Nepal : Climate Resilient Landscapes and Livelihoods Project

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development / Land-based natural resources management - Water-based natural resources management

1.For the period of 2000-2018, Nepal ranked tenth in the list of most-affected countries in the world in terms of climate-related extreme weather events. The frequency and severity of climatic disasters are increasing due to melting of glaciers and changing monsoon and seasonal precipitation patterns. These are impacting overall human development and well-being. Nepals economy is forecasted to contract by 7% by 2050 due to climate change.

2.Climate models show that Nepal's western provinces, which are prone to multiple climate-induced water hazards, such as drought, flood, and landslide, are likely to become a future climate hotspot. These provinces are expected to receive more precipitation but with a change in seasonal distribution summarized as wet-get-wetter and dry-get-drier. This will result in increased water insecurity. Communities are already water-deficient due to the drying of perennial springs in the dry season, causing a higher burden of water collection, particularly for women. Upward shifts in agroecological zones from the warming of higher altitude regions threatens traditional farming systems. Additionally, catchments are degrading due to unsustainable land-use practices, forest degradation, forest fire, and soil erosion. The project areas remoteness, high poverty rates, and a high proportion of women-headed households, due to the outmigration of men, further contribute to higher vulnerability. The western provinces capacity to cope with water-induced hazards is hindered by: (i) poor water management infrastructure and techniques; (ii) limited entrepreneurial capacity and lack of investment in value addition of natural resources, and (iii) lack of enabling policies, institutional capacity, and skilled human resources to manage climate-resilient development interventions.

3.Effective climate adaptation requires provisioning water management infrastructure and maintaining the watersheds ecosystem integrity, which has the critical functions of water storage, release, infiltration, and drainage control. Inclusive livelihood diversification is critical to enhancing the communities coping strategy. Promoting nature-based livelihood activities through forest-based enterprises and eco-tourism will support income diversification from subsistence farming and reduce economic shocks caused by climate hazards.

Climate risk on people and ecosystems reduced.

Climate resilience and water security of communities in Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces strengthened.

Catchment management and disaster risk management infrastructure and practices developed.

Nature-based livelihoods enhanced.

Capacities on climate change adaptation strengthened.