Books by Niroj Timalsina
and based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Globalisation and climate change have an increasing influence on t... more and based in Kathmandu, Nepal. Globalisation and climate change have an increasing influence on the stability of fragile mountain ecosystems and the livelihoods of mountain people. ICIMOD aims to assist mountain people to understand these changes, adapt to them, and make the most of new opportunities, while addressing upstream-downstream issues. We support regional transboundary programmes through partnership with regional partner institutions, facilitate the exchange of experience, and serve as a regional knowledge hub. We strengthen networking among regional and global centres of excellence. Overall, we are working to develop an economically and environmentally sound mountain ecosystem to improve the living standards of mountain populations and to sustain vital ecosystem services for the billions of people living downstream -now, and for the future.
Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Nepal in collaboration with RRI undertook a study in 2014 on a to... more Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Nepal in collaboration with RRI undertook a study in 2014 on a topic - Assessment of land and forest cover change in the Churia range of Nepal. This report is the outcome of that study. People have curiosity over the changes in Churia landscape that have occurred in the last two decades. The purpose of the study therefore was to generate information and knowledge about the changing situation of
land and forest cover change in Churia both inside community forest and outside. Land cover maps comparing between the year 1992 and 2014 speak by themselves.
Results show that overall forest cover in Churia range has increased by 7500 ha (1%) in 22 years i.e. 1.35 million ha (76%) in 1992 compared to 1.36 million ha (77%) in 2014.
It is also found that the area of dense forest is increased by 42,000 ha whereas, area covered by bushes and grassland is reduced by 39,000 ha. This encouraging message of increased area of dense forest in Churia range may have been the result of the improved form of bushes and grassland in the same area.
Study shows that there is a decline in cultivated land by 20,000 ha and expansion of the area of riverbed by 12,300 ha. The contributing factors for this worrying message could be the physical processes in the fragile condition of Churia range, the erosion, flood and deposition that occurs predominantly because of monsoon, tenure insecurity and bad governance.
The study generates a new evidence against the most scary and
exaggerated figure of the rate of deforestation in Nepal reported by FAO in 1995. Deforestation in some patches of forest area seems to be a regular phenomena mainly due to physical infrastructure development and natural erosion. However, the rate of deforestation during the period of 1992 - 2014 is found to be only 0.18% per year, 9 times lower than what FAO has earlier reported which is 1.7% per year during the period of 1978 to 1994.
Comparing the performance of community forest regime with that of other regime indicated that community forestry regime is a better perfomer in terms of the improvement of forest conditions - 50% higher and in reducing the rate of deforestation - 70% lower than other regimes.
Papers by Niroj Timalsina
A Geographical approach of watershed prioritization in the Himalayas: a case study in the middle mountain district of Nepal
Environment, Development and Sustainability
Frontiers in Forests and Global Change
Forest biomass may vary by species composition, location, management regimes, and management inte... more Forest biomass may vary by species composition, location, management regimes, and management interventions. To assess the variation in biomass production by management regimes, we conducted a study in three physiographic regions (mid-hills, Siwaliks and Terai) of Nepal with four different management regimes (community forest, collaborative forest, protected area, and protected forest). As community forest is the dominant forest management regime in Nepal, it was studied in all physiographic regions whereas the other two regimes were drawn only from the Terai. We interviewed a total of 1,115 forest user households, which was supplemented by high-resolution satellite image analysis and forest inventory to estimate the costs and benefits of forest management and calculate the opportunity cost of conserving forest. Our estimates suggest that the opportunity cost of conserving forest in Nepal ranged from USD 654/ha in collaborative forest to USD 3,663/ha in protected forest in 2015. The ...
Cost and Benefits of Reducing Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Nepal
Geomorphological study of river corridors in the Tarai
Geographical Journal of Nepal, 2021
The higher rate of slope erosion in the Himalayan basins is contributing to rapid change in landf... more The higher rate of slope erosion in the Himalayan basins is contributing to rapid change in landform in the mountainous terrain, which has caused sedimentation, and inundation downstream. The Tamakoshi basin is a trans-boundary river that originates from Tibet and flows through Dolakha and Ramechap districts before joining the Sapta Koshi river. Few studies exist in Nepal attempting to quantify the erosion rate and susceptibility. However, they are scattered and mainly focus on either rill-sheet erosion or landslide only. Hence, this study attempted to estimate slope erosion by applying the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), and soil and debris erosion from landslide (2000-2019). Spatially distributed erosion intensity maps derived from the RUSLE model, as well as index-based landslide susceptibility map, were integrated to capture both running water and gravity erosion processes. The novelty of this research is that it examined the soil erosion rate using a process-based...
Conservation without Participation: Detrimental Effect of Escaping People's Participation in Protected Area Management in Nepal *
Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is being prepared for implem... more Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+) is being prepared for implementation in Nepal with the concept of mitigating climate change impacts as articulated by United Nations Framework Condition on Climate Change. Nepal is in the forefront in the Hindu Kush Himalaya Region in REDD+ readiness, however, there are many challenges including Gender Inclusion and REDD+ safeguards. The country is participating in REDD+ since 2008 and has implemented number of pilot projects in its readiness phase and is moving towards implementation phase, for which it has endorsed and established most of the Warsaw REDD+ Framework, including National REDD+ Strategy, Forest Reference Level and National Forest Monitoring System. The REDD+ Himalaya project is one of the projects implemented to support piloting of Nepal’s readiness by building capacity of REDD+ stakeholders at subnational level. In this background, the study attempts to evaluate the gender inclusion in REDD+ pilotin...
Contributions by the Private Sector to Climate Change Mitigation: Lessons from the Plantec Coffee Estate in Nepal; ICIMOD Working Paper 2017/15
Forest carbon stock assessment in selected red panda habitats in Ilam and Panchthar districts, Nepal
Mitigating Human-Wildlife Conflict in Nepal: A Case Study of Fences around Chitwan National Park; ICIMOD Working Paper 2017/14
Finding solutions to human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is one of the complex challenges conservationi... more Finding solutions to human-wildlife conflict (HWC) is one of the complex challenges conservationists and local communities have to contend with for an enduring period. Biodiversity is crucial for enriching the forests including the existing flora and fauna species residing in the forest, which is a key element of the GIZ/ICIMOD REDD+ Himalaya Initiative. The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) has been selected by the Government of Nepal for developing a REDD+ programme. This area harbours numerous wildlife corridors, and with the enhancement of habitats through REDD+ conservation activities, the wildlife population will increase. This will further exacerbate existing human-wildlife conflict. Therefore, to ensure and address such challenges, REDD+ mechanisms need to incorporate human-wildlife mitigation measures. Measures employed to mitigate HWC in the buffer zones and adjoining areas of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) have ranged from traditional methods of shouting and watch towers to modern barriers such as electric fencing. Several kilometres of these electric fences have been constructed along the boundaries of the park and community forests in the buffer zones and adjoining areas of the CNP to mitigate conflicts from megafauna such as the elephant and rhino. Studies have found the electric fencing to be the most effective mitigation measure against the rhino and elephant, which cause a lot of property and crop depredation in the area, and there have been recommendations from studies and requests from local communities to expand the electric fencing. However, there have not been many empirical studies to assess the sustainability of the electric fences installed in the area. Thus, this study assesses the sustainability of the electric fencing as a HWC mitigation measure in the buffer zones and adjoining areas of the CNP. The study employed various methods including mapping of the fences, observation, focus group discussions, and key informant and official interviews with conservationists in the CNP and NTNC-BCC to collect data. A total of 57 fences were visited and mapped in 54 community forests which are made up of buffer zone community forests and community forests under the district forest office. The study reveals that only twenty-six per cent of the electric fences installed in the area are in good condition and operating effectively, while the rest are out of operation due to technical faults, poor maintenance, and natural disasters such as flooding. The factors imperiling the sustainability of the electric fences are socio-political, economic, and technical. For the sustainability of the electric fences in the buffer zones and adjoining areas of the CNP, the study makes a number of recommendations.
Status of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification for REDD+ in the Hindu Kush Himalaya
This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-pro... more This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. ICIMOD would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source. No use of this publication may be made for resale or for any other commercial purpose whatsoever without prior permission in writing from ICIMOD. The views and interpretations in this publication are those of the author(s). They are not attributable to ICIMOD and do not imply the expression of any opinion concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries, or the endorsement of any product.
Developing Sub-National REDD+ Action Plans: A Manual for Facilitators; ICIMOD Manual 2017/13
Restoring landscapes through Trees Outside Forests: a case from Nepal's Terai Region
International Forestry Review, 2020
Deforestation and forest degradation due to unsustainable forest products harvesting and encroach... more Deforestation and forest degradation due to unsustainable forest products harvesting and encroachment has adverse socio-ecological impacts in the Southern part of Nepal, the Terai. Urbanization and migration from the hill region is increasing the demand for forest products. Despite the communities' involvement in forest management, the gap between demand and supply of forest products remains huge. In this context, growing trees outside the forests particularly in public and institutional land could be an appropriate strategy both to reduce the pressure on natural forests and bridge the demand and supply gap of forest products. This study assesses how and to what extent Trees Outside Forests addresses these issues. Data were collected through focus group discussion, key informant interview and household survey. The results suggest that Tree Outside Forests have provided access to forest products, improved institutional capacity and increased income of local communities. However, ...
International Forestry Review, 2017
This study assesses the causes of forest resource depletion in the Poba reserve forest, Assam, In... more This study assesses the causes of forest resource depletion in the Poba reserve forest, Assam, India. Although many activities, such as hunting and grazing, are banned, the Poba reserve forest is being degraded. The results of a household survey show local communities have experienced a decrease in forest resources in 2012 compared to 2002. Lack of community-based institutions and proper forest management plan has opened access to the forest, resulting in illegal logging and over extraction of forest products. These activities have limited the ability of Poba reserve forest to deliver ecosystem goods and services, and prevented forest restoration. Change is forest cover and availability of forest products has adversely affected the livelihoods of more than two-thirds of local households. The study suggests that participatory involvement of local communities in forest management can reverse trends in deforestation and forest degradation and restore the ecosystem. The forest cannot stand alone; it needs active support of the local community.
Journal of Nepal Geological Society, 2017
Nepal earthquake of 25th April 2015 and subsequent big aftershocks impacted people, land, and wat... more Nepal earthquake of 25th April 2015 and subsequent big aftershocks impacted people, land, and water resources significantly. Following the devastating earthquake, land and water management has become one of the primary focuses of the Government of Nepal as these resources are foundations of people’s livelihood and prosperity. The weakened, cracked, and destabilized slopes and surfaces due to the earthquake become even more susceptible to landslides that can be aggravated due to rainfall and inappropriate anthropogenic activities. Due to the devastating earthquake, 31 districts of Nepal out of 75 were affected with 14 being severely affected resulted huge loss of human life, property, and ecosystem services. These 14 districts were categorized as severely hit and crisis hit districts by the post disaster need assessment (PDNA) carried out by Government of Nepal. Nuwakot district is one of the severely hit districts. In order to reduce vulnerability and/or threat of potential landslid...
Land Use Policy, 2019
Community-based forest management systems (CBFMS) are becoming increasingly popular in developing... more Community-based forest management systems (CBFMS) are becoming increasingly popular in developing countries where 31% of the total forest is either managed or owned by the community. This paper presents the results of a four-country study conducted in 2017 in Nepal, Bhutan, India and Myanmar concerning the governance quality of CBFMS. The introduction outlines the global threat to forests, the contribution that forestbased emissions make to climate change, and the policy response of the international and national communities including REDD +. The next section provides a snapshot of CBFMS in the four case study countries, and is followed by an account of the methodology, approach, framework of analysis and sampling surveys undertaken during the course of, and informing, the research. The results of the surveys revealed that perceptions of governance quality, as well as governance priorities, varied between the countries, and also at the three levels of government (national, sub-national and local) within a country. For example, Myanmar and Bhutan had very high governance ratings from local levels compared to other levels, whereas, Nepal and India had similar ratings for all levels. Further, regarding the prioritisation of different indicators, Myanmar gave highest priority to "inclusiveness" at the local level but "democracy" at the national level. The reasons for the similarities and differences between and within these countries and the possible implications are discussed. 1994 with the aim of preventing "dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system" has responded by developing a policy initiative referred to 'reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries', referred to as REDD+ (UN, 1992; UNFCCC, 2018). Without this initiative, it is unlikely that the proposed target for maintaining the average global temperature at 1.5-2°C above pre-industrial levels, as proposed by the Paris Agreement, can be achieved (UNFCCC, 2015). By early 2018, 175 of the 197 signatories to UNFCCC had ratified the Paris
Monitoring of Ptero-camp at Lainchaur-Kathmandu
Small Mammal Mail, 2011
Small Mammal Mail-Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA Volume 2, Number 2, Jul-Dec 2010 Indi... more Small Mammal Mail-Bi-Annual Newsletter of CCINSA & RISCINSA Volume 2, Number 2, Jul-Dec 2010 Indian Flying Fox (Pteropus giganteus) is distributed in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sir Lanka, Bangladesh and West Myanmar. It is largest and the most well known of ...
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Books by Niroj Timalsina
land and forest cover change in Churia both inside community forest and outside. Land cover maps comparing between the year 1992 and 2014 speak by themselves.
Results show that overall forest cover in Churia range has increased by 7500 ha (1%) in 22 years i.e. 1.35 million ha (76%) in 1992 compared to 1.36 million ha (77%) in 2014.
It is also found that the area of dense forest is increased by 42,000 ha whereas, area covered by bushes and grassland is reduced by 39,000 ha. This encouraging message of increased area of dense forest in Churia range may have been the result of the improved form of bushes and grassland in the same area.
Study shows that there is a decline in cultivated land by 20,000 ha and expansion of the area of riverbed by 12,300 ha. The contributing factors for this worrying message could be the physical processes in the fragile condition of Churia range, the erosion, flood and deposition that occurs predominantly because of monsoon, tenure insecurity and bad governance.
The study generates a new evidence against the most scary and
exaggerated figure of the rate of deforestation in Nepal reported by FAO in 1995. Deforestation in some patches of forest area seems to be a regular phenomena mainly due to physical infrastructure development and natural erosion. However, the rate of deforestation during the period of 1992 - 2014 is found to be only 0.18% per year, 9 times lower than what FAO has earlier reported which is 1.7% per year during the period of 1978 to 1994.
Comparing the performance of community forest regime with that of other regime indicated that community forestry regime is a better perfomer in terms of the improvement of forest conditions - 50% higher and in reducing the rate of deforestation - 70% lower than other regimes.
Papers by Niroj Timalsina
land and forest cover change in Churia both inside community forest and outside. Land cover maps comparing between the year 1992 and 2014 speak by themselves.
Results show that overall forest cover in Churia range has increased by 7500 ha (1%) in 22 years i.e. 1.35 million ha (76%) in 1992 compared to 1.36 million ha (77%) in 2014.
It is also found that the area of dense forest is increased by 42,000 ha whereas, area covered by bushes and grassland is reduced by 39,000 ha. This encouraging message of increased area of dense forest in Churia range may have been the result of the improved form of bushes and grassland in the same area.
Study shows that there is a decline in cultivated land by 20,000 ha and expansion of the area of riverbed by 12,300 ha. The contributing factors for this worrying message could be the physical processes in the fragile condition of Churia range, the erosion, flood and deposition that occurs predominantly because of monsoon, tenure insecurity and bad governance.
The study generates a new evidence against the most scary and
exaggerated figure of the rate of deforestation in Nepal reported by FAO in 1995. Deforestation in some patches of forest area seems to be a regular phenomena mainly due to physical infrastructure development and natural erosion. However, the rate of deforestation during the period of 1992 - 2014 is found to be only 0.18% per year, 9 times lower than what FAO has earlier reported which is 1.7% per year during the period of 1978 to 1994.
Comparing the performance of community forest regime with that of other regime indicated that community forestry regime is a better perfomer in terms of the improvement of forest conditions - 50% higher and in reducing the rate of deforestation - 70% lower than other regimes.