KATHMANDU: The International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Dabur Nepal Pvt. Ltd. and Taalkolla Community Forest User Group (CFUG) have signed a tripartite (public–private–community partnership) agreement aimed at conservation and sustainable development on Thursday.

ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtsho and Dabur’s Business Head (Nepal and Myanmar) Harkirat Singh Bedi signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in this regard amidst an event held in Kathmandu. ICIMOD Strategic Cooperation Director Basanta Raj Shrestha, and Dabur Nepal’s Head-Medicinal Plant Arvind Rana, were present at the event.

The objective of this joint initiative is to achieve livelihoods and conservation outcomes through increasing forest and economic productivity using a multi-stakeholder partnership in Baitadi district, Nepal.

Given its geographic and climatic conditions, Baitadi district has good potential for cultivation of Timur. Based on this potential, Taalkolla CFUG, Dabur Nepal Pvt. Ltd., and ICIMOD will plant 25,000 timur seedlings within a five-year period with support from the Baitadi Divisional Forest Office.

This public–private–community partnership is to promote ecosystem restoration, enhance livelihood options, and foster sustainable development in the area, ICIMOD said in a statement.