Back to news
21 Apr 2022 | Press releases

Land Cover Monitoring System for Nepal Launched

2 mins Read

70% Complete
Photo: Jitendra Raj Bajracharya/ICIMOD.

Kathmandu, 22 April: The Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC) is pleased to announce the launch of Nepal’s National Land Cover Monitoring System (NLCMS) to mark Earth Day. The system uses cloud computing and artificial intelligence to generate consistent data on how much of a region is covered by forests, wetlands, agriculture, and other land and water types, on an annual basis.  

The NLCMS will improve reporting on forest cover change and support Nepali lawmakers in making evidence-based policies to improve related land management practices. The FRTC developed the NLCMS with support from SERVIR-HKH, a joint initiative of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). 

The Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOFE), Government of Nepal, USAID, and ICIMOD jointly organized the Earth Day event, which was chaired by Biswo Nath Poudel, Vice-Chair of the National Planning Commission and Chair of the ICIMOD Board of Governors. 

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Forests and Environment (MOFE), Ramsahay Prasad Yadav recalled Nepal’s world-leading commitment at COP26 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and become carbon negative thereafter. He added that the MOFE is committed to institutionalising the NLCMS for forestry sector policymaking, planning, and management to help achieve this commitment.  

In his keynote address, Michael Michener, Deputy Assistant Administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security said that SERVIR has demonstrated the powerful collaboration between NASA and USAID in bringing together science and technology to empower countries in monitoring and responding to their environmental challenges. He said, “We are committed to working with the Government of Nepal to seize the opportunities meaningful climate action creates, and we look forward to continuing our partnership to advance Nepal’s green, resilient and inclusive development.”   

Similarly, Pema Gyamtsho, Director General of ICIMOD emphasized that the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region is a climate hotspot, and that regular monitoring of land cover and land use change is important for land use planning, sustaining ecosystem services, and building resilience to climate change.  

During the event, Yam Pokhrel, Director General of FRTC, explained how the NLCMS works. He acknowledged the collaborators for their support in conceptualizing, and developing the software, and incorporating the latest methodologies in land cover mapping.

Nepal’s national forest cover data was last updated in 2015. The NLCMS will make annual data available, classified into 11 specific land cover types. System users can further customise these classifications to generate datasets that comply with national and international reporting requirements.


For more information, please contact: Neraz Tuladhar, Media Officer, ICIMOD – media@icimod.org

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
18 Jan 2015 Press releases
Symposium calls for transboundary cooperation in ‘Transforming Mountain Forestry’

‘Managing Himalayan forest ecosystems on a transboundary scale is critical for mitigating the impact of climate change for sustaining ecosystem ...

6 Dec 2019 SERVIR-HKH
Knowledge forum calls for regional cooperation on early warning for floods and high-impact weather events

In light of these challenges, the ICIMOD convened a regional knowledge forum on early warning for floods and high-impact weather ...

30 Jul 2025 Press releases
FCDO-backed study in Bhutan shows improved stoves can cut fuelwood use by up to 50%

Improved stoves for space heating tested in Bhutan's Haa district slash fuelwood use by up to 50%, according to initial ...

1 Dec 2015 Press releases
Regional knowledge centre nominates secretary of MOCHTA as board chair

[caption id="attachment_7328" align="aligncenter" width="560"] Photo credit: Farid Ahmad/ICIMOD[/caption] The Secretary of the Ministry of ...

21 Jul 2015 Press releases
ICIMOD awarded humanitarian GIS award

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been awarded a ‘Humanitarian GIS Award’ at the 2015 International User ...

12 Jan 2021 Press releases
Global Landscapes Forum community urges seven ways to harness the power of landscapes to safeguard biodiversity

Kathmandu, Nepal, 12 January: As the world comes to terms with the effects of global environmental change on zoonotic disease ...

2 Sep 2016 Press releases
Managing climate and social risks key to hydropower development

The Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region has nearly 500 GW hydropower potential, but only a fraction of it has been ...

9 Mar 2015 Press releases
Narrowing the knowledge gap on glaciers in high mountain Asia

Researchers and students from around the globe met in Kathmandu last week to assemble a more complete picture of glaciers ...