The Danube River Hydromorphology PIF was approved at the 53rd GEF Council on October 30, 2017. Full project development will begin shortly.
The WWF GEF Project “Land Degradation Neutrality Fund Technical Assistance Facility” PIF was approved October 3, 2017. The Project will start full project development for submission within 12 months.
See more about the project here: http://wwfgef.org/gef/portfolios/land-degradation-neutrality-fund-technical-assistance-facility/
Source: WWF
Kathmandu, Nepal – ‘Sustainable Land Management in the Churia Range, Nepal’, a three-year medium-sized project of the Government of Nepal and WWF and supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) was successfully concluded on 31 May 2017. It effectively helped reduce the vulnerability of 6,000 local people, including more than 2,300 women, from land degradation and soil erosion issues in the Himalayan foothills.
This maiden initiative in Nepal, following the accreditation of WWF as Global Environment Facility (GEF) project agency, introduced an integrated land management approach in the fragile Churia, a hilly range which covers about 13% of Nepal’s total area and more than 15% of the country’s population.
The Churia is an important recharge zone of ground water that feeds agricultural land and forests of the Terai, home to iconic species such as tigers and rhinos; however, deforestation, over-grazing by livestock, unsustainable agricultural practices and climate change impacts have deteriorated the Churia.
Initiated in February 2014, the project worked towards empowering local communities to sustainably manage the Churia range in four Village Development Committees in the districts of Makawanpur, Parsa, Bara and Rautahat in central Nepal.
Together possible
The project was successful in bringing together four ministries – Ministry of Land Reform and Management, Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Agricultural Development, and Ministry of Population and Environment – and the participation and ownership of local communities to work towards a common conservation goal. This helped introduce and implement innovative and sustainable agro-pastoral systems and community forest management in the project areas.
“This project has positively contributed to address land management issues in Churia,” stated Shankar Bahadur Thapa, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Land Reform and Management. “The learnings and outcomes from this project will play an important role in replicating future interventions under the President’s Churia Conservation Program.”
Communities in conservation
Through the project, 4,450 hectares of degraded land were restored through sustainable forest management practices through 18 Community Forests Users Groups and Buffer Zone Users Groups. Likewise, 135 hectares of critical ecosystem hotspots were conserved through community-led afforestation measures and the promotion of natural regeneration in degraded areas, priority sub-watersheds and wildlife corridors. Furthermore, to reduce community pressure on forests for firewood and promote alternate energy use, the project promoted technologies such as biogas, solar and improved cooking stoves. Income generation activities such as turmeric farming, leaf plate making and a dairy enterprise further helped provide alternate livelihoods options for local people dependent on forest resources.
© WWF Nepal
Promoting sustainable agricultural practices
Sustainable agricultural practices such as mixed cropping and climate-smart agriculture through conservation ponds and drip irrigation helped stabilize 381 hectares of degraded land and reduce soil erosion. Likewise, interventions such as bioengineering and embankment helped conserve 142 hectares of agricultural land from flooding. Integrated livestock management practices through the promotion of stall feeding and productive cattle breeds is helping reduce uncontrolled grazing in 8,000 hectares of forests.
© WWF Nepal
“WWF Nepal is proud to successfully execute the first project with WWF as a GEF project agency,” stated Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. “Together with an inter-ministerial approach, this project has helped pave the way for integrated land management projects in the future.”
The GEF Council welcomed WWF as a GEF Project Agency in November 2013. This status gives WWF the ability to work directly with the GEF’s member countries to design and implement GEF programs and projects on their behalf, with full accreditation regarding GEF policies, rules and procedures. The WWF office in the United States serves as the GEF agency within the WWF network, and supports its member countries.
The project “Integrated Landscape Management to Secure Nepal’s Protected Areas and Critical Corridors” has achieved CEO Approval at the 52nd Meeting of the GEF Council held in Washington, DC May 23-25. See more about the project here.
The child project “Indonesia: Eco-system Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) in Eastern Indonesia,” under the Coastal Fisheries Initiative program, has achieved CEO Endorsement.
See more about the project here.
The WWF GEF Project “Integrated Transboundary Ridge-to-Reef Management of the Mesoamerican Reef ” has reached CEO endorsement.
Read more information about this project here.
The Child Project “Generating Responsible Demand for Reduced-Deforestation Commodities” has achieved CEO Endorsement. Implementation of activities will begin mid 2017.
See more information on this project here.
See more pictures here.
The project “Improving Mangrove Conservation across the Eastern Tropical Pacific Seascape (ETPS) through Coordinated Regional and National Strategy Development and Implementation” has achieved CEO Approval.
See more pictures here.
Learn more about this project here.
The Program “Sustainable Management of Madagascar’s Marine Resources” has been approved by the GEF Council. ProDoc development is now beginning for submission by June 30, 2018.
See more about this project here
The PFD “Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program” has been cleared. ProDoc development for the WWF-GEF Child Project Securing the Future of Peru’s Protected Areas is beginning for submission June 30, 2017.
See more about this project here.
The Global Environment Facility is a partnership for international cooperation in which 183 countries work together with international institutions, civil society organizations, and the private sector to address global environmental issues.
World Wildlife Fund is proud to be accredited as a GEF Project Agency.
