Stakeholder consultation workshop in Nepal

At LANDMARC, we are exploring the potential for mitigating climate change by changing how we use land. In part, this involves mapping the potential environmental, economic, and social benefits and trade-offs of using land differently, so that it captures and stores more carbon.

And to do that, we need to hear from stakeholders. We need to hear from people who understand the farming, forestry and other land-use sectors in the countries we are operating in, to help us better understand what those changes would mean, and which changes are feasible.

That is why on Tuesday 13 December, a team of LANDMARC researchers led by the University of Sussex conducted a national stakeholder consultation workshop in Nepal.

The workshop was held in the Basera Boutique Hotel in Kathmandu. It was well attended,  with a total of 29 attendees. Participants had a good mix of backgrounds, and a deep understand of Nepal’s policy context and the land-use sectors we were interested in.  Attendees were from government ministries, research organisations, universities, NGOs, UN agencies, other international agencies and farmer/forest user representatives. 

Learnings from our Stakeholder consultation workshop in Nepal

Four ways of using land differently in Nepal

The workshop had three sessions. First, Dr. Lokendra Karki (University of Sussex) welcomed the participants and introduced how LANDMARC went about selecting what is called an LMT portfolio. An LMT portfolio is a portfolio of proposed land-use activities that would reduce emissions, and could potentially be adopted at scale.

As he explained, this portfolio was developed through a careful three-stage process: first, developing a long list through an initial scoping process; second, whittling the long list down to a shortlist by focussing only on ways of using land that is the most relevant for Nepal; and third, developing national scaling narratives for each proposed new practice.

LANDMARC’s LMT portfolio for Nepal is organised around the following four themes:

1)     Forest Management

2)     Agroforestry

3)     Organic Agriculture

4)     Rice Management

In the next session, Dr David Ismangil (TUdelft) introduced participants to the ALCES land-use model, and showed how it allows us to visualise the impact of the four proposed practices in terms of carbon capture and storage.

After this,  participants split into four groups to discuss LANDMARC’s LMT portfolio and the possible risks of implementing the changes it recommends.

What were the outcomes?

Broadly, this workshop accomplished two things: it helped validate our portfolio, and it allowed us to co-develop risk scenarios with participants.

LANDMARC’s LMT portfolio for Nepal

During the discussion phase, participants agreed that these recommended  changes were feasible and suggested adding grassland, rangeland and wetland management to the portfolio.

Policy Risk is the greatest concern

Participants also considered both the short-term and long-term implementation risks for the proposed changes. ‘Policy risk’  was by far the most common risk that was identified.  Credit, innovations, and capacity building were also identified as important issues.