.

Key priority areas emphasized for future resource mobilization and action during the discussion included:
🔥 Risk identification and early warning systems
🔥 Preventive actions, including fuel load and water management
🔥 Preparedness and response capacity through trained and well-equipped human resource
🔥 Enhanced communication and reporting mechanisms
🔥 Safety measures and financing mechanisms
🔥 Research and post-fire recovery

The dialogue reinforced the importance of integrated and multi-stakeholder approaches to building resilient forest fire management systems in Nepal.

To know more about the project 👉🏾: https://www.recoftc.org/projects/development-resource-mobilization-action-plan-community-centered-forest-fire-management

25/05/2026

🌿 𝑾𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕 2026 | 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒏𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑨𝒍𝒖𝒎𝒏𝒊 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑪𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 🌿

On 19–20 May 2026 in Kathmandu, Nepal, RECOFTC brought together Waves alumni from across all three cohorts to reconnect, reflect and strengthen collective leadership for gender equality in climate and natural resource governance.

✨ Key achievements:

- Reflections on personal leadership journeys, breakthrough moments, and how Waves helped participants find the confidence, voice, and vocabulary to challenge inequality.
- Inspiring exchanges across provinces, where alumni shared local strengths, expertise, and ways to support one another for greater collective impact across Nepal.
- A powerful sense of solidarity and belonging, with alumni committing to remain connected and support each other both personally and professionally beyond the programme.
- Renewed energy for collaboration, mentorship, and collective action to advance gender-transformative leadership in climate and natural resource governance.

Together, we continue weaving leadership, collaboration and action for a more inclusive and resilient future. 💚

22/05/2026

Community forests for a diverse future

To know more 👉🏾 https://www.recoftc.org/regional/events/community-forests-biodiverse-future

Today is the International Day for Biological Diversity. This year's theme says it plainly: acting locally for global impact.

In three days, we convene in Luang Prabang with community forest stewards, researchers, youth and policymakers from across Asia-Pacific. Not to declare intentions, but to put evidence on the table and work through what it actually takes to protect biodiversity at the community level, where global targets either hold or fall apart.

Local action is not a footnote to the global agenda. It is the whole point.

🔗https://www.recoftc.org/regional/events/community-forests-biodiverse-future

19/05/2026

19/05/2026

🌿RECOFTC Nepal, in collaboration with FAO's Forest and Farm Facility programme, successfully convened an Expert Consultation Meeting on Integrated Fire Management to support the development of a Resource Mobilization Action Plan for forest fire management in Nepal.

Using the 5R Framework (Review, Risk Reduction, Readiness, Response, and Recovery), experts from government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners shared their insights and provided inputs on urgent priorities and strategic actions to address the growing forest fire challenges in Nepal.

The consultation highlighted the need for stronger investments and coordinated resource mobilization in the following key areas:

• Promoting fuel load management through sustainable forest management and forest-based enterprises.

• Strengthening institutional coordination and communication through an integrated forest fire information management mechanism.

• Enhancing data-driven decision-making, technology adoption, and inter-agency collaboration.

• Advancing gender-responsive approaches while enhancing community-based fire management capacities, access to technology, and firefighting tools for frontline responders and local communities.

• Revising and updating the Forest Fire Management Strategy 2010 and prioritizing investments in research, forest fire risk reduction, preparedness activities.

The consultation delivered a strong message: forest fires in Nepal can no longer be addressed through fragmented and reactive efforts. A well-coordinated, adequately financed, and community-centered Integrated Fire Management approach is essential to safeguard Nepal’s forests, biodiversity, watersheds, livelihoods, and climate resilience.

The recommendations and technical input generated through this consultation will contribute to the development of a practical and action-oriented Resource Mobilization Action Plan to strengthen long-term climate resilience. 🌿

12/05/2026

🌿 SAGE Lite assessment: Successfully completed in Resunga Forest Protection Area, Gulmi in April 2026.

In a fast-tracked yet highly participatory 5-day process, the Division Forest Office (Gulmi), local government representatives, local communities, Indigenous Peoples (IPs), women groups and forest user groups came together to assess governance and equity. Designed for field-based application, SAGE Lite methodology enabled a more resource efficient and inclusive process by simplifying data collection and analysis while allowing local actors to still meaningfully participate in the assessment and planning process.

The assessment not only mapped governance strengths and gaps but also strengthened a shared understanding of equitable conservation in practice. Participants highlighted key priorities to enhance equity, transparency, coordination, and fair benefit-sharing in the management of the forest landscape and its biodiversity.

Insights from Resunga emphasize the need to strengthen fair benefit-sharing and deepen collaboration, while building on existing practices of participation and accountability. These discussions have laid a strong foundation for collective action and more inclusive decision-making, guiding the next steps under the SEGA project toward more equitable and effective conservation.

05/05/2026

𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 & 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲

This conference set the stage for meaningful exchange bringing together communities, practitioners, policymakers, academicians and experts to reflect on real-world experiences and co-create pathways toward climate resilient and sustainable energy systems.
At the event, RECOFTC facilitated Technical Session on “Nature-based Solutions for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Energy Infrastructures.” Drawing from the WISIONS Innovation Lab in Nepal Project in Jumla and Baglung, we shared how nature-based solutions and watershed management are helping safeguard micro-hydropower (MHP) systems, reducing risks from floods and landslides while strengthening community resilience.

💬 Key takeaways from the session:
• Energy planning must go beyond infrastructure to integrate landscape considerations
• The energy–landscape nexus is critical for long-term sustainability
• Cross-sector collaboration is essential to scale impactful solutions

Special gratitude to our session chair, Rajeev Kuma Jha (Department of Forests and Soil Conservation), and panelists Deepa Oli (Ministry of Forests and
Environment), Prakash Bhandari (Alternative Energy Promotion Center), Bhumiraj Gharti Magar (Nisikhola III MHP) and Dr. Bikash Adhikari (Kathmandu University) for their valuable insights and contributions.

Going beyond energy, the discussion emphasized the critical role of the energy–landscape nexus in shaping resilient and sustainable futures. 🌱⚡

To know more about the project: https://www.recoftc.org/projects/wisions-innovation-lab-nepal

05/05/2026

Deadline approaching!

Final-year B.Sc. Forestry students, don’t miss your chance to apply for the research grant opportunity.

🗓️ Apply by May 9, 2026
🔗 More info: https://iof.tu.edu.np/notices/12643

01/05/2026

🌿 Call for Student Research Proposals

The Institute of Forestry (IoF) under Tribhuvan University, in collaboration with RECOFTC Nepal, is inviting final-year B.Sc. Forestry students (Batch 2079–2083) to submit research proposals.

This research opportunity reflects a shared commitment by IoF and RECOFTC to advancing forestry education and academic research in Nepal. It is offered under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Institute of Forestry and RECOFTC Nepal and made possible through the SEGA project supported by the Darwin Initiative.

Eligible students are encouraged to submit their research proposals in the prescribed format, focusing on the designated thematic areas. Three research grants will be awarded to selected proposals.

🗓️ Deadline: May 9, 2026
For more information: https://iof.tu.edu.np/notices/12643