Community forests in Nepal are being complimented by REDD+ pilot projects, which have reportedly increased carbon stocks in the forests and provided livelihood benefits to local people. 

Nature-based Intervention:

In 2010, a United Nations Reduced Emissions through Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) pilot project began in Nepal, aiming to provide incentives for increasing and maintaining the carbon stocks in these community forests. A study of 105 of these community forests, covering a broad range of forest types and ethnically diverse communities, under the pilot scheme between 2010 and 2013 found that the project had been broadly successful for both increasing carbon sequestration and providing social benefits. The initiative involved encouraging reduced extraction of forest resources, such as by providing improved cooking stoves and biogas plants to reduce the need for firewood collection, raising awareness about sustainable harvesting, guarding to control illegal harvesting, better controlling damage due to forest fires, and creating alternative sources of income. The latter involved, for example, the provision of goats and buffalo to disadvantaged members of communities. In addition, creation of plantations on uncultivated land or sparse forest was encouraged.

Overview of context and outcomes:

For decades, local people have engaged in the sustainable management of community forests across Nepal, depending on them for wild food, fuel and fodder for livestock. Overall the REDD+ activities were found to provide both climate mitigation and adaptation benefits, where carbon stocks increased in most cases. The REDD+ project was reported to provide social benefits, through increasing communication and cooperation between communities and organizations. Interviews of community members showed that this resulted in increased confidence in the resilience of the communities to climate change.