Incentives for Ecosystem Services (IES) in the Himalayas: A ‘Cookbook’ for Emerging IES Practitioners in the Region

Main message: In spite of a successful history of community forestry, deforestation continues to be a threat in the Himalayas, and active experimentation in stakeholder involvement and best practices to support livelihood is under way. Community- based REDD+ Pilot Programmes in Nepal offer specific cases that underline the focus of international priorities to experiment with REDD+ approaches, while simultaneously accounting for local priorities via stakeholder suggestions. Such cases provide evidence that positive change can be made over short time periods. Case 3: Carbon Sequestration – Khayarkhola watershed, Chitwan District, Nepal

Setting: In Nepal, a national REDD+ demonstration project of sustainable forest management is being piloted in three geographical regions: the Khayarkhola watershed of Chitwan, Ludikhola watershed of Gorkha and Charnawati watershed of Dolakha Districts. A total of 10,266 ha of tropical to temperate landscapes are managed by 105 Community Forestry User Groups (CFUGs) (ANSAB, n.d. a), with 18,005 households participating. In Khayarkhola watershed, the pilot site covers an area of 23.81 km2 with an altitude ranging from 245 metres to 1,944 metres. There are 16 CFUGs and 3,935 households in the Khayarkhola pilot site.

Services, payment and beneficiaries: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) developed the project in collaboration with the Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bioresources (ANSAB), the Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN) and local CFUGs. Community forests that were subject to local extractive use (wood, fodder and forage). In particular, Shorea robusta trees were being sold at a reduced rate of NPR 6,000 per cubic feet to local users, and forests were facing pressure due to in-migration, leading to increasing demand of wood for cooking.

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Incentives for Ecosystem Services (IES) in the Himalayas