Kathmandu - The Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) has unveiled an extensive set of policy actions and implementation priorities for the fiscal year 2082 BS, signaling a strong national commitment to environmental conservation, climate resilience, biodiversity protection, and sustainable forest governance.
The approved action plan, endorsed at the ministerial level, outlines 35 key activities spanning forest management reform, wildlife protection, climate adaptation, carbon neutrality, biodiversity research, and institutional modernization. The agenda aligns Nepal’s domestic environmental governance with global climate and biodiversity commitments, including the Paris Agreement, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and biodiversity frameworks.
Strengthening Forest Governance and Fire Management
A major focus of the plan is forest governance and risk reduction. The ministry has prioritized professional forest management, stricter control of illegal logging and timber smuggling, and expanded forest fire preparedness. Community-based volunteer teams will be formed nationwide to enhance early response to forest fires, a growing concern amid rising temperatures and prolonged dry seasons.
In parallel, the government plans to implement emergency rescue action plans for risks occurring within forest areas, reflecting increased attention to occupational safety and disaster preparedness in conservation zones.
Wildlife Protection and Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation
The action plan places strong emphasis on wildlife conservation. The Ministry has committed to strengthening wildlife rescue centers and wildlife crime investigation mechanisms, while also advancing proposals related to human-wildlife conflict mitigation, including relief support mechanisms.
Significantly, the government plans to advance new and expanded protected areas, including declarations related to Rara, Bardiya, and Chitwan, and new initiatives for hill-region national parks and wildlife reserves. Additionally, blacktopped roads within Himalayan National Parks are set to be closed to reduce ecological disturbance.
Climate Action, Glaciers, and Mountain Ecosystems
Recognizing Nepal’s vulnerability to climate change, the Ministry has prioritized glacier risk reduction, climate adaptation planning, and the implementation of Nepal’s Climate Change Policy (2076 BS). The plan includes organizing Mountain and Climate Change dialogues, reinforcing Nepal’s role as a key voice for mountain ecosystems in global climate discourse.
The government also aims to submit new proposals to the Green Climate Fund (GCF), signaling continued engagement with international climate finance mechanisms.
Carbon Neutrality and Nature-Based Finance
One of the most forward-looking commitments in the plan is the launch of a Himalayan Region Carbon Neutrality Initiative, alongside the development of carbon trading procedures and international cooperation through Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). These steps reflect Nepal’s intent to position forests and mountain ecosystems as central pillars of climate mitigation and sustainable finance.
Biodiversity, Research, and Digital Transformation
Nepal will implement its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, establish a Biodiversity Knowledge Center, and modernize forest data systems. Notably, Major Forest Type Map shapefiles will be digitally shared through web portals, enhancing transparency and data access for local governments and researchers.
The Ministry also plans to make plant research permits fully online, strengthen forest research programs, promote medicinal plant cultivation, and expand laboratory facilities for heavy metal testing in herbal species-an important step for public health, export quality, and sustainable use of non-timber forest products.
Institutional Reforms and Policy Innovation
To improve governance efficiency, the Ministry will fully operationalize the Government Integrated Office Management System (GIOMS) and establish a Policy Implementation Lab, reflecting a shift toward evidence-based policymaking and administrative modernization.
A Strategic Signal for Nepal and the Global Community
Taken together, the Ministry of Forest and Environment’s 2082 BS action plan represents one of Nepal’s most comprehensive environmental governance frameworks in recent years. Its success, however, will depend on effective implementation, intergovernmental coordination, adequate financing, and community participation.
For a country that sits at the frontline of climate change impacts-despite contributing minimally to global emissions—Nepal’s renewed environmental agenda sends a clear signal: mountain nations are not only climate-vulnerable, but climate leaders.
