10%

Restoring land, nurturing young leaders

Youth participation in Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Mountains of Nepal

August 10^th, 2015

Despite the beautiful landscapes, panoramic views, and resilient mountain people, life in the mountains of Nepal can be tough, particularly for rural youth. Abandoning their villages in search of employment elsewhere has led to an absence of young people and an increasing labour shortage. Consequently, there has been an increase in abandoned agricultural lands in the Parbat district in the Panchase region.
Farmers in the region have observed rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns over the past decade, which tie in with scientists’s predictions for anticipated changes in long term climate trends. These changes are posing further significant challenges for the mountain communities in Nepal: emergence of invasive species in degraded and abandoned lands, land degradation, and more frequent forest fires.

But motivated youths are getting involved.

Mihash Gurung, 10th Grade, member of the Eco-club.

10,000 tree seedlings planted by the Eco-clubs and the community forest user groups

Adine Gurung, 8th Grade, Future Doctor, Eco-club Member. Favorite aspect: Learning and planting.

Nurturing Young Leaders

Realising the urgency of these challenges, the Mountain Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Programme, led by the Department of Forests and UNDP Nepal, is supporting the Chihandanda Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) to transform 10 hectares of barren land into healthy agroforestry plantations that will provide future access to fodder, fuel wood and commercial income from sale of broom grass and fruit-bearing Lapsi (Choerospondias axillaris).
An integral part of this transformation has been the creation of a local school-based Eco-club. With a rising global youth population, efforts by and for young people are crucial in adapting to a changing climate.
“Being part of the Eco-club is on a volunteer basis. I like being outside with my friends. We get to plant different species and learn about how they grow. We are learning a lot about conservation and how to protect our environment.” Mihash Gurung, 10th Grade, 15 years old.
Inspiring a new generation of environmental and social awareness, the Eco-club is building the knowledge and momentum to lead these communities towards low carbon, climate resilient futures. Supported by the Mountain EbA programme, the Eco-club committee was established with students from grade 6, 7, 8 and 9. Working with the CFUGs, these students have actively participated in planting and maintaining the site - weeding, mulching, and maintaining the health of the newly planted trees.
“The Eco-club is an opportunity to teach the students about greening and cleaning the environment. The students are learning about conservation and how complex an ecosystem is. My dream is to cover the whole mountain with green plants. After the students graduate I hope that some of them will be inspired to give their time to agriculture and irrigation. I hope that they will demonstrate the practical skills that they have learned here - how to take care of the land.” Amrit Kumar Gurung, Secretary of Parbat District Chapter of Panchase Protection Forest.

Amrit Kumar Gurung, President Chihandanda CFUG.

Transforming barren land

The 10 hectares of barren land was once used for communal livestock grazing, but the land was overgrazed, ultimately leaving the field almost barren, with little vegetation cover and compacted soils. This, in turn, made the area more erosion prone, and the poor grazing meant livestock failed to thrive, severely affecting livelihoods.
Amrit Kumar Gurung explains, “[a]fter carrying out the plantation in Rakameko Danda, we have noticed increasing natural growth of native species. We strongly believe that plantation initiative of this kind will help to control the population of invasive species.”
With the active participation of CFUGs and Eco–clubs, several varieties of trees were planted in 2013 and 2014, with another round of planting scheduled for later this year. The species of trees that were planted were chosen because of their significance to the local community and because they are drought-resistant for climate-resilience, and can increase soil stability. The groups have planted species such as the Wild Himalayan Cherry tree and native broom grasses, which provide natural options for controlling land degradation and ecosystem restoration.

195m long wall constructed to protect the young plants

Gully check - dam built using indigenous knowledge and local materials

KEEPING EROSION IN CHECK

In addition to the planting work, the project has also provided necessary materials and financial support to construct a 195m long wall to stop animals from grazing and to protect the young plants.
A brush-wood check dam, using the locally available bamboo, was constructed to prevent gully erosion resulting from land degradation. Today, gully erosion at the site has been markedly reduced.

Mountain EBA Programme

The global Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Mountains Programme is a partnership between UNDP, UNEP and IUCN, with funding from the German Government (BMUB)’s International Climate Initiative. By using sustainable management, conservation and restoration of ecosystems, as part of an overall EbA strategy, the Programme aims to reduce the vulnerability and enhance the resilience of select fragile mountain ecosystems and their local communities to climate change impacts. The promoted EbA measures carefully take into account anticipated climate change impact trends to help communities continuously adapt to a changing climate and increasing uncertainty. This global partnership also involves national and regional government agencies, civil society and local communities in three countries (Uganda, Nepal and Peru).
Rakameko Danda activities supported by UNDP are part of a broader suite of EbA measures supported by the Programme in Nepal. In the long run, this site is expected to restore the degraded ecosystem and produce not only ecological, but also economic, social and educational benefits for both schools and the wider local community – and influence the next generation of climate leaders.

For more information on the EbA work, please visit: www.undp-alm.org/projects/mountain-eba and www.ebaflagship.org and www.np.undp.org/eba.

The Programme mobilized the entire Community Forest User Group to be involved in re-planting and wall-building efforts.

Footnotes

Story by Andrea Egan, Tine Rossing and Nawang Chhenjum Sherpa / Photos: Andrea Egan, EbA/DoF/UNDP Nepal, and Tine Rossing.

Button Label

FootNotes

Story by Andrea Egan, Tine Rossing and Nawang Chhenjum Sherpa / Photos: Andrea Egan, EbA/DoF/UNDP Nepal, and Tine Rossing.

À la recherche d’un équilibre

Start publishing stories like this

Restoring land, nurturing young leaders

Youth participation in Ecosystem-based Adaptation in the Mountains of Nepal

FootNotes

Trois communautés côtières mexicaines œuvrent en faveur d’un tourisme durable et communautaire

Un recorrido por tres costas mexicanas que avanzan hacia un turismo sostenible y comunitario

Tour three Mexican coastal communities working towards sustainable, community-based tourism

Tras casi tres años de guerra, el pueblo del Sudán sigue con la esperanza de reconstruir su vida

À bientôt 3 ans de guerre, le peuple soudanais a hâte de se reconstruire

As the war approaches the 3-year mark, Sudan's people can't wait to rebuild their lives