KATHMANDU: Minister for Forests and Environment Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri has said that Nepal has made significant progress in forest expansion and carbon sequestration.
Addressing the House of Representatives on Wednesday, Minister Thakuri stated that community forest management, expansion of protected areas, and national forest policies have yielded positive results in increasing forest cover.
In response to questions from CPN (Maoist Centre) lawmaker Madhav Sapkota, Minister Thakuri said that work has begun to secure more than Rs 10 billion by 2028 in return for carbon storage.
According to the latest data, forests cover about 45.31% of Nepal’s total land area, which rises to 46.08% when including other wooded land. With forest expansion, carbon sequestration has also achieved notable progress.
From 2018 to 2024, the REDD+ programme implemented in 13 Terai districts reduced 18 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
As a result, Nepal is set to receive USD 10 million in the first phase from the World Bank, with 80% of the proceeds allocated to community forest managers and related bodies under an approved benefit-sharing plan. In the second phase (2022–2024), the same programme in the Terai is expected to generate USD 15 million, with carbon emission measurement reports currently being prepared.
The government is also preparing an agreement with the LEAF Coalition to reduce approximately 4 million tonnes of carbon emissions between 2022 and 2026 in Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, which is expected to bring in USD 50 million.
Similar initiatives have begun in Koshi, Madhesh, Sudurpaschim, and Karnali provinces. Overall, Nepal aims to secure over Rs 10 billion by 2028 from carbon storage initiatives.
Minister Thakuri further informed that the draft of the carbon trading regulations, designed to include private sector participation, is in its final stage. He said Nepal’s forest expansion, carbon storage, and coordination with international carbon markets are supporting sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation, private forest promotion, green employment programmes, and the development of forest-based enterprises.
The government also plans to strengthen timber and forest product supply through a one-door system, enforce electronic records, apply e-tender systems, and allow the sale of marked standing trees when removed for other planned purposes.
Sustainable forest management is expected to increase timber production and create employment, Minister Thakuri added.
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