Overall Objective

The project objective is to enhance the climate resilience of ecosystems and vulnerable communities in Nepal´s Churia region through integrated sustainable natural resource management (SNRM) approaches.

Component wise Objectives

The project objective will be achieved through the following Components:

Component 1: Scaling up climate-resilient Sustainable Natural Resource Management (SNRM).

Component 2:Strengthening institutions and planning for climate-resilient SNRM.

Component 3:Improving knowledge, awareness and local capacity for climate-resilient SNRM.

Implementation Structure

For the project implementation, the project is structured under the lead role of Ministry of Forest and Environment at central level. In the central level, it has been established multidisciplinary national Project Steering Committee (PSC) including of different ministries, departments, President Chure Terai Madhesh Consevation Development Board, development partner United Nation, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), networks (Forests group, Indigenous people group, women group etc) which ischaired by the Secretary of Ministry of Forest and Environment. This committee will be comprised of joint-secretary level representative members from relevant federal ministries, provincial ministries, FAO (in its role as Accredited Entity), as well as a member secretary of PCTMCDB. PSC will also invite representatives from relevant CSOs, the private sector and academia as necessary to discuss thematic issues as well as partnership opportunities. Similarly, Provincial Coordination Units (PCUs) will be established in each of the three provinces, and will be chaired by the Secretary of the provincial MoITFE. Each PCU will include representative members (Under Secretary level) from other relevant provincial ministries, departments, CSOs (including women´s organizations, indigenous people’s federations and representatives, and Dalit organizations, among others) and private sector representatives, with the coordinator of the PPMU acting as PCU Secretary. Likewise, in each river system with the coordination of local level there has been provisioning of community-based forests and agriculture committee for involvement in planning, implementation and monitoring.

Project Management Units

For the project management, Project Management Unit (PMU) office as a central office lead by the National Project Director, and at province level Provincial Project Management Unit (PPMU) offices lead by Provincial Project Coordinator have been established. Moreover, under the Ministry of Forests and Environment there have been four cost centers. the programs implement through the Ministry of Forests and Environment shall be under the act, rule and regulation of Government of Nepal.

Intervention Area

The project will be implemented in 26 river systems of Churia Region of Province No.1, Province No.2, and Bagamati Province. It has visioned working in 121 local levels.

Table No. 1: River Systems

River Systems	District	Province
Kankai River, Biring Khola, and Mechi River (3 River Systems)	Ilam/Jhapa	Province 1
Ratuwa Khola (1 River System)	Ilam/Morang/Jhapa	Province 1
Lohandra River and Bakraha Khola (2 River Systems)	Morang	Province 1
Budhi Khola (1 River System)	Sunsari/Morang	Province 1
Kokaha Khola, and Patnali Khola (2 River Systems)	Sunsari	Province 1
Sunkoshi River, Gideri Khola, , Andheri- Baruwa- Dwar Khola, and Tawa Khola-south (4 River Systems)	Udayapur	Province 1
Bihul River and Khado River (2 River Systems)	Saptari	Madhesh Province
Bataha Khola (1 River System)	Siraha	Madhesh Province
Charnath Khola (1 River System)	Mahottari/Dhanusha	Madhesh Province
Ratu River (1 River System)	Mahottari/Dhanusha	Madhesh Province
Lakhandehi River (1 River System)	Sarlahi	Madhesh Province
Thakur Khola, Chadaha Khola, Kamala River-North, and Kamala River-South (4 River Systems)	Sindhuli	Bagamati Province
Balan River (1 River System)	Udayapuy, and Siraha/Saptari	Province 1 and Madhesh Province
Kamala River-Belsot-Jogiya Khola (1 River System)	Udayapuy, Siraha/Dhanusha, Sindhuli	Province 1, Madhesh Province, and Bagamati Province
Tawa Khola- North (1 River System)	Udayapur and Sindhuli	Province 1 and Bagamati Province

Expected Outcomes

The project is performing various activities to achieve the outcomes as per given in the Table No. 2 to fulfillment of prime objectives of the project. While preparation of ecosystem restoration management plan, any changes during the collected suggestion, detail study of river system, and local situation, there might be possible of revision in expected outcomes. in the expected outcomes it has been forecasted that forest crown will be increased by 2%, and sediment transportation through conserved and management rivers will be reduced by 25%.

Table No. 2: Project Expected Outcomes

S.N.	Expected Outcomes and Result Indicators	Unit	Target
1	Preparation of Ecosystem Restoration Plan	River System	26
2	Gully Control and Pond Conservation	Places	215
3	Plantation, Conservation, and Natural Reproduce Management	Hectare	37672
4	Forest Ecosystem Sustainable Management	Hectare	148998
5	Establishment and Operation of farm School	Nos	120
6	Climate Resilient Agriculture System Management	Hectare	48772
7	Climate Resilient Capacity Enhance	Organization	750
8	Establishment and Operation of Churia Knowledge Center	Nos	3
9	Reduce Carbon Emission from Agriculture, Forest, and Land Use (In 20 years)	milliontCO2 eq	11.48
10	Reduce Carbon Emission from Agriculture, Forest, and Land Use (In 20 years)	tCO2 eq	2366485
11	Restoration of Critical Ecosystem	Hectare	206227
12	Resilient Capacity Enhancement in Community: Direct
	Resilient Capacity Enhancement in Community:	Household/Population	20,06,89/96,32,68
	Indirect	Population	22,52,980
	Total Beneficiary	Population	32,16,248

Major Activities

Based on river system at Churia region level, Critical Ecosystem Restoration Plan (CERP) will be prepared and implemented. Land use system will also be considered while preparing this plan. Finally: within the coverage area of 26 river systems as with improvement on agriculture and forest ecosystem practices by the farmer a whole it will attempt to increase ecosystem productivity with further improvement of sustainable management activities implementation the project document has been prepared. The major activities are as follows.

Identification, registration, and strengthening community-based organizations

Preparation of critical ecosystem restoration plan

Reinforcement of Land use and management

Sustainable plantation and management

Forest re-establishment and re-produce management

Climate Resilient Agriculture System Management

Knowledge and Communication Management

Cooperative Institution and Organizations at Local Level

For achievement of the defined objectives and goals by the project with the positive outcomes, it has taken working strategy with community-based organizations (community forest user group, leasehold forest user group, collaborative forest user group, soil and watershed conservation group etc.) for implementation of the activities. The project has expected at least 750 working community-based organizations will be benefited within the working area of the project. Most of the activities have provisioned to be implemented from community-based organization within the river system.

Table No. 3: Cooperative Institution and Organizations

S.N.	Organization	Number	Household
1	Community Forest User Group	557 (74.26%)	100,260
2	Collaborative Forest User Group	3 (0.4%)	96,681
3	Farmer User Group and Soil Conservation User Group	50 (6.66%)	2000
4	Public Land Forest User Group	100 (13.33%)	1500
5	Leasehold Forest User Group	40 (5.33%)	240
	Total	750 (100%)	200,681

Role of Offices Located at District

Apart from this, the role and technical support from forest sector offices and agriculture sector offices at province level located in districts will be a major knowledge and technical resource for this project. For the requirement of technical knowledge for nursery and other activities, it has been provisioning to be manage from these offices.

Role of Local Levels

Besides, the successful of the project is depend on worthwhile of building coordination and cooperation with municipalities, rural municipalities, and related wards. Finally: the necessity of local levels and their representatives for pre-stage of preparation of critical ecosystem restoration plan to implementation and monitoring & evaluation, hence the project management units will be performed programs in coordination with these institutions.

Adherence of Inter-related Plan and Indicators for Achievement of Project Targeted Results

The project is working for climate change resilient and the working strategy is to make environment friendly and inclusive with environmental and social sector sustainable and securely moving forward through enhancing acts (crossing cutting themes), environmental and social management as well as Gender Action Plan-GAP base on social inclusion management plan, and Indigenous People Plan-IPP in all the activities.