Back to news
29 Jan 2016 | News

Developing PES Policy

1 min Read

70% Complete

ICIMOD has been actively engaged in Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) policy formulation support with Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Government of Nepal (MFSC/GoN), and other conservation partners, including World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal.

As part of the Himalayan Climate Change Adaptation Programme (HICAP), ICIMOD supported the organisation of a national validation workshop on PES policy in Nepal 19 January 2016. More than 90 participants, including high level government officials and policy makers, representatives from the private sector, civil society and academicians participated in and contributed to the daylong workshop.

Hon’ble Minister Agni Prasad Sapkota delivering his opening remarks

In his opening remarks at the national workshop on PES policy, Honorable Minister Agni Prasad Sapkota committed to endorse the PES policy for sustainable management of resources and proper allocation of benefits to local communities. In his remarks, Minister Sapkota appreciated the work by the PES task force – a seven member  comprising of representatives from the Department of Forests (DoF), Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), WWF Nepal, ICIMOD, .IUCN .and NTNC, formed under the aegis of Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation. Additionally, he lauded  support from ICIMOD, WWF and other conservation partners in the formulation of a draft policy on PES.

Dr Eklabya Sharma, Director Programme Operations at ICIMOD

Dr Eklabya Sharma, Director Programme Operations at ICIMOD, highlighted the importance of a specific policy addressing PES for the overall management of ecosystems and underpinning sustainable livelihoods in the mountainous terrain.  He praised the Government of Nepal for initiating a national policy on PES, possibly the first in the region . Dr Sharma also noted ICIMOD will be closely working with Tribhuvan University developing PES related curricula in its post graduate programme.

Dr Uday Chandra Thakur, Secretary,  Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, and chair of the opening session, acknowledged the support received from various partners, including ICIMOD. The secretary also committed to take the draft policy further for government formal approval.

In a session marking the closure of the session, the PES task force agreed to incorporate suggestions received from the floor in the draft PES policy document, and formally handed over the drafted PES policy to the Minister.

Stay current

Stay up to date on what’s happening around the HKH with our most recent publications and find out how you can help by subscribing to our mailing list.

Sign Up

Related Content

Continue exploring this topic

14 Jun 2016 News
Mountain Research and Development, Vol 36, No 2, available Online and Open Access

In this Focus Issue, several papers address modernization and sustainable development, showing that development in mountains can take up positive ...

22 May 2019 Atmosphere Initiative
Knowledge brokering and policy engagement through the CCAC to address atmospheric pollution

The CCAC is the first global effort to treat pollutants as a collective challenge. Formed in 2012, it is a ...

Upgrading Ginger Value Chain

ICIMOD’s Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation in the Himalayas (Himalica) pilot project in Myanmar has facilitated linkage between private ...

Homestay Congress 2020: Pioneering dialogue for regional homestay development in the Kangchenjunga Landscape

Homestays serve as an essential aspect of rural tourism in the Kangchenjunga Landscape (KL). They integrate sustainable resource utilization (especially ...

18 Feb 2015 News
ICIMOD and Aaranyak monitor and improve the CBFEWS in Assam, India

The team assessed and modified the existing equipment at the installation sites in Dihiri ...

26 May 2015 News
Indian farmers meet local entrepreneurs in Dadeldhura

ICIMOD and the Central Himalayan Environmental Association (CHEA) organized a five-day visit for the farmers/ beekeepers and the staff of partner organization ...

25 May 2015 News
Value chain and participatory appraisal orientation in Bhutan

As part of Support for Rural Livelihoods and Climate Change Adaptation Programme (Himalica), an orientation workshop was organized on Value ...

The time is right to apply research findings in the Upper Indus Basin Network and expand into all four riparian countries

The Upper Indus Basin Network (UIB-N), which began in 2010 as a diverse group of researchers in Pakistan conducting important ...