Eak
Rana is a Nepalese expert on sustainable development. He joined International
Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu in November
2009 as Project Coordinator for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and
forest Degradation. The project is being run in developing countries to protect
forests. Rana coordinates with partners and liaise with local ministries and
stakeholders to institutionalise forest carbon accounting, monitoring, and
registration and help develop a national forest carbon fund.
Rana gained extensive experience in forest resources management and livelihood
improvement during many years of work. His recent experience included working
for an initiative in Nepal where he was involved in various activities
implemented by the Forest Ministry’s REDD Forestry Cell under the World Bank’s
Forest Carbon Partnership Facility scheme. He has rich experience working with
government, civil society, and NGOs. Rana has a Master of Science degree in sustainable
resource management from Technical University of Munich, Germany, specialising
in forest ecosystem management. He is project coordinator; REDD (Reducing
Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries)
Ecosystem Services at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu. The News on Sunday had the opportunity to
interview Rana. Excerpts follow:
The News on Sunday (TNS): Tell us about your work at REDD?
Eak Rana (ER) Globally, REDD is considered a new approach for climate change
mitigation and adaptation. We think that forest policies will have to align
with the incentives of and the public interest. However, a challenge is made
more difficult by the complex causes of deforestation, many of which are
external to forestry sector. Nepal still does not have a concrete framework in
terms of a policy under REDD, but is part of two programmes: the Forest Carbon
Partnership Facility, and the United Nations REDD Programme. The country has gotten
$200,000 for a readiness preparation proposal and an additional $3.5 million
from the World Bank to work on six different components related to REDD.
TNS: What is the purpose of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain
Development?
ER: The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, ICIMOD,
is a regional knowledge development and learning centre serving the eight
regional member countries of the Hindu Kush-Himalayas — Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and is 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. The center supports regional trans-boundary
programmes through partnership with regional partner institutions, facilitates
the exchange of experience, and serves as a regional knowledge hub. It
strengthens networking among regional and global centres of excellence.
Overall, it is 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. To adapt to the changing scenario, ICIMOD
has set up a demonstration centre in the Jhikhu Khola watershed at Lamdihi
village, farmers are taught the techniques of roof-water harvesting, making
farm ponds, drip irrigation, composting and terracing. From growing one maize
crop a year, some farmers now harvest rice, potato and vegetables thrice a
year.
Under this project we are working hard to stop forest degradation and
deforestation. Community foresting is one of the ways to save forests. Such
foresting was adopted three decades ago under which forested areas were handed
over to local communities. In 1988, community-based forest management groups
were formally approved, with the Kavre and Sindhupalchowk districts being the
pioneers. There are now 16,000-20,000 community-managed forests in Nepal,
covering 25 per cent or 1.2 million hectares of the country’s forest land. This
policy really yielded positive results and many degraded landscapes rejuvenated
after the communities imposed management regime allowing natural regeneration.
Communities also earn revenue by selling non-timber forest produce (NTFP),
rejuvenating the land.
Forests are very important for the Nepalese people especially those living on
high lands. One of the studies conducted by the project indicated 70 per cent
of forest users depend on forest biomass based household energy as a source in
project sites. We are of the opinion that they should use this source of energy
in a sustainable way. Recognising this, the project has introduced alternative
energy technologies such as bio Biogas and improved cooking stoves so that
pressure on the forest could be reduced. Similarly, there has been enrichment
plantation of native and culturally valuable tree seedlings in community and
private forest land within three watersheds. Trees planted on farms will
eventually reduce pressure on local forests. In one year, the community forests
in three watersheds increase carbon offset of carbon dioxide of 2.67 tonnes per
hectare. The entire project covers about 10,266 hectares of community forest
area. In voluntary market, the price per tones of carbon dioxide is between US$
3 and 5. However, the market price can go above US$ 20 for per tones of carbon
dioxide internationally.
TNS: How Nepal was affected by climate change?
ER: Like other states of developing world, the countries of South Asia have
been hit by climate change and Nepal is no exception. The country known for its
high mountains and rich forests is facing droughts on the one hand and floods
on the other hand. This drought leads to forest fires that is not only
destroying livelihood of the people living on highlands but also causing damage
to environment. Eighty per cent people in Nepal depend on agriculture but
because of drought and floods agriculture yield has greatly been affected. Our
country is facing two types of floods — glaciar lake outburst and overflow in
regular rivers. Glaciers lake outburst flood the local lakes. This has also led
to an overflow in rivers. The country is also witnessing irregular rainfall,
which is also contributing to floods. These irregular rainfalls have been
caused by temperature rise, which is a global phenomenon now and Nepal is
no exception. This temperature rise has created many difficulties for the
Nepalese people; the lowland people face drought and floods while the specter
of forest fires and drought keep haunting the people of highlands. In
Panchakhal area of the country, it now rains in May though traditionally
rainfall occurred during June-September. With help from an NGO, the village has
dug a 250-foot borewell and pumps water to a tank. Villagers get 80 litres a
day for their use, but the 11-hour load shedding does not help. Most families
use biogas to reduce dependence on forests.
TNS: How people are dealing with this changed situation?
ER:
This phenomenon has forced people the way they used to live. Earlier people in
highland would live in houses made of wood but now there has been a trend to
make metal houses to escape the devastating consequences of forest fires.
Peasants also find it hard to decide as to which crop they should grow. Since
they are not sure about rainfall, they have diversified the means of their
livelihood. Earlier all people would be dependent on agriculture and would grow
crops to meet both ends but now one or two members of a family choose to go to
urban centers in search of livelihood. Farmers are employing pre-sowing methods
of agriculture. Because of irregular rainfalls farmers sow seeds before time,
for instance potatoes grow in five months but now it may take seven months and
the peasants sow its seeds before time. Earlier they would cut potatoes into four
and sowed it but now they sow a whole potato to combat moister.
TNS: What has Nepalese government done to deal with this situation?
ER: We have launched National Plan of Adaptation Actions in 2011 under the
United Nations Framework Covenants on Climate Change (UNFCCC). We will get fund
from the UN agency for the five areas that we have identified as being hit by
climate change and we will work to improve situation in these five areas.
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