Nepal is advancing efforts to improve sustainable forest management by developing detailed biophysical data at the local level. Historically, forest data in Nepal was available only at national and provincial scales, which made it difficult for municipalities to manage their forests effectively. To address this issue, the Ministry of Forests and Environment partnered with the World Bank, the Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC), and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to create municipality-level biophysical forest data.
The initiative used remote-sensing technology, field sampling, and stakeholder consultations to map the extent and condition of forests across all 753 local government units in Nepal. The resulting data is now publicly available through FRTC and provides valuable insights for policymakers, development partners, and communities.
Recent findings show that Nepal has increased its forest cover in recent decades. In 2022, more than 46.8 percent of Nepal's land was covered by forests. Of the country's 753 local levels, 693 have some degree of forest cover; 416 have over half their land covered by forests. However, challenges remain: provinces such as Bagmati, Sudurpaschim, and Karnali experience higher levels of forest fragmentation. Tree canopy cover decreased from 67 percent in 2018 to 64 percent in 2022; average tree height dropped from 15.5 meters to 14.7 meters over the same period.
With access to localized data, provincial and municipal governments can develop targeted plans for sustainable land use and forest management suited to their specific landscapes. This approach aims to ensure effective conservation while supporting community needs. Resource allocation within the forestry sector can also be improved by directing funds based on areas with greater need or potential for sustainable management.
The new data supports monitoring, reporting, and verifying (MRV) carbon stored in forests—a key step toward accessing climate finance instruments such as grants or green bonds that promote conservation efforts aligned with global climate goals.
Despite progress in increasing overall forest cover above 46 percent nationally, risks like road construction leading to overextraction persist. Ongoing work supported by FRTC and the World Bank includes developing tools such as biomass equations for key tree species to enhance monitoring capabilities further.
“Having more detailed information about the condition of forests would help stakeholders make better decisions about how to manage them,” states a summary from project leaders.
They emphasize that combining biophysical information with socioeconomic considerations will help achieve multiple objectives from forest management. Improved cadastral mapping—showing who manages different parts of a forest—could provide additional insight into how different management approaches affect both ecological health and livelihoods connected to forests.
By addressing remaining knowledge gaps through continued research collaboration between Nepali institutions and international partners like the World Bank, stakeholders aim to strengthen evidence-based decision-making for sustainable forestry across all levels of government.