Hariyo Ban Program

HARIYO BAN PROGRAM

Semiannual Performance Report

July 2019 – December 2019 (Cooperative Agreement No: AID-367-A-16-00008)

Submitted to: THE UNITED STATES AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEPAL MISSION Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal

Submitted by: WWF in partnership with CARE, FECOFUN and NTNC P.O. Box 7660, Kathmandu, Nepal

Submitted on: 01 February 2020

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... viii 1. INTRODUCTION ...... 1 1.1. Goal and Objectives ...... 1 1.2. Overview of Beneficiaries and Stakeholders ...... 1 1.3. Working Areas ...... 2 2. SEMI-ANNUAL PERFORMANCE ...... 4 2.1. Biodiversity Conservation ...... 4 2.2. Climate Change Adaptation ...... 20 2.3. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion ...... 29 2.4. Governance ...... 34 3. OVERARCHING THEMES AND ACTIVITIES...... 37 3.1. Small Grants Program ...... 37 3.2. Communications ...... 38 3.3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning ...... 39 3.4. Sustainability and Legacy ...... 42 4. MANAGEMENT ...... 44 4.1. Coordination and Collaboration ...... 44 4.2. Operating Environment including Risk and Mitigation Plan ...... 45 5. LESSONS LEARNED ...... 46 6. CHALLENGES AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE PROBLEMS...... 47 7. OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS FOR NEXT REPORTING PERIOD ...... 48 7.1. Opportunities...... 48 7.2. Prospects for next reporting period ...... 48 Annexes ...... 50

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1: Hariyo Ban Program II Working Areas during July-December 2019 ...... 3 Figure 2: Snow Leopard captured at Nuren danda in Tsum Valley at an altitude of 4,411 m ...... 5 Figure 3: Photo of Amolops sp. taken during the study ...... 6 Figure 4: Picture collage of translocation performance indicators: Habitat enrichment, soft enclosure maintenance, population monitoring along the Arna Soft Enclosure site in CNP ...... 7 Figure 5: Screenshot of Bijaysal documentary ...... 8 Figure 6: Screenshot of leaflet produced of Model CF ...... 11 Figure 7: Collage highlighting grassland management research and preliminary results...... 12 Figure 8: Landslide stabilization through bio-engineering techniques in upstream of Gunde, Kaski ...... 13 Figure 9: Pictures captured by camera trap show the use of canopy bridge by arboreal species ...... 14 Figure 10: Vegetable cultivated by farmer in Kanchanpur ...... 15 Figure 11:Figure 2: Chandra (left) and Shrikant (right) engaged in respective business, Dadeldhura...... 15 Figure 12: Cardamom harvested by farmer in Madi, Kaski...... 16 Figure 13: Forest Minister- Province 3 observing carpet making process after inaugurating the carpet weaving training ...... 18 Figure 14: (left) Group photo taken during ISWM Planning training; (right) Participants during field visit for practical session ...... 21 Figure 15: Mayor of Lamkichuha Municipality inaugurating the roadside plantation initiative, Kailali ... 22 Figure 16: Irrigation canal in Bajhangi Jaala, Naula micro-catchment built in Pantura, Dadeldhura ...... 23 Figure 17: Communities in Bedkot taking part in practical session on light search and rescue during CCA DRR training ...... 27 Figure 18: Meeting with SERVIR HKH and Hariyo Ban Program ...... 28 Figure 19: Gender (left) & Caste/Ethnicity (right) wise representation of beneficiary in Program (July- December 2019) ...... 30 Figure 21: Group photo taken during Orientation on GBV and sexual harassment in NRM sector, Chitwan ...... 32 Figure 20: NTNC staff attending orientation on GBV and Sexual harassment at workplace organized in Kathmandu ...... 32 Figure 22: Participants during orientation organized in CHAL ...... 35 Figure 23: Institutional Capacity Reassessment of Indreni CFUG, Chitwan ...... 35 Figure 24: Screenshot of social media series conducted by USAID on green enterprise ...... 38 Figure 25: Stickers published and disseminated to sensitize people on CWT ...... 39 Figure 26: Participants during group work in M&E refresher training ...... 40 Figure 27: Interaction with CF and CBAPU members during thematic visit in Narainapur, Banke ...... 41

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Major activities in Hariyo Ban Priority Conservation Complexes in TAL ...... 3 Table 2: Major activities implemented in three focus sub-river basins in CHAL ...... 4

Table 3: Remarks from the head of local governments and government line agencies during Jaladhaar Sarokar ...... 24

LIST OF ANNEXES

Annex 1: Hariyo Ban II working areas covered during July - December 2019 Annex 2: Summary of progress of activities – AWP Year 4 (July 2019-December 2019) Annex 3: List of peer review papers from genetic lab Annex 4: Profile of Model CFs as of December 2019 Annex 5: List of Government Agencies Grant (4th Year) Annex 6: Performance Indicator Tracking Table (PITT): July 2019 – December 2019, Year 4 Annex 7: List of documentation works that aim to capture key outcomes and knowledge from Hariyo Ban interventions Annex 8: Success Stories

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LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

ACA Annapurna Conservation Area ACAP ACA Project AHT Anti-Human Trafficking AWP Annual Work Plan BAFER Nepal Balchaur Forest and Environment Resources Nepal BaNP Banke National Park BCC Biodiversity Conservation Center BCRWME Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco-Regions BCT Brahmin Chettri Thakuri BD Biodiversity BMC Basin Management Centre BZCFUG Buffer Zone Community Forest Users Group BZUC Buffer Zone Users Committee C A M C Conservation Area Management Committee CARE Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere CBAPU Community Based Anti-Poaching Unit CBO Community Based Organization CCA Climate Change Adaptation CDES Central Department of Environmental Science CF Community Forest CFOP Community forest Operational Plan CFUG Community Forest Users Group CHAL Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape CLA Collaborating Learning and Adapting CLAC Community Learning and Action Center CS Child Safeguard CSO Civil Society Organization CWT Combating Wildlife Trade DANIDA Danish International Development Agency DCC District Coordination Committee

DFO Division Forest Office DHM Department of Hydrology and Meteorology DIA-RP Differential Impact Assessment and Response Planning DNA Deoxyribonucleic Acid D o F S C Department of Forests and Soil Conservation DOI Digital Object Identifier DQA Data Quality Assessment DRM Disaster Risk Management DRR Disaster Risk Reduction DRR/M Disaster Risk Reduction/Management DTMC District Technical Management Committee EEHV Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus F Filial FECOFUN Federation of Community Forestry Users in Nepal FEW Food, Energy, and Water GBV Gender-Based Violence GESI Gender Equality and Social Inclusion GoN Government of Nepal GONESA Good Neighbor Service Association HH Household HVC High Value Crop HWC Human Wildlife Conflict IAAS Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science ICA Institutional Capacity Assessment ICB Institutional Capacity Building ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development IEC Information Education and Communication IGA Income Generating Activity IoF Institute of Forestry ISWMP Integrated sub-watershed management plans IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature IWMA Integrated Water Management Activity IWT Illegal Wildlife Trade KAFCOL Kathmandu Forestry College

KrCA Krishnasaar Conservation Area LAPA Local Adaptation Plan of Action LCPV Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley LDCRP Local Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan LHFG Leasehold Forestry Group LIBIRD Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development LOA Life of Activity LPG Liquefied Petroleum Gas LRP Local Resource Person LULC Land Use Land Cover M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MCA Manaslu Conservation Area MDO Machhapuchhre Development Organization MEL Monitoring Evaluation and Learning MoFE Ministry of Forests and Environment MTE Mid-Term Evaluation NDVI Normalized Difference Vegetation Index NEEDS National Environment and Equity Development Society NGO Non-Governmental Organization NRM Natural Resource Management NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products NTNC National Trust for Nature Conservation PAHAL Promoting Agriculture Health and Alternative Livelihood PANI Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement PES Payment for Environmental Service PhD Doctor of Philosophy PITT Performance Indicator Tracking Table PMC Program Management Committee PMU Program Management Unit PRoR Peaking Run of the River PSC Program Steering Committee PVSE Poor Vulnerable And Socially Excluded RCDC Rural Community Development Center RF Revolving Fund

RM Rural Municipality RoR Run of the River SATH Self-applied technique for quality health/nutrition SEAH Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment SERVIR HKH SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya SGP Small Grants Program SMS Short Message Service SSIDC Shree Swarna Integrated Community Development Center SuNP Shuklaphanta National Park SWC Social Welfare Council SWMO Soil and Watershed Management Office TAL Terai Arc Landscape ToR Terms of Reference TU Tribhuvan University UNDP United Nations Development Programme USAID United States Agency for International Development USD United States Dollar WRMC Watershed Management Resource Centre WWF World Wildlife Fund

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This Semiannual Performance Report of the Hariyo Ban Program - II covers the half-year of year 4 of the Program over the period of July 2019 to December 2019. Program implementation is gradually tapering off towards the end. Despite early approval of the Annual Work Plan, the Program faced very limited implementation during the period due to delayed approval of sub-awards, particularly for World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) part of the Plan. The Program focused on consolidation and logical conclusions of the interventions with documentation of outcomes and learning for smooth handover to local stakeholders including local governments, local implementing partners, community-based organizations and beneficiaries, and smooth closure of the Program next year.

During this reporting period, the Program continued to focus its interventions in four biodiversity complexes in the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL): Shuklaphanta-Brahmadev, Bardia-Karnali, Banke-Kamdi; and, Chitwan-Barandabhar; and in three sub-river basins in Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape (CHAL): Seti, Marshyangdi, and Daraundi with strategic focus in Seti sub-river basin. The Program covered 2 metropolitan cities, 3 sub-metropolitan cities, 32 municipalities, and 29 rural municipalities across 14 districts. A total of 28,955 people (13,644 female) including Dalit, Janajati, and communities dependent on natural resources directly benefitted from the Program activities. We closely worked with diverse stakeholders including Government of Nepal (GoN) at federal, province, and local levels, natural resource management (NRM) groups and their federations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), several women’s groups, private sector and media. We have been intensively engaged in some Municipalities, collaborating in planning and implementation of activities, capitalizing on opportunities provided by federalization in Nepal.

Biodiversity Conservation: The Program continued its focus on conservation of floral and faunal species in the biological corridors and river basins. A study on the ecological carrying capacity of one horned rhinoceros at Chitwan National Park is currently underway in order to provide scientific evidence for effective management of the growing population and other conservation initiatives such as species translocation. A study on the impact of climate change on three focal species (rhinoceros, red panda and snow leopard) and their respective habitat is ongoing. Similarly, herpetofauna assessment is also ongoing along the climate change impact monitoring plots in CHAL. These studies will be instrumental to expand current knowledge base and to devise appropriate strategies in the future. Restoring the herbivores assemblages in their former ranges has been a flagship initiative of the Government of Nepal supported by Hariyo Ban II and encouraging results have been observed from this noble initiative. Species translocation following International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) standard guidelines for reintroductions has been successful. Presence of F2 (Filial) generation of wild water buffalo and recruitment of three calves in the populations show that habitat is becoming suitable for these bovines and performance is improving despite unpredictable stochastic events, such as flood. Blackbuck population has more than doubled in 7 years period and the trend of death, mainly due to disease, pests and male fighting, has been decreasing compared to the past. Local level initiatives on pangolin conservation and monitoring has been gaining momentum in CHAL, and the pangolin monitoring guideline for Nepal was endorsed. The Government of Nepal has started strengthening the initiatives supported by Hariyo Ban

viii with regular resources allocation. For instance, NRs. one million has been allocated for conservation of wild water buffalo.

The Hariyo Ban Program initiated a genetic approach to conservation in Nepal. Major Highlights – Biodiversity Conservation A standard molecular laboratory has been • Six peer review papers on wildlife genetics have been established at National Trust for Nature published which collectively expected to complement the Conservation’s (NTNC) Biodiversity genetic approach to conservation in Nepal.

Conservation Center (BCC) in Chitwan. • Six canopy bridges have been installed focusing on arboreal species in Banke National Park. Year 4 focused on upgrading the facility • F3 (Filial) generation of Blackbuck has been recorded with new equipment such as biosafety and population size has doubled in last seven years cabinet, water distillation unit and digital • The project prepared an historical account on 811 food pH meter, etc. A total of 15 research plants. activities have been completed in the • Three local level transboundary meetings conducted in facilities and 6 peer review papers on Kanchanpur and Bardia. • Display boards with messages on Combating wildlife wildlife genetics have been published trade (CWT) installed at major 2 airports which collectively expected to • Two new community forest users groups (CFUGs) complement the genetic approach to selected to promote as Model community forest conservation in Nepal. • A total of NRs. 18,476,057 revenue were generated by 1,070 HHs by engaging in various enterprises supported During the reporting period, the bear and under the Program. wild water buffalo conservation action • Completed renewal of 11 Community forest Operational plans have been submitted to the Plan (CFOPs) government for review and endorsement • 14,417 people participated in sustainable natural resources management and/or biodiversity conservation process. In terms of floral conservation, • 1,299 persons trained to build knowledge and skills on Champ monograph have been published biodiversity conservation and a sharing workshop on the • An additional 307 HHs benefited from working in a conservation of Bijaysal was conducted in variety of enterprises. TAL with a documentary on Bijaysal • 904 ha brought under improved management by conservation. implementing plantation, fencing, grassland and wetland management Hariyo Ban II continued scaling up the initiative and prioritizing the formation and mobilization of new Community Based Anti-Poaching Units (CBAPUs) and engaging with non-conventional partners, sensitizing on environmental crimes in critical points of north-south trade routes. Mass awareness campaigns were organized through mobilization of CBAPUs, airport-based displays and audiovisual aids employing traditional singers who perform as messengers to communicate messages on social issues.

Curative and preventive measures focusing on policy formulation to field actions have been steppingstones to build the bridge to manage the human-wildlife conflict. Among the four innovative models of providing the ex-gratia amount to wildlife affected families, the national level relief fund managed by NTNC has been providing ex-gratia to victim/affected families for their use in livelihood related interventions. To date, 44 families from conflict hotspots (11 districts) have directly benefited from the scheme. Awareness programs on wildlife behaviors and precaution measures were conducted through Community Learning and Action Center (CLAC), which helps to sensitize local people on

ix biodiversity issues including Human Wildlife Conflict (HWC) and poaching issues in conflict-prone communities. Preventive measures focused supporting installation of predator proof corrals mainly for common leopard in mid-hills and Terai region. Recent monitoring shows no record of livestock depredation by leopard among the intervened sites. Hariyo Ban is piloting insurance based HWC mitigation scheme (~149 HH) in collaboration with local governments.

Model Community Forest (CF) leaflet was finalized and published to garner common understanding among stakeholders. The Program continued watershed management, including restoration of critical wetlands such as Pokhara Valley Lake Cluster, with the engagement of local governments. Interventions have been extended to six out of nine lakes in the clusters.

With an effort to minimize roadkill along the highway traversing through national parks, six canopy bridges have been installed focusing on arboreal species in Banke National Park. This installation is first of its kind in Nepal. The recently approved green road engineering training manual has been instrumental for capacity building of wider stakeholders.

Livelihoods: Building on learning from the first phase, the Program has been supporting the forest- dependent communities, particularly poor households from marginalized groups with limited livelihood options, focusing on promoting market-based small, medium and large enterprises in both TAL and CHAL. Collection and value addition of forest products, promotion of high value agriculture crops through block plantation, processing and marketing of the products and ecotourism promotion through strengthening of existing homestays were key activities as of this period year in both landscapes. There has been increased interest and engagement of Local Governments in Hariyo Ban supported livelihoods enterprises through resource leverage, information sharing and/or exploring opportunities for future collaboration. The communities have been supported to take the enterprises to a logical conclusion as Hariyo Ban Program approaches its closure, including capacity building, small infrastructure support and institutional and technical strengthening, enhancing linkages with local governments and cross learning opportunities exposing them to most successful sites and relevant institutions. Process of organic certification of coffee and cardamom is almost complete, opening opportunities for marketing in national and international markets. Revolving fund continues to be a source of credit for local communities including poor and marginalized people in the NRM groups for small scale start-ups or to strengthen the existing income generating activities. During this reporting period, an additional 307 HHs benefited from working in a variety of enterprises. A total of NRs. 18,476,057 revenue were generated by 1,070 HHs by engaging in various enterprises supported under the Program.

A total of 14,417 people (42% female, 58% male, 12% Dalit, 41% Janajati) benefitted from Biodiversity activities during the reporting period.

Climate Change Adaptation: Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) component aims to reduce climate change vulnerability in CHAL and TAL. In the first phase, the Program supported to prepare 331 Community Adaptation Plan of Action, 90 Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPAs) and 14 integrated sub-watershed management plans (ISWMP). The Program also supported implementation of most of these plans. In the second phase, Hariyo Ban is focusing to upscale LAPA implementation with effective inclusion of vulnerable people by improving understanding and analysis of differential impacts. LAPAs also have a greater focus on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), safety net and leveraging of resources for implementation. The Program has been supporting integration and mainstreaming of CCA and DRR in

x planning processes primarily at local level. The Program also stresses linking CCA interventions with biodiversity conservation by improving biophysical conditions in vulnerable habitats through integration of CCA and DRR elements in ISWMPs.

The Program supported implementation of Major Highlights – Climate Change Adaptation priority reviewed LAPAs and some adaptation plans beyond the Hariyo Ban II x Coordinated with Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of focus area till the third year of phase II. Gandaki Province and UNDP for preparation of provincial Implementation of LAPAs have been level DRR/M Policy and strategic action plan (ongoing) supported basically in 4 headings viz; a) x Supported implementation of 15 LAPAs and 6 ISWMPs awareness and capacity building, b) x Three events for Jaladhaar Sarokaar were organized, one each in Khudi Marsyangdi-Lamjung, Khageri- Chitwan climate adaptive livelihoods, c) small and Phusre – Kaski scale construction, and d) planning, x Supported the Lamkichuha Municipality, Kailali to monitoring and review reflection in prepare the Roadside Plantation Management Plan coordination and collaboration with x Learning brief on 'Responding to Differential impacts: respective local government, beneficiaries Lessons from Hariyo Ban Program' prepared and and stakeholders. published x Trained human resources on disaster risk reduction and The Program supported revision of 3 equipped four ward offices (~9 & 10 in Parsuram and 1 & existing ISWMPs and prepared 5 new 2 in Bedkot Municipalities) ISWMPs following the guidelines of GoN x Supported to prepare Disaster Preparedness and Response till the third year of Program. These plans Plan of the Thakurbaba Municiaplity and of Local have incorporated CCA, DRR, Gender Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan of Tikapur Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) and Municipality Governance assessments and responses x Completed installment of lightening arrester in seven and are already endorsed by the then schools from Chitwan, Kaski, Makwanpur, Parbat and District Soil Conservation Offices and Tanahun respective local governments. Sub and x Framework for River Basin Management: A case micro-watershed coordination committees illustration from Seti River Basin’ completed x 944 persons trained to build knowledge and skills on were formed at sub-watershed and micro- climate change adaptation watershed levels as per the sub-/micro- watershed coordination committee formation and operation procedure and were supported to implement these ISWMPs under seven major headings, namely a) awareness/capacity building; b) water source protection; c) small scale structure construction; d) adaptive livelihood, GESI and governance; e) upstream-downstream linkage and institutional strengthening; f) conservation plantation; and g) planning, monitoring, review reflection and learning sharing. Until year 3 of phase II, the Program has supported GoN in capacity building to prepare integrated sub-watershed management plans and draft integrated river basin management approach paper. In addition, the Program has been supporting PES piloting in Marshyangdi sub-basin following integrated watershed management approach. Additionally, disaster risk reduction efforts have been mainstreamed through integration in regular planning process of local governments. CCA-DRR learning center establishment and strengthening support; technical assistance of Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research, and Development (LIBIRD) in agro-advisory service delivery mechanism development and capacity building of students in CCA-DRR; finalization of the report on flood/inundation hazard mapping of Seti sub-basin in consultation with Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM), are the major

xi activities implemented during the reporting period. Coordination and collaboration with local governments and provincial governments has been initiated for the implementation of the plan as per the study reports. Various planning, monitoring, review reflections with LAPA/ISWMP committees and institutions of PES (Payment for Environmental Service), CCA, DRR, training to Community based organizations (CBOs), CLACs vulnerable communities/micro-watersheds, joint visits to LAPA/ISWMPs sites with government officials, plantation and protection support; and exposure visits were accomplished during this reporting period. A total of 7,306 people (47% female, 53% male, 9% Dalit, 41% Janajati) benefitted from Climate Change Adaptation activities during the reporting period.

Gender Equality and Social Inclusion: Enhancing institutional accountability of NRM groups and institutions in tackling GESI issues in order to effectively manage biodiversity conservation and reduce vulnerability to climate change are the key GESI strategies of phase II. The GESI analysis and action plan developed in the first year of phase II has been used as a guiding document for designing and implementing GESI activities.

During this reporting period, Hariyo Ban provided support to craft GESI policies to create enabling environment for strengthening GESI practices and remove barriers. Support was provided to Ministry of Forest and Environment to draft GESI Strategy and Action Plan for promoting GESI in natural resources management sector. Internal guidelines to prevent harassment, human trafficking, and, child safeguarding has been developed by NTNC; and, Federation of Community Forestry Users in Nepal (FECOFUN) has launched various initiatives to curb gender-based violence in NRM sector. Learning briefs have been produced on addressing differential impact of climate change. The Program conducted midterm assessment of key GESI indicators which show increased positive changes compared to the baseline values. Hariyo Ban has been supporting entrepreneurship opportunities for indigenous and socially excluded communities for their economic empowerment and enhancing traditional systems. Strengthened engagement of the program with women, poor, Dalits and marginalized groups continued. Freed Haliya, Muslim, Chepang and Badi communities were targeted explicitly through forming and strengthening of CLACs and issue-based partnership. Post CLAC support program and change agents’ mobilization were continued, to carry on social campaigns and implement community projects on breaking gender stereotypes and produced encouraging results. Women's leadership development trainings, including men and decision maker engagement, have been adopted as a key initiative of the institutional capacity building package of NRM groups. Forming and strengthening of women, men and youth CLACs continued. CCA DRR CLACs were also formed and mobilized. Review and reflection of CLACs and change agents at block and landscape levels created an opportunity to establish a network of CLACs and change agents. The Program continued to support consortium and partner staff to enhance GESI knowledge and practices. Support to develop a GESI responsive master plan for local government and GESI and CCA DRR capacity building of elected members were important interventions with local government.

Governance: Hariyo Ban adopted improved institutional capacity of NRM groups as a key strategy to improve their internal governance so that it could have positive impact on biodiversity conservation as well as addressing vulnerability arising from climate change. An Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) package has been now delivered to all 415 NRM groups based on the Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA) carried out in Year 1 and 2. As part of the process, the ICB follows a reflective approach through learning and sharing exchanges. During this reporting period, the Program conducted an institutional

xii capacity reassessment of 87 NRM groups to assess effectiveness ICB package delivery. The result from the assessment is being analyzed.

Small Grants Program: Small grants were provided to GoN, CSOs and students in the areas of capacity building, research, testing and promoting innovation in science and technology, and piloting new approaches focusing on ecological and community resilience-building. To date, the Program provided 25 grants to government line agencies, 192 to students and 21 to CSOs and the private sector. During this reporting period, the Program provided 4 grants to Government line agencies, 35 to students and grants to CSOs and private sector are under approval process. Currently, 8 CSOs and GoN grants are under implementation in different priority themes and categories of the Hariyo Ban Program.

Communications: Hariyo Ban Program ensured appropriate stakeholder engagement through measured communications strategy. The Communications Unit developed a stakeholder engagement strategy to set defined approaches and possible procedures to be followed upon identifying the relevant stakeholders. Overall, the Unit focused on maintaining the profile of the Program to ensure its legacies are known to and acknowledged by all stakeholders.

The Program has been effectively using social media of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Nepal which have significantly higher outreach level in Nepal and beyond, which has been instrumental in wider outreach of the Hariyo Ban accomplishments on interventions. The Program has been collecting, sharing and disseminating information with primary focus on local governments (Municipalities, Rural Municipalities), community-based organizations, local communities, NGO partners and Civil Society Organizations. Media Fellowship grant to renowned journalists from major national publications has been continued. Video documentation of major interventions of Hariyo Ban Program is ongoing.

Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL): Database management of Hariyo Ban interventions has been ongoing. Regular monitoring visits, data quality assessment, and review meetings were conducted at central and landscape levels. Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) refresher trainings were conducted to brush-up M&E knowledge and skills of Hariyo Ban staff, implementing partners and grantees. The M&E unit facilitated the thematic monitoring visits of Biodiversity Conservation and Data Quality Assessment (DQA) of 10 institutions.

Coordination and Collaboration: We continued internal and external coordination mechanism established in the first year of Hariyo Ban II through regular meetings of Program Management Committee (PMC), Program Management Unit (PMU) represented by Consortium Partners, to ensure smooth planning, implementation and monitoring of the Program activities. We continued to closely work with the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) and all other concerned GoN agencies through the Program Steering Committee (PSC) and its Working Group, USAID, senior management of the four core partners, and core Hariyo Ban staffs, to ensure overall guidance and integration with GoN priorities and policies. The Program supported the federal government to formulate, review and update policies, strategies, species conservation action plans and other activities of national priority. The Program closely coordinated with the Province and local governments of our working landscapes to share our landscape level plans, programs and key achievements; and for effective and smooth implementation of mutually agreed interventions. The program regularly conducted bi-weekly meetings to update USAID on overall progress of the program as per the cooperative agreement. We also coordinated with USAID funded

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Program for Aquatic Natural Resources Improvement (PANI) and Promoting Agriculture, Health and Alternative Livelihood (PAHAL) projects in Rangoon and lower Karnali sub-watersheds for Integrated Water Management Activity (IWMA).

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1. INTRODUCTION

The Hariyo Ban Program - II (Hariyo Ban II) is a five-year initiative (July 2016 to July 2021) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development and implemented by a consortium of four conservation partners: World Wildlife Fund, Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal and National Trust for Nature Conservation in close coordination and collaboration with the Government at federal (Ministry of Forests and Environment and its Departments), provincial and local levels. Currently, the Hariyo Ban II is running in the fourth year of implementation. Hariyo Ban works on two core thematic components: (1) biodiversity conservation and (2) climate change adaptation. Market-based livelihood opportunities, gender equality and social inclusion, and governance are important crosscutting themes. This semi-annual performance report covers the period from July 2019 to December 2019. 1.1. Goal and Objectives

Building on the achievements and learning from the first phase of the Hariyo Ban Program implemented from 2011 to 2016, the Hariyo Ban Program II aims to increase ecological and community resilience in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape and the Terai Arc Landscape through two specific objectives: i) Improve the conservation and management of GoN-identified biodiverse landscapes - CHAL and TAL and ii) Reduce climate change vulnerabilities in CHAL and TAL. 1.2. Overview of Beneficiaries and Stakeholders

Hariyo Ban II during this period worked with governmental and non-governmental partners at federal, State and Local levels to implement planned activities and achieve the intended program results. Poor, Dalits, indigenous people, marginalized Janajatis, unemployed youth, wildlife affected families and vulnerable men and women representing various natural resources management groups are the primary target communities of the Program. The major beneficiaries, stakeholders and partners include:

Ɣ Local community and groups with focus on poor, vulnerable and socially excluded (PVSE) people. This includes people from NRM groups and their networks, women and youth groups and local resource persons (LRPs). The NRM groups include Community Forest Users Groups; Buffer Zone Community Forest Users Groups (BZCFUGs); Buffer Zone Users Committees (BZUCs); Conservation Area Management Committees (CAMCs); Leasehold Forestry Groups (LHFGs), and women/youth groups. Ɣ GoN agencies: Federal level o Ministry of Forests and Environment and various Departments, Basin Management Centers, Division/Sub-Division Forest Offices (DFO) and National Parks o Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration Provincial level o Provincial governments in Gandaki, Sudur Paschim, State 3, 5 and 6 and their Ministries o Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Offices o District Coordination Committees (DCCs), and other government line agencies at district level

Local level o Metropolitan Cities (2), Sub-Metropolitan Cities (3), Municipalities (32) and Rural Municipalities (29) Ɣ Non-government organizations o Research institutions o NGOs as implementing partners namely Machhapuchhre Development Organization (MDO), NGO Network, National Environment and Equity Development Society (NEEDS) Nepal, Good Neighbor Service Association (GONESA), Rural Community Development Center (RCDC), Shree Swarna Integrated Community Development Center (SSIDC) etc. o LI-BIRD o FECOFUN - Provincial and District and local Federations o International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) o Civil society Ɣ Private sectors and media o Women journalists from all provinces o Organic Certification Nepal

In the first six months of program implementation this fiscal year, the Hariyo Ban II organized a total of 492 events (training, workshops, meeting, campaign, policy briefs/dialogues, etc.) related with the program objectives benefiting to 28,955 people. Of the beneficiaries, 52.88% (15,311) were male and 47.12% (13,644) female. The detailed ethnic breakdown includes: 41.75% Brahmin, Chettri, Thakuri (BCT); 42.78% Janajati; 11.21% Dalit; 1.52% Newar; 1.27% Muslim and 1.16% Other. By age, 8.44 % were 15-19 years old, 8.81% 20-24 years old, 9.23% 25-29 years old, 13.93% 30-34 years old, and 49.92% were older than 34. Among the total beneficiaries, 5,770 people or 19.93% are poor. 1.3. Working Areas

Hariyo Ban II continued its interventions in the four biodiversity complexes - Shuklaphanta-Brahmadev, Bardia-Karnali, Banke-Kamdi, and Chitwan-Barandabhar in TAL; and three sub-river basins - Seti, Marsyangdi and Daraundi in CHAL. Chitwan- Barandabhar complex overlaps with CHAL. The working area for this reporting period has covered 14 districts; 6 in TAL (Banke, Bardia, Dadeldhura, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur) Figure 1: Hariyo Ban Program II Working Areas during July-December 2019 and 8 in CHAL (Chitwan, Gorkha, Kaski, Lamjung, Mustang, Nawalparasi, Syangja and Tanahun). The Program covered a total of 2 Metropolitan Cities, 3 Sub-metropolitan Cities, 32 Municipalities and 29 Rural Municipalities.

In CHAL, the Program worked in 2 Metropolitan Cities, 17 Municipalities and 20 Rural Municipalities. In TAL, the Program covered 3 Sub-metropolitan Cities, 12 Municipalities and 9 Rural Municipalities. The detailed description of the intervention areas is provided in Annex 1. Beyond this, the Program has implemented the key interventions for combating wildlife crime in 25 additional districts which fall in major trade routes connecting North South border. The districts are Baitadi, Bhaktapur, Darchula, Dhanusa, Ilam, Jhapa, Kapilvastu, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Mahottari, Morang, Parbat, Parsa, Rasuwa, Rautahat, Rupendehi, Salyan, Sankhuwasabha, Saptari, Sindhupalchok, Siraha, Sunsari, Surkhet, Taplejung and Terhathum. The major activities implemented in the first half of Year 4 and those planned for the upcoming period in four different complexes and sub-basins in TAL and CHAL are highlighted in tables below. Table 1: Major activities in Hariyo Ban Priority Conservation Complexes in TAL

Suklaphanta-Brahmadev Bardia-Karnali Banke-Kamdi Chitwan-Barandabhar Monitoring of Monitoring of reintroduced Kamdi corridor Monitoring of reintroduced reintroduced rhino; Blackbuck rhino in Babai valley; restoration initiatives; wild water buffaloes and habitat management; ongoing action research on Capacity building and swamp deer; Capacity implementation of Bijaysal grassland management; mobilization of building of molecular lab; conservation action plan; support for implementation CBAPUs Promotion of Model CF; technical support to prepare 25 of Krishnasaar implementation of Support for implementation of years strategic master plan of Conservation Area (KrCA) agro- advisory Khageri Khola ISWMP and Bheemdatt Municiaplity; open Management works; habitat services, support for local adaptation plans; grazing management management works; implementation of promotion of eco-tourism, initiatives- installation of preparation and local adaptation plans wool weaving, honey and cement trough; support for implementation of local and various livelihood dairy enterprise; Support for constructing predator proof adaptation plans; Support activities; Support for promotion of climate smart, corrals; strengthening of eco- for vegetable enterprises; promotion of climate time and energy saving, GESI tourism and other green Collaborative support for smart, time and energy friendly technologies and enterprises; support for implementation of Master saving, GESI friendly practices for agriculture and implementation of Pantura and Plan in Thakurbaba technologies; domestic use through

Chaudhar (Radha) Integrated Municipality promotion of Model demonstration and action Sub-watershed Management community forests. research Plans (ISWMPs) and local adaptation plans

Table 2: Major activities implemented in three focus sub-river basins in CHAL

Seti Marsyangdi Daraundi Implementation of Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley management Promotion of Prey base monitoring in plan and strengthening the governance within institutions involved; Model CF; Manaslu Conservation strengthening the Phewa PES; upscaling greening trans Himalayan Support for Area (MCA); Support cold desert; restoration of critical bottleneck areas through block strengthening communities for pangolin plantation; support CFUGs for Community Forest Operational mechanism and monitoring and Plan revision and its implementation; capacity strengthening of implementation conservation; support for Model CFs; strengthening of coffee, cardamom, bel and other of Khudi Community forest enterprises in the area; support for implementation of Sukhaura- Marsyangdi Operational Plan Khudi Khola, Kyangdi, Phusre Phedi Khola and Harpan Khola ISWMP together (CFOP) revision; support ISWMPs; Support for implementation of Local Disaster and with Marsyangdi for implementation of Climate Resilience Plan (LDCRP) and LAPAs; Support for PES; promotion LAPA and LDCRP; promotion of climate smart, time and energy saving, GESI friendly of eco-tourism strengthening and technologies and practices for agriculture and domestic use promotion of enterprises

In addition to the interventions mentioned, the long-term monitoring of climate change impacts in biodiversity through permanent plots demarcated in different altitudinal gradient ranging from about 100 m in Chitwan to over 4,500 m in Kali Gandaki sub-basin is ongoing. Strengthening GESI and governance of NRM groups is being implemented in all complexes and river basins. Activities related to human- wildlife conflict and combating wildlife crime have been implemented and will be continued across TAL and CHAL and beyond the Hariyo Ban II working landscape boundaries.

2. SEMI-ANNUAL PERFORMANCE

The Program implemented activities at the central level and across the two landscapes in line with the approved Annual Work Plan (AWP), to meet its broader objective of increasing ecological and community resilience in the Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape and the Terai Arc Landscape. Major achievements under each Result Area and crosscutting themes are detailed in different sections below. The six-monthly progress on Year 4 Work Plan is provided in Annex 2.

2.1. Biodiversity Conservation

Result 1.1: Threats to target species reduced

This result area includes research, monitoring, and management of focal species (fauna and flora), ecosystems, critical corridors and mitigating the human-wildlife conflict in the landscapes. During the reporting period, interventions related with combating poaching and wildlife trade focused on engagement with Community-based Anti-Poaching Units networks, non-conventional partners such as postal services, custom offices, transportation system and judiciaries. Engagement with government

bodies at three tiers (federal, provincial and local) and NRM groups; and partnership with local NGOs and private sectors enhanced smooth implementation of Year 4 Work Plan.

Species research, monitoring and management

Ecological Carrying Capacity Study: Ecological carrying capacity of greater one-horned rhinoceros’ study is currently underway for estimating number of rhinoceros the founder population of Chitwan National Park can hoard at a given time. A team comprising of representatives from Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, international experts (IUCN- African rhino specialist) and biologists from WWF held a field visit, workshops and discussion with relevant stakeholders and experts with regard to the study. Carrying capacity study will be based on habitat and rainfall characteristics followed by population parameters (prey base, mortality, birthrate, inter calving ratio etc.). The report is due for end of June 2020. Proposed rhino count (~scheduled for March 15, 2020) shall complement the ongoing study. The results from this study will guide for future management of donor population in Chitwan and translocated populations in Bardia and Shuklaphanta National Parks; and impetus of further translocation will depend on number of rhinoceros one area can hold.

For the Himalaya region, snow leopard is a focal species and their abundance estimates have a strong bearing on the conservation status of a species. A recent estimate showed that there is a predictive density of 0.1-1.9 individuals per 100 km2 among different parts of 4,394 km2 of Annapurna-Manaslu Conservation Area in CHAL. Similar camera trap monitoring carried out under Hariyo Ban II in Manaslu Conservation Area yielded a total of 25,778 photographs including 8 photographs of snow leopards and several other species including Musk deer, Himalayan thar, Goral and birds. Snow leopard’s photos were captured in Tsum valley as well. Detail Figure 2: Snow Leopard captured at Nuren danda in analysis is ongoing, and results will be reported in the Tsum Valley at an altitude of 4,411 m annual report. This monitoring will complement ongoing proposal from Government of Nepal for conducting nationwide estimation of snow leopard population.

This heterogeneity in density can be correlated with prey base density in CHAL. Hariyo Ban Program supported the long-term monitoring in prey base population in Manaslu Conservation Area. Preliminary results show an increasing trend in Himalayan thar population while a decreasing trend in blue sheep population against last count conducted in 2014. Feral dog management has been recommended as they were found hunting wild herbivores in Manaslu.

A country-wide assessment of pangolin distribution, conducted along the mid-hills and Terai plains, showed a presence in 45 districts. Remote cameras, used as a tool for monitoring these cryptic animals, continued in CFUGs (~hotspots: Amrtidhara) following the Pangolin Monitoring Guideline for Nepal, prepared with Hariyo Ban II support. The preliminary analysis showed nocturnal activity pattern in their distribution. Regular monitoring and ongoing local conservation initiatives such as monitoring, using information sheets, helped to raise awareness among the community to safeguard species against

poaching and illegal trade and restoration of degraded pangolin habitat. This is a successful initiative that can be replicated elsewhere to enhance local pangolin conservation initiatives. These initiatives have been prioritized action mentioned in the Pangolin Conservation Action Plan (2018-2022) also prepared with the support from Hariyo Ban II.

Knowledge on climate change impact to species and its Conservation Thread: New species habitat is still poor. In Year 3, the Program commissioned belonging to genus: Amolops sp. has been a study on the impact of climate change on three focal recorded. But genetic analysis is pending for species and their respective habitat (rhinoceros in lowland final verification. area, red panda in mid-hills and snow leopard in the Himalayas), which is continuing in year 4. Results are expected to provide a detailed understanding with succinct information that will allow conservationists to devise strategies to safeguard these key species and habitats from a climate perspective.

Herpetofauna assessment has been ongoing along the altitudinal gradient plots established in the first phase of Hariyo Ban in CHAL. The preliminary results show an occurrence of 80 species (30 amphibians and 50 reptiles). The ongoing morpho-taxonomical study will further clarify occurrence of additional species along the gradient. A field survey for a second round of data collection targeting small mammal diversity is currently ongoing along the 12- climate change impact monitoring plots.

Figure 3: Photo of Amolops sp. taken during the Performance of Herbivore Assemblages: Restoring the study herbivores assemblages in their former ranges has been a flagship initiative of the Government of Nepal supported by Hariyo Ban II. Species translocation following IUCN standard guidelines for reintroductions has been successful – Greater one-horn rhinoceros (1986-2017 – Hariyo Ban supported for 2017 translocation) in Bardia and Suklaphanta National Parks; Blackbuck (2012-2015) in Suklaphanta National Park and wild water buffalo (2017) in Chitwan National Park, and re-stocking swamp deer (2016-2017) population in Chitwan and Bardia National Parks. Blackbuck reintroduction has been successful as performance of species is improving with conservation initiatives in place within 50 ha soft enclosure. The recent figures show that population has doubled (~93 individuals; 28M: 36F: 29U) in the last seven years of interventions which was guided by site specific Conservation Action Plan (2016-2020) prepared during the first phase with Hariyo Ban II support. Habitat management provides adequate foraging and breeding Conservation Thread: F3 (Filial) generation of Blackbuck has been recorded ground with intensive management through enrichment, while population size has doubled in last such as additional forage and dietary supplement. F3 seven years from intensive conservation generation of species has been recorded which shows that initiatives. performance of population has been excellent.

Reintroduction of wild water buffalo and swamp deer have yielded mixed results. During the reporting period, wild water buffalo conservation initiatives have been focused on strengthening semi in-situ measures, such as maintenance of existing soft enclosure, habitat enrichment, grassland management, wetland maintenance and regular monitoring of health Figure 4: Picture collage of translocation performance indicators: Habitat enrichment, soft enclosure maintenance, population monitoring along the Arna Soft and their group interaction. The Enclosure site in CNP presence of F2 generation and recruitment of three calves in the populations show that habitat is becoming suitable for these bovines and performance is improving despite unpredictable stochastic events, such as flood. The current population is estimated at 12 individuals. Expanding the existing facilities and improving road access are challenging conservation issues in the coming days. The government of Nepal has allocated dedicated budget of NRs 10 million (~US$ 100,000) for management of wild water buffalo population in Chitwan National Park. Swamp deer population did not perform well in their new habitat and lost most of the individuals due to mortality, particularly during the high flood in 2016. The GoN has not yet made any plans for restocking this species.

Expanding Genetic Approach: The Hariyo Ban Program initiated a genetic approach to Conservation Thread: The first molecular based conservation in Nepal. Developing capacity and diagnostic on wild water buffalo population shows the presence of malaria parasites. in-house facilities for research and monitoring DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100348 have been adopted in Hariyo Ban II. A standard molecular laboratory has been established at NTNC’s BCC in Chitwan. Year 4 support focused on upgrading the facility with new equipment such as biosafety cabinet, water distillation unit and digital pH meter etc. In addition to genetic screening of focal species, such as musk deer (Moschus cupreus), pangolin (species monitoring), swamp deer (population monitoring), elephant (Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus ~EEHV); research on wild water buffalo has been completed. The Government of Nepal has recognized the facility developed at Chitwan National Park while NTNC has been leveraging resources for building the additional capacity (technical and financial) for regularizing its operation at full scale in the future. To date, 15 research activities have been completed in the facilities and 6 peer review papers on wildlife genetics (snow leopard, musk deer, wolf and wild water buffalo) have been published which is collectively expected to complement genetic approach to conservation in Nepal. Refer Annex 3 for details.

Policy Matters: The species conservation action plan guides conservation practitioners with devised strategies and priority actions. Hariyo Ban has been supporting the Government of Nepal in devising conservation action plans for focal species in the past. During the reporting period: Bear (sloth bear, Himalayan black bear and brown bear) and wild water buffalo conservation action plans have been submitted to the government for review and endorsement process.

Natural History of Focal Species: Detail natural history of focal species (~25 species) identified under Hariyo Ban phase II have been prepared in the form of booklet. The booklet will serve as guiding document on species natural history information for students, conservation practitioners, NRM groups and leaders. Booklet is expected to reach ~5500 target audience.

Conservation of floral species

Conservation of floral species, such as Bijaysal (Pterocarpus marsupium) and Champ (Michelia champaca) is one of the high priority initiatives under Hariyo Ban II. Bijaysal has a restricted distribution and is found in the mid and western TAL. Year 4 focus has been to support implementation of priority activities identified by the Action Plan with more emphasis on sharing the conservation initiative undertaken in Bijaysal conservation, awareness raising and outreach through a documentary teaser in the western complex of TAL. The sharing workshop targeted the relevant stakeholders (State parliamentarian, local Government, FECOFUN officials and CFUGs members). Recommendations provided by participants in the event: communities, local Figure 5: Screenshot of Bijaysal documentary government and DFO to work combinedly to develop the area as model site for Bijaysal conservation, conservation of associated species of Bijaysal and promotion of forest based (Bijaysal) enterprises etc. shall be fruitful in strengthening the strategy adopted for Bijaysal conservation in the field and at policy front. Similarly, the documentary targeted the members of “Network for Bijaysal conservation” and all other stakeholders, and a teaser showcased the roles of women, community forests and other stakeholders in Bijaysal conservation, especially in Bardia-Karnali and Shukla-Bramahadev complexes. The Champ monograph has been published highlighting the compilation of Champ focused literatures and Hariyo Ban initiatives toward this species conservation.

In CHAL, the Division Forest Office and CFUGs in the Seti sub-river basin have been supported to conserve Champ, a native plant species seriously threatened due to unsustainable harvest and illegal logging. To date, 147,170 Champ seedlings (from plantation managing roughly 92 ha of degraded land) with an average survival rate of 47% have been reported in 72 different sites across 62 CFs including leasehold forests in the bottleneck areas of Seti forest corridor in CHAL. Year 4 focus has been in the monitoring and management of Champ plantations. CFUGs and Division Forest Offices are the main custodians of Champ Conservation as per the Hariyo Ban sustainability plan.

Department of Plant Resources prepared historical catalogue of Nepali food plants found in Nepal under the small grant program. The project prepared an historical account on 811 food plants, including 38 cereals, 236 fruits, 58 legumes, 28 oilseeds, 117 spices, 148 leafy vegetables, 50 root vegetables and 72 other vegetables.

Managing a human-wildlife interaction Managing species population has been challenging while managing human-wildlife conflict has been Conservation Thread: Alternative model of financing affected HWC communities through an equally so. Curative and preventive measures insurance mechanism has been just initiated. The effectiveness of this mechanism has yet to be seen. 8 If found effective there are ample opportunities for upscaling. focusing on policy formulation to field actions have been stepping-stones to build the bridge to manage the human-wildlife conflict in the long run, facilitating community resilience. Curative measures such as national level relief fund for HWC established in the first phase, regional level (Seti River corridor) innovative model of HWC relief fund are the few interventions which had a potential to be replicated at a larger scale. Among the four innovative models of providing the ex-gratia amount to wildlife affected families, the national level relief fund managed by NTNC has been the one providing ex-gratia to victim/affected families for their use in livelihood related interventions. To date, 44 families from conflict hotspots (11 districts) have directly benefited from the scheme. Awareness programs are focused on raising awareness on wildlife behaviors and precaution measures related with HWC among women’s groups (~825 individuals via 30 events) through Community Learning and Action Centers, help to sensitize local people specially women on biodiversity conservation issues including HWC and poaching in conflict prone communities. Preventive measures focused on supporting installation of predator proof corrals to 20 additional HHs (~totaling 392 HHs mainly for common leopard in mid-hills and the Terai region) in hotspot areas along the Seti River Basin, Banke-Kamdi, Bardia-Karnali and Shukla-Brahmadev complexes. Recent monitoring shows no record of livestock depredation by leopard among the intervened sites. Hariyo Ban II has piloted insurance-based HWC mitigation schemes leveraging resources from local government (Ratna-Nagar Municipality) in the high conflict buffer zone (~Mirgakunja Buffer Zone User Committee) of Chitwan National Park under small grant program. This scheme is expected to benefit 666 people along 149 HHs. The scheme covers five types of risks: accidental death, accidental injury (temporary and permanent), damage to properties, livestock and crop. The premium amounts to nearly Rs. 4,870 for an average family; and Rs. 1,090 per person.

Human Monkey conflict is growing issue and becoming nuisance to the communities. Hariyo Ban Program under the small grant program has been piloting an action research to demonstrate possible mitigation measures to control/prevent human primate conflict. Findings of the research will be shared in the Annual Performance Report.

Combatting poaching and illegal wildlife trade

Hariyo Ban is working closely with the government agencies and community-based institutions to curb poaching and illegal wildlife trafficking since the first phase of the Program. Hariyo Ban II continued scaling up the initiative and prioritizing the formation and mobilization of new CBAPUs and engaging with non-conventional partners, sensitizing on environmental crimes in critical points of north-south trade routes. This is the sixth time that zero poaching of tigers and rhinos were recorded in government bookkeeping. Hariyo Ban II’s contribution in combatting wildlife trade has been significant in achieving this impact.

Packages on Combating Wildlife Trade (CWT) in Kamdi Corridor: In Year 4, the Program focused on mass awareness on wildlife crime issues in Banke-Kamdi Complex including Kamdi corridor through sensitization events - 2 events targeting 83 individuals from non-conventional sector representing transportation workers along the transit point (~Nepalgunj). Sensitization materials such as display of hoarding boards were placed along the strategic points (Nepalgunj, Fattepur and Binauna). Interactions (~5 events of 220 individuals) with communities, law enforcement officials, CBAPUs, local government and division forest officials were conducted on issues related to poaching and illegal wildlife trade in remote areas of Narinapur and Raptisonari in Kamdi corridor. A total of 10 training events for 236

9 customs, postal and relevant government authorities were conducted in Dhanusa, Mahottari, Parsa, Rautahat, Saptari and Sunsari. Women journalists (272) were trained on environmental crimes from program working districts and beyond. Similarly, street dramas were conducted and also focused to raise awareness of the general public (~399 people in 7 events) on biodiversity conservation and poaching issues in some strategic locations of Kamdi corridor. Furthermore, 19 sensitization events with 611 transport workers on illegal wildlife trade (IWT) along trade routes linking North-South, have been completed in Program working areas. Beyond working areas, the events were organized in Darchula, Dhanusa, Ilam, Jhapa, Mahottari, Morang, Parbat, Parsa, Rautahat, Saptari, Siraha, Sunsari, Surkhet and Terhathum. Involvement of school eco-club students (199 individuals in 4 events) focused on raising their awareness level. Tiger Day celebration also focused on the same locations in Kamdi corridor. This is an example of reaching out to non-conventional partners, which is expected to further strengthen Hariyo Ban II’s efforts toward curbing poaching and illegal wildlife trade. Three local level transboundary meetings focusing on strengthening and sharing the conservation initiatives across the borders between Nepal and India completed in Kanchanpur and Bardia.

Activity Focusing on Mass Awareness: CBAPUs were mobilized supporting the enforcement agencies along strategic routes in both landscapes. A total of 21 cluster-level meetings focused on sharing the learning and experiences with neighboring CFUGs and CBAPUs. Seven trainings were also conducted for capacitating 199 CBAPU members along with capacity building training for officials from division forest offices on CWT. The mobilization of youth in conservation has supported enforcement agencies to curb illegal felling, grazing, encroachment, poaching, etc., in the community.

Airport-based Awareness Displays: Transit point often includes airports and custom check points at the borders. It is also clear that there is weak enforcement at transit points as there are a number of seizures of wildlife parts in cities and towns. Nepal’s International and domestic airports are important transit points. Thus, to make the passengers and the airport staff aware and be sensitive on controlling illegal wildlife trade, display boards with messages have been installed at transit points (~12 airports). The messages displayed relate to the control of illegal wildlife trade. The messages are displayed on digital boards in Kathmandu (International and domestic), Nepalgunj and Pokhara Airports while in other parts printed version were used. The record of August 2019 showed a total of 469,767 passenger travelled through the above-mentioned airports. One of the studies1 done in Nielsen Airport in USA in 2017, revealed that around 80% of the passengers who travelled through airports are influenced by the airport advertisements. It is believed that, around 375,814 number of passengers got the message on consequences of illegal wildlife trade with information displayed at boards.

Innovation in Audio-visual Awareness: Reducing poaching and illegal wildlife trade through awareness in the community focused on use of traditional folk singing approach (~Sarangi-traditional instrument). Five stories on individual person/case/event related to wildlife crime were selected and converted into lyrics. Music composition was done by Gandharva, a traditional Sarangi player/singer. Folk songs were relayed through social media and radio stations to the communities, commuters, bazar areas from Birgunj to Rasuwaghadi, along the N-S routes. It is estimated that approx. 1,000 people were directly sensitized (~5,000 indirectly). All the audio-visuals are available on YouTube for wider outreach.

1 Please read: https://www.passengerterminaltoday.com/news/retail/nielsen-airports-study-reveals-effectiveness-of-airport- advertising.html

Result 1.2: Threats to target landscape reduced

Based on the results achieved from the first phase and last three years of Hariyo Ban II, the Program focused on management of critical habitat such as grasslands and wetlands including wetlands of international importance (Ramsar site) in core areas and critical corridors in TAL and important biodiversity areas, climate refugia, critical watersheds, and corridors in CHAL. Hariyo Ban II also emphasized integrating the emerging issues of large infrastructure development in biodiversity conservation and focused on Hariyo Ban engagement with donors, policy makers and developers. With different interventions, the Program intends to improve the biophysical conditions of the biodiverse areas/critical habitats and conservation of water resources. These interventions have direct/indirect linkages with climate change adaptation through improvement in biophysical conditions in LAPA and ISWMP sites.

Community forest management

Building on the first phase and the first three years of Hariyo Ban II, we supported the District Forest Offices in the renewal of CFOP of 677 CFUGs along the corridors and bottleneck areas identified along biodiverse areas in CHAL and TAL, covering 44,216 ha to date. The Program had planned to support renewal of 100 CFOPs through technical support of division forest offices in CHAL incorporating the measures for sustainable use and management of natural resources along with equitable benefit sharing in Year 4. During this reporting period, 11 CFOPs were renewed with technical support of the division forest office, Kaski. CFOPs renewal along the strategic sites is expected to address the site-specific conservation issues, corridor functionality and address any critical climate change issues. This has been an important platform for addressing sustainability issues post Hariyo Ban.

Innovative Model Community Forest (CF): In a simple term “Model CF” is one that tends to meet all criteria mentioned in the Community Forest Development Guidelines 2065 (i.e., in 2008) showing an integrated result: from good governance to good silviculture operations; from engagement of women to marginalized community and from conservation to sustainable use of forest resources. Piloting of model CF started in the first year of Hariyo Ban II and till now 11 CF sites (1,284 ha; one CF identified in each complex and sub-basins) have been identified for implementing the Model CF approach. Each model CF has special forest- based livelihood packages (lapsi, vegetable and broom enterprise, ecotourism) which tend to bring in the financial stability within the CF; while sustainable forest management bring life to the community forest with respect to forest health through various conservation interventions (silviculture operation, plantation, conservation ponds, fire line construction, good governance practices). In Year 4, a Model CF leaflet Figure 6: Screenshot of leaflet was finalized and published to garner common understanding among produced of Model CF stakeholders. All the model CFs have prioritized to execute interventions to make them biodiversity friendly, climate smart, GESI sensitive, pro-poor and to promote best practices of good governance.

Model CFs are meant to be gradually developing as a “learning center” for neighboring CFs. Eight different events were conducted in Model CF, attended by 291 CF members including learning and sharing with neighboring CFs in Lamjung. On the auspicious Community Forest Day (~August 9), Model CFs shared their learnings as well as asked about the promotion and establishment of the forest- based enterprises (Bel juice, bet furniture, lapsi pickle, honey, Bijaysal furniture, etc.). Refer to Annex 4 for details of Model CF promoted as of December 2019.

Critical habitat management

Hariyo Ban Program has been prioritizing its work around the high-pressure point to reduce the threat in landscapes. In this reporting period, various interventions including, critical corridor restoration, grassland management, wetland restoration, along with implementation of LAPA and integrated sub- watershed management plans helped in improvement of 216 ha biophysical conditions in biodiverse areas through controlling sedimentation, forest protection and restoration, and enhancing ground water recharges. As a noble initiative, Hariyo Ban program (~small grant program) joined other stakeholders under the leadership of Government of Nepal to revise, populate and map out ecosystem types in Nepal. Project shall complement Hariyo Ban program ongoing effort to map the critical habitat within identified ecosystems along the CHAL and TAL landscape.

Grassland Research and Management: Hariyo Ban II commissioned multiyear experimental plot-based action research focusing on profiling the grasslands and enhancing their quality. This highlights major implication that grassland management (mowing) should be done frequently (~at least four times; repeated cutting) due to the high nutritional requirements of the deer that are giving birth, and for lactating females. Smaller plots are anticipated than larger areas Figure 7: Collage highlighting grassland management research and for grassland management. Detailed preliminary results findings will be helpful in grassland management planning for the protected area managers. In previous years, Hariyo Ban invested in supporting the management of critical grasslands in biodiverse areas (Namuna Buffer Zone Community Forest, Nawalparasi, and Bardia-Banke National Park) for wildlife along strategic sites with good availability of water. Such long-term research will guide proper management of critical grassland and wetland habitats.

Greening Trans-Himalayan Region: Greening Trans-Himalayan cold desert is a pilot program to maintain landscape functionality, creating climate refugia and sustainable use of resources in the long run. Building on the local indigenous knowledge, the Program focused on age old practice of nurturing the native tree species and improvising in the existing context. Building on past learning from Year 1 and 2 in upper Mustang area, block plantation was carried out in three sites measuring 14.2 ha. Average survival rate was estimated at 70% which is fairly good, considering the extreme weather conditions. In Year 4, enrichment plantation has been planned to replace the dead stumps in these sites during the plantation

12 season May – June 2020. Hariyo Ban’s role as a catalyst to trigger such indigenous knowledge seems to be the best solution to bring cold desert under green cover. This intervention has a direct link with climate change adaptation as it promotes local indigenous knowledge for addressing issues of erosion control (water and wind) and maintaining greenery in dry and arid climate zones.

Managing Wetland of International Significance: Following two GoN approved policy documents, the National Ramsar Strategy and Action Plan (2018-2024) and the Integrated Lake Basin Management Plan of Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley (LCPV) (2018-2023), Hariyo Ban II invested in management of wetlands of international importance including Pokhara Valley Lake Cluster in Kaski and Beeshazari Lake in Figure 8: Landslide stabilization through bio-engineering techniques Chitwan. In LCPV, with intervention in upstream of Gunde, Kaski inception in Khaste-Niureni in Year 1, additional support to three lake clusters (Kamal Pokhari, Gunde, Phewa and Maidi) was provided focusing primarily on wetland protection and siltation control and removal of invasive plant species. In this reporting period, the provision of boats to support the regularization of lake cleaning campaigns have been made to the management committees of Gunde and Maidi lakes. A total of 18 members of Phewa watershed ecosystem management committee took part in exposure visit in Phewa watershed and learned about upstream/downstream linkages for managing wetlands. Similar scaling up interventions in lake clusters has been planned for Year 4 that shall complement the LCPV management plan.

Biophysical Improvement Initiatives: Habitat management has been priority initiative including wetland restoration. During the reporting period, the Program focused installation of solar sets in Lalmati of Babai Valley and east Chisapani of Bardia NP to uplift ground water available for wildlife. Fencing is one of the successful tools used in controlling open grazing and controlling illegal access to the forest areas. Installation of barbed wire fencing of 4.92 km was supported in the flood plains of west Rapti River in Kamdi and Shukla Bramhadev corridor, which helped to restore about 142 hectares of land. A plantation at 106.28 ha of land has been completed in which 243,994 seedlings of different trees and high value crops namely broom grass, coffee, cardamom, etc. This includes a 3,145 bamboo seedlings plantation in 7.46 hectares of land of community forest areas in CHAL and TAL. Fireline construction, weeding and invasive species removal focused improving habitat (~55.1 ha) within 11 CFUGs. Existing mound developed at Krishnasaar Conservation Area was effective2 in mitigating effect of high floods towards endangered blackbuck population. Additional mounds have been replicated (~total 4) at strategic locations within KrCA under the small grant program. Model CF initiatives supplemented by institutional capacity and development reinforcement in Baijanath CF was conducted, while perennial river Rautela Khola have added the ecotourism angle to it. Support from the Division Forest Office, Municipality and Provincial governments has been received for the management of ponds, developing picnic spots, waste management and foot trails inside the CF. Hariyo Ban Program has supported seedlings of bamboo,

2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prifBFemJYY&t=15s

13 mango, pear, litchi, pomegranate, guava for plantations around the ponds. Integrated grazing management focused on sensitizing the communities (~2 events) on implication of open grazing and use of open trough and grass cutters. 170 users from Amar community forest of Bedkot Municipality and Baijnath community forest of Bheemdatt Municipality, participated in the sensitization program. Since year 3 of the Program until December 2019, 88 HHs (poor and vulnerable) have been supported with cement trough and 7 grass chopper machines to encourage stall feeding. A total of 37 households are supported to construct improved sheds.

Hariyo Ban Program under small grant program piloted an innovative approach of agrobiodiversity conservation through concept of family forest in critical corridors in TAL and CHAL. Three hotspots identified within corridors (Karnali, Kamdi and Seti) helped to enhance the capacity of forest dependent communities (300 HHs) through training modules (agroforestry, plantation etc.). Identified sites planted sapling (~25,396) of high value trees and are expected to improve the livelihood of identified forest dependent communities including complement ongoing effort of corridor restoration initiatives.

Learning and Sharing Visit in Seti Corridor: Cross-learning visits were effective to expose representatives of local governments to experiences beyond their locality and created suitable environment/platform to share the Program’s working approaches and its linkages between ecological and human community, with a view to establish north-south linkages through corridor restoration in Seti Sub- river Basin. A total of 24 participants including 7 females participated in the cross-learning visit. Representatives from seven local governments attended the program - Anbukhaireni Rural Municipality (RM), Bandipur RM, Myagde RM and Vyas & Bhanu Municipalities, from Tanahun and Pokhara Metropolitan City and Annapurna Rural Municipality from Kaski.

Infrastructure Development Initiatives: Infrastructure development is an emerging threat to biodiversity conservation. Hariyo Ban II has been involved in identifying and mitigating the potential threat through support to formulate wildlife friendly linear infrastructure development guidelines, piloting innovative projects (guided fence) to awareness building (to developers and decision makers).

With an effort to minimize road kills along the highway traversing through national parks, six canopy bridges at five different locations have been installed focusing on arboreal species in Banke National Park. The size of bridges has been designed as per road clearance and tree gap on either side. This installation is the first of its kind in Nepal. These bridges are a simple form of mitigating structures to minimize impacts of fragmentation, as they are made up of ropes (jute Figure 9: Pictures captured by camera trap show the use of and silk) and small stick. For monitoring purposes, canopy bridge by arboreal species nine camera traps have been used for collating data on use of canopy bridges by wildlife. Initial camera trap data shows that langurs, macacas, civets were found to be using the canopy bridges.

A recently approved green road engineering training manual provided an avenue for developing the capacity of 39 local government officials including engineers, sub-engineers, local representatives in

Kaski and Gorkha. Also, soil bioengineering practice was demonstrated in the field where engineers actively participated to learn various slope stability techniques.

Result 1.3: Market-based livelihoods

Building on learning from first phase of Hariyo Ban Program, the Hariyo Ban II has been supporting forest-dependent communities, particularly poor households from marginalized groups, who have limited livelihood options, with a focus on promoting market-based small, medium and large enterprises in both TAL and CHAL. Collection and value addition of forest products, promotion of high value agriculture crops through block plantation, processing and marketing of the products and ecotourism promotion through strengthening of existing homestays, were key activities in the first half of the fourth year. In addition, NRM groups’ resource mobilization, including revolving funds, to promote market-based livelihood options, were major strategies this year. The Program tracked income from 12 different enterprises, which shows that 1,070 HHs have made income of NRs. 18,476,057 during July to December 2019.

Small-scale enterprise

The Program provided technical and managerial trainings for the promotion of small-scale individual level enterprises in two landscapes. This support for vegetable farming has been continued to the forest dependent households from Sundevi and Trishakti Buffer Zone User Committee of Shuklaphanta National Park (SuNP). During the reporting period, 26 farmers have earned the net income of NRs. 460,190 by selling vegetables like tomato, cabbage, chili, coriander, radish, cauliflower, brinjal and green leafy vegetables. For the market promotion, Figure 10: Vegetable cultivated by farmer in Kanchanpur establishment of a vegetable collection and selling center at Jhalari has been initiated in collaboration with Nabakiran saving and credit cooperative . This will benefit 64 vegetable producers in Jhalari. Additional income generated from small-scale enterprises helps to reduce forest dependency in the buffer zone area of SuNP.

The Program also provided support to train 324 youths in different vocational trainings in year 2. Last year 161 selected trainees received a set of tools to support them starting up their own business. In the reporting period, an additional 13 trainees from Dadeldhura received the tools. These trainees have started generating income by using their skills Skills for income learned from their skill- Last year, Ms. Chandra Bohora, a resident of Parshuram Municipality-12, based trainings. Dadeldhura had participated the tailoring training in Chitwan. After receiving machine and other equipment, she has started the business. She has opened a The Program in the first tailoring shop. She earns an average of NRs. 1,000 a day. phase promoted income Mr. Shrikant Bohora, resident of Jafati, Parshuram Municipality-9 received skill based technical training15 on house wiring and tools support from the Program. He has then started providing electrician service in his vicinity. With the vocational trainings targeted to rural youths, the program has supportedFigure 11:Figure to improve 2: Chandra employment (left) and opportunities Shrikant (right) and engaged household in respective level income. business, Dadeldhura generating activities (IGAs) through revolving funds (RFs) with an objective to improve financial access for operating and scaling up the IGAs as well as promoting sustainable financing mechanisms through cooperatives. A total of NRs. 40,212,685 has been mobilized to 258 NRM groups through 92 cooperatives as RF, reaching 4,211 HHs in the first phase.

A study conducted in 6 CFUGs of Phusre Khola Phedi Khola Block and 7 CFUGs of Jamune Pokhari Bhanjyang Block in Seti river basin, showed an additional 52 HHs benefitted from the existing revolving fund during June to November 2019. The increasing number of beneficiaries showed that the fund has been instrumental to provide a sustainable financing mechanism for promoting small enterprises by linking the technical and skill-based trainings in Hariyo Ban II. This year, besides financial and material support, the Program also focused on technical training for CFUGs for small enterprise promotion and links to existing revolving funds. For this period, two technical trainings on vegetable and pig farming were delivered to 30 small entrepreneurs in Dadeldhura and Tanahun.

Medium-scale enterprise

The Program continued to focus on scaling up medium-scale climate-smart enterprises in climate vulnerable and natural resource potential areas with block plantation of high value crops (HVCs) and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). Block plantation of five HVCs and NTFPs (coffee, tea, cardamom, cinnamon and chiuri) have been continued in this period. Organic certification of coffee and cardamom have been completed. It will help to export the local products in international markets in the coming years. The private sector is actively involved in HVCs and NTFPs from plantation, processing and marketing aspects, which includes cardamom and coffee plantations and processing of bel juice.

Strengthening of coffee enterprises in three locations (Adhikari Danda in Annapurna RM, Phusre in Pokhara Municipality and Rohigaun and Ghymrang of Madi RM) through nursery establishment, plantation, irrigation pipes and tools support has continued. Coffee plantations in the catchment areas help to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation in Phewa Lake, reduce forest dependency and enhance social wellbeing of the beneficiaries. All together 257 HHs from three sites were involved in coffee plantations.

In year 4, the coffee plantation in Adhikaridanda was extended to an additional 3.35 ha along with shade trees. Similarly, for enhancing coffee farming knowledge and maintaining records of their activities, ‘coffee diary’ has been provided to coffee farmers in Phusre block. A multi-stakeholder forum including the head of Agriculture section of Pokhara Metropolitan City, head of Tea and Coffee Development Board, Ward representatives, together identified block coffee plantation sites and made an action plan for promotion of coffee in Phusrekhola Sub-watershed in Kaski. The coffee cherries are ready for harvesting this year and income from cherries is expected to increase with support of hulling machine in Phusre block. The Program plans to provide a hulling machine in Adhikaridanda as well. More support will be made for strengthening of the enterprise in remaining period of Year 4.

Human-wildlife conflict is a major problem in the Annapurna Conservation Area (ACA), where monkeys, porcupines and bears raid crops like maize and rice, which seriously affects farmers’ livelihoods.

Figure 12: Cardamom harvested by farmer in Madi, Kaski Switching to a less palatable crop such as cardamom, reduces the conflict and also reduces soil erosion as cardamom is a perennial crop. Cardamom is a high-value commodity in Nepal, and promotion of cardamom production can help to increase income and employment for forest dependent. Adding on the initiative by NTNC-ACAP (ACA Project) on cardamom plantation support to local communities, Hariyo Ban Program has been supporting 67 local farmers from Rohigaun, Ghyamrang and Tangting in Madi, Kaski for extension of cardamom farming by plantation, establishment of dryer station and improving irrigation facility since Year 2. This year the farmers harvested around 6 tons of dry cardamom. Based on recent market prices (600 NRs/kg), 67 HHs will earn up to NRs 3,600,000 by selling dried cardamom. Similarly, Bhakarjung CFUG, Adherikhola CFUG earn NRs 30,000 by selling cardamom annually. Income is being utilized to pay forest guard salary which has helped to control illegal activities in this CF. For the promotion of block plantation and value addition, one cardamom dryer in Bhakarjung CF and an additional 4 dryers in Rohigaun and Ghyamrang will be established during the remaining period of Year 4.

With the objective of reducing biodiversity threats including wildlife poaching, honey enterprise has been promoted in Korak focusing on youths and indigenous communities. Multiple activities such as technical and entrepreneurship development training for the promotion of honey enterprise, establishment of Chiuri nursery, plantation of Chiuri sapling, beehive support have been carried out. A nursery was established in Korak of Thakaltar CFUG where 20,000 seedlings were produced in Year 3. These 20,000 seedlings along with 12,500 seedlings from private nursery were planted in about 21 ha of forest area in this reporting period. An additional 20,000 Chiuri seedlings are under production in the nursery. The seedlings will be planted in coordination with local government and CFs. A total of 57 households of Rapti Municipality produce about 50 tons of honey per year from the existing 2,156 beehives. For strengthening the enterprise, 75 additional beehives were supported to 33 households of Thakaltar CFUG with training on handling modern beehive last year. In Year 4, a honey collection and processing center was established with a joint contribution of Dabar Nepal, Prime Minister Agriculture Modernization Project, Hariyo Ban Program and the Community. With all these supports in place, production of honey is expected to increase to 20 tons by the next three years.

In addition, Bee for Business and Biodiversity initiatives supported under Small Grant Program in Nawalparasi with the objective for providing modern technical skills, technologies and various business development services for the promotion of honey enterprise. In total 100 HHs benefitted from the program support in three cluster; i)- Hupsekot Rural Municipality and Bungdikali Rural Municipality, ii)- Devchuli Municipality and iii)- Gaindakot Municipality. Advance level bee keeping training, business plan preparation, modern beehive and cooperative strengthening support were provided for community people as well as cooperatives. Sagar Bee keeping industry providing complete services in the entire value chain and made a buyback guarantee with the cooperatives. In total 1600 different type of bee flora like chiuri, bottlebrushes, eucalyptus, lemon, litchee, asare etc. are planted in close coordination and collaboration with CFUGs and Cooperative both in community forest and private land. In total 11,160 kg of honey was produced and sold to Sagar Bee Keeping Industry this year.

Furthermore, the Program has been promoting livelihoods in Pokhari Bhanjyang CF in Hupsekot, Nawalparasi, through plantation of bamboo and sharpening local skills by providing technical training on bamboo products, since last year.

Cinnamon block plantation was carried out in two places in Jamune Pokharibhanjhyang block in Year 2. About 10,000 cinnamon seedlings are under production in program supported nurseries, and planting will be done on 10 ha of abandoned land of Kawadi and Malyang CFUGs through technical support of DFO, Tanahun.

To promote the Tea enterprise, area expansion and enterprise promotion support has continued in Bhadaure, Kaski. This year 7,000 seedlings were planted in 1.56 ha area. Plans are underway to support the plantation of an additional 17,000 seedlings. This year around 100 kgs green leaf were harvested by the farmers and sold in the local market.

The Hariyo Ban Program worked with communities to address slash and burn as drivers of deforestation and forest degradation in first phase, a major intervention including planting of Broom Grass to promote alternative livelihoods, and tree planting to restore forests. Strengthening of broom grass enterprises has been continued in the second phase of the Program. This reporting period, plantation of broom grass has been extended on an additional 13.47 ha of land in the Abukhaireni and Devghat areas in Tanahun; and scaled out in 7 ha degraded forest area in Bandipur RM and Pokhara Metropolitan city. Last year, the 69 PVSE HHs from Abukhaireni and Devghat area have produced 17,250 bundles of broom grass and earned NRs. 862,500. Harvest of the broom grass for this year has just been started from late December. Some additional support for strengthening the enterprise are being planned for the remaining period of Year 4.

Strengthening of The Mountain Tanahun Community Bel and Fruit Processing Enterprise in Myagde RM-2, Tanahun continued from the first phase. A review and reflection on the current status of the enterprise was conducted and an action plan focusing on the sustainability of this enterprise was also prepared in consultation with stakeholders in this reporting period. By selling the bel juice this year, the enterprise made a profit of NRs. 26,000 in this reporting period. From selling the remaining juice in the stock, the enterprise will make an additional NRs. 945,000.

Clay jewelry (kanthamala) enterprise is being promoted in Deurali CFUG- Dordotar, Tanahun focusing on Dalit Women’s group. For previous years, the Program established a revolving fund of NRs. 600,000 for revolve among 27 Dalit women associated with Srijanshil Kanthamala Mahila Samuha and supported to prepare a business plan. A community building has been constructed in joint efforts from the community, local government, WWF Nepal and Hariyo Ban Program. In the last six months of Year 4, they produced 1,440 garlands equivalent to NRs. 216,000 and have target of producing 14,750 garlands by the end of 2020. The community building provides storage facility for large amount of garland produced and space for group operations. In Year 4, the Program will support the institutional strengthening, promotion of marketing facility and provide additional financial support.

With an aim to reduce the pressure on Barandabhar corridor, poor and forest dependent women in Padampur area have been supported since Phase I, to engage them in wool weaving business. Hariyo Ban Program in Phase II has supported to diversify products by linking wool spinning to the carpet weaving industry. A total of 20 women who were initially involved in wool spinning and later trained in

Figure 13: Forest Minister- Province 3 observing carpet making process after inaugurating the carpet weaving training the carpet weaving are now involved in weaving carpets for commercial purpose. Each individual now earns a minimum of NRs. 8,000/month. In total, NRs 656,000 revenue was generated by the group in this reporting period. Additional 15 women from weaving group also completed the carpet making training organized in this period.

Focusing on poor and vulnerable groups, technical and material support were provided to run Madal enterprise in Kailali during this period. Madal is a double-headed medium sized drum traditionally used in Nepalese music in Nepal. From selling of madal, the group has been able to generate revenue of NRs. 87,500. In addition, Dhaka enterprise in Lamkichuha, has been able to generate NRs 30,000 by selling of shawls in the local market during this reporting period.

Large-scale enterprise

Hariyo Ban Program has regularly supporting for Homestays for economic empowerment ecotourism promotion in 10 sites in TAL and CHAL since the beginning of Hariyo Ban Program - Gurung Community 280 visitors visited the Bijaysal homestay and Tamu Hyula homestays in Bhadaure, Kaski; from July 2019 to December 2019. A total transaction made by homestay was NRs. Ayodhyapuri Community homestay in Madi, Chitwan; 110,000. From this, a profit of NRs. Tharu Sanskritik Atithi Griha, Nawalparasi; Rana Tharu and 40,000 was made by the women Bijaysal homestays in Kanchanpur; Bihi Ragar homestays entrepreneurs in this period. in Gorkha; Kumrose homestay in Chitwan and Marsyangdi In Kumrose home stay, 200 visitors visited homestay in Lamjung. Supports for hospitality management, in the period and income was nature guide and cooking trainings, trail improvement, water NRs.120,000. Ayodhyapuri Community Homestay in the filters, gas geysers, upgrading of sanitation and other period earned NRs. 1,215,000 from facilities for tourists, renovation of conservation pond, providing service to its visitors. promotion of alternative energy, establishment of visitor information center, signage posting, and dissemination of Information Education and Communication (IEC) material were provided during the reporting period. In total, 158 HHs are directly benefitted from homestay business. During this period, members from Bijaysal and Rana Tharu homestays were supported for an exposure visit in which they visited different successful homestays in TAL and CHAL and learned about management tips. Capacity building training for the 17 members of Rana Tharu homestay was also completed.

In addition, 10 HHs started homestay in Vyas Municipality, Ward 14, Kulung in Tanahun under small grant program (SGP) in last year. In total, 50 HHs were benefited in the area by engaging in Homestay, kitchen gardening and small livestock rearing business. During this year, Vyas Municipality and Gandaki Province provided NRs 1,750,000 for construction of foot trails, community house and Magar cultural museum for the promotion of Kulung Community Homestay.

Besides these key interventions under biodiversity component, many more activities from the Year 4 AWP are in different phases of implementation (~sub award process; ~grant process; ~ initiation of field activities).

2.2. Climate Change Adaptation

Result 2.1: Participatory climate change vulnerability reduction integrated into local, district, and national planning Processes

This result area includes integration and mainstreaming of Climate Change Adaptation, Disaster Risk Reduction into governments' existing and newly prepared periodic/annual plan and leveraging resources for implementation of the adaptation plans. Threats and vulnerability assessments carried out at block/complex level, LAPA and ISWMP were referred for the integration purposes. Engagement with local, provincial and federal governments for integration and mainstreaming of CCA-DRR created a favorable environment for smooth implementation of the Year 4 annual work plan. During this reporting period, sharing and discussions with Local Governments, River Basin Management Center, Soil and Watershed Management Offices, Division Forest Offices and community groups were conducted for effective implementation of activities. These events have supported in building good coordination, collaboration and created an enabling environment to leverage resources for implementation of CCA activities. The local governments have taken ownership of the adaptation and management plans like LAPAs and ISWMPs. They have committed to continue the LAPA implementation even in the absence of Hariyo Ban Program.

For the smooth implementation of PES at Marsyangdi sub-basin, formal and informal meeting with District Technical Management Committee members were held on a regular basis. The Program has been facilitating the PES fund mobilization as per the revised guideline, engaging with Marshyangdi Rural Municipality and Besisahar Municipality for integration, mainstreaming and localization of the PES basket fund mobilization. Such efforts supported the local government to take ownership, institutionalize and scale up/out the best practices.

The Program organized coordination and sharing meeting Adaptation Thread: ‘Inclusion of Hariyo with Kalika Municipality and other local bodies to build Ban Program and other development common understanding of activities to be implemented in partners program and budget in Kalika Year 4. In addition, a coordination meeting with the Municipality red book supported to President Chure Terai Madhesh Conservation mainstream integrated watershed Development Board, Program Implementation Unit management, CCA and DRR. Joint planning meetings had built common understanding Chitwan and Division Forest Office was carried out to of integrated watershed management share proposed interventions and discuss about joint program and activities, which promoted interventions in Khagerikhola sub-watershed. Regular collaboration with different stakeholders for sharing meetings have been conducted with Soil and the overall development of Municipality.' Watershed Management Office (SWMO) Lalitpur, Mr. Khum Narayan Shrestha, Mayor of Kalika Municipality, Chitwan Watershed Management Resource Centre (WRMC) Kulekhani, Basin Management Centre (BMC) of Gandaki River Basin Pokhara, Local governments and other stakeholders for scaling up/out the integrated watershed management and CCA intervention. Kalika Municipality has included integrated sub-watershed management activities supported by the Program in their annual program and budget as a part of mainstreaming ISWMP, CCA, GESI and Governance. As a result, the Palikas are taking ownership of Khagerikhola sub-watershed ISWMP.

It is necessary for policy makers to understand the working mechanism of community forests as well as the roles they play in biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and social development. In order to increase the understanding of federal level policy makers regarding community based CCA, biodiversity conservation and ultimately support them to improve in policy frameworks, two visits were organized in Kaski and Chitwan. During the visit, the policy makers held three consultation meetings with local elected bodies involving 77 elected representatives.

Capacity Building of GoN Technical Staff: The Program delivered ISWM Planning training to 20 officials from Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), Basin Management Centers (Gandaki and Mahakali), Federal Watershed Management Resource Center (Kulekhani), Soil and Watershed Management Offices (Tanahun, Lalitpur and Dadeldhura) and DoFSC's Building Climate Resilience of Watersheds in Mountain Eco-Regions (BCRWME) Project Dadeldhura. The conceptual training session followed by interaction, field exercises and presentations were deemed very effective in delivering the technical knowledge and skills needed. Hariyo Ban Program’s learnings and best practices were also shared with the participants.

Figure 14: (left) Group photo taken during ISWM Planning training; (right) Participants during field visit for practical session The Program is coordinating with the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Gandaki Province and UNDP for DRR/M Policy and strategic action plan preparation at Gandaki Province. In this regard, a consultation workshop was organized where the expert team from the Program provided inputs on draft policy and LAPA framework. The MoFE has recently endorsed the revised LAPA Framework. The Program now will support roll-out of framework in coordination with the Ministry and local governments. For the remaining period, the Program will prioritize strengthening coordination with local governments and implement all the activities initiated during the reporting period.

Result 2.2: Community readiness to adapt to and benefit from climate change increased

Building on the activities implemented till the 3rd year of Hariyo Ban II, LAPAs and ISWMPs implementation was carried out during the reporting period to increase community readiness to adapt and benefit from climate change impacts.

LAPA implementation

In this reporting period, the Program supported the implementation of 15 LAPAs in Adaptation Thread: Pumdibhumdi LAPA Committee – CHAL and TAL. Greenhouse plastic support Kaski in coordination with Hariyo Ban and Agriculture benefiting 19 families and ponds construction Network had supported 70 HHs in tunnel farming in Year with maintenance of irrigation facility to 3. The farmers continued the vegetable farming in Year 4 as well. In past six months, the farmers produced 28,000 benefit 142 families, have been completed in Kg of tomato and made an income of NRs. 19, 60,000. On Lomanthang and Dalome, Mustang. an average one family earned NRs. 28,000 from selling Additionally, 159 local residents are benefited the tomatoes. Most of the families reported the money is by the support made to purchase and refill being spent on education of children and other household LPG. This is expected to build habits of using expenses. LPG for cooking and reduce use of fuelwood in Mustang. A total of 24 HHs in Kaski have Likewise, 18 HHs from Kristinachnechaur, Kaski from received beehives for improving their the tunnel provided last year have earned total NRs. livelihood options under LAPA 300,360.00 (on an average -NRs. 16,688/HH) by selling tomato, spinach, beans and cauliflower this season. implementation l.

A total of 346 students (244 female) from Kaski and Lamjung received training on CCA, DRR and environment friendly local governance. After the training, they prepared action plans to replicate learning from the training. For instance, participants planned for plantation, landslide treatment, plastic pond construction, off-seasonal vegetable farming, drinking water source cleaning and maintenance, etc.

In addition, 14 LAPA committees in Banke, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Kaski, Lamjung, Syangja and Tanahun have conducted review, reflection and planning meetings. These events supported to review the status of LAPA implementation from previous years and jointly plan for implementation of the LAPAs in the remaining period.

Roadside Greenery Promotion: The Program supported the Lamkichuha Municipality, Kailali to prepare the Roadside Plantation Management Plan. Referring to the plan, the Program has collaborated with the Municipality to carry out a linear plantation Figure 15: Mayor of Lamkichuha Municipality inaugurating (10 km) along the roadside in the Lamkichuha. the roadside plantation initiative, Kailali Municipality and BAFER Nepal (the management partner hired by Municipality for this plantation program) have continued the plantation. A total of 718 seedlings were planted and protected by tree guards (487 tree guards supported by Hariyo Ban Program). This program is a part of developing green town/cities at municipal level.

Scaling out/up of GESI friendly tools, technology and practices: Hariyo Ban Program started implementing various climate smart, GESI friendly technology and practices in five demo sites viz;

Aatmeaagan CFUG of Pokhara-22, Baunnelek CFUG of Pokhara-21, Tunibhanjyang CFUG of Myagde- 2, Ranikhola CFUG of Icchakamana-7 and Farmtole of Nepalgunj-19 since Year 2 in technical support of LIBIRD. An assessment of the effectiveness of these tools revealed that some of the tools and technologies were very effective and gradually being institutionalized through respective CFUGs. Other CFs like Thangkhola CFUG and Chandisthan CFUG have allocated NRs. 12,000 and 13,000, respectively for distribution of corn-sheller to its users. The Program team in coordination with LIBIRD has designed the flyers/brief on these tools, technology and practices (covering corn sheller, farm rake, plastic tunnel with drip, home garden, plastic pond, grey water collection, animal shed improvement, yam cultivation in sack, and seedling production in leaf bag) in Nepali language for wider circulation. Among others, yam cultivation in sacks and seedling production in leaf bag are identified as a local solutions and support will be provided to promote these solutions in other CFUGs.

ISWMPs implementation

Out of the 14 integrated sub-watershed management plans (ISWMPs) prepared, revised and implemented in first phase, 3 ISWMPs (Tallo Harpan Khola, Kaski; Kyangdi Khola, Kaski and Syangja; and Dhand (Sukhaura-Khudi) Khola, Tanahun) were reviewed/revised and 5 new ISWMPs (Phusre Khola sub- watershed, Kaski; Khageri Khola sub-watershed Chitwan; Khudi-Marsyangdi sub-watershed, Lamjung; Pantura Khola sub-watershed Dadeldhura and Radha Khola sub-watershed Kanchanpur) were prepared and their implementation was started in Hariyo Ban II. Institutional mechanisms for effective watershed management were established at sub-watershed and micro-watershed level. A total of 17 coordination committees (6 in sub- watershed level and 11 in micro-watershed level) were formed and strengthened for the mobilization of local communities in implementation of ISWMPs, collaborating with local NRM groups and local government. Various activities such as riverbank protection; landslide treatment; water source protection using bioengineering measures; adaptive livelihood support; networking of sub- watershed coordination committees; reformation of extended Seti Sub-basin level coordination committee and capacity building of government technical staffs in ISWMP and orientation and sensitization on conservation, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, were implemented till third year of phase II.

During the reporting period, the program supported implementation of Kyangdi, Phusre, Puntura, Radha, Khageri and Khudi Marsyangdi ISWMPs. Ten capacity building trainings for 497 community people and school students on CCA DRR were conducted. One event of documentation and account keeping training was organized for the members of CFs under Kyangdi ISWMP. Fire management training package with firefighting tools has been delivered to the 38 members of Kulebhat CF in Pantura. Besides, review reflection & planning meetings and exposure visits have been completed in Phusre and Khudi Marsyangdi.

A total of 617 households have benefited from the implementation of different hardware interventions in sub-watersheds. The construction of 189 meters of embankment in eight critical sections of riverbank has helped to safeguard communities from flood risks. Furthermore,

Figure 16: Irrigation canal in Bajhangi Jaala, Naula micro- 23 catchment built in Pantura, Dadeldhura completion of drinking water source protection works in three sites; irrigation system improvement in two sites; and construction of two recharge ponds have also helped communities to secure water for multiple purposes. To compliment the irrigation improvement works, training on commercial vegetable farming was organized in Pantura site, benefiting 20 farmers in Milan Debari area. One poor member from Phusre site has been supported for starting adaptive livelihood. In addition, fencing of a total of 1.62 km has been supported in Radha and Pantura sites, for habitat restoration on about 15 ha of degraded land.

A joint visit of multi-stakeholders in Chitwan was organized for sharing knowledge, experience, and learning from Khageri Khola sub-watershed in order to scale up/out effective integrated watershed management activities. The main multi-stakeholders who participated in visits were government officers from the SWMO Lalitpur, WRMC Kulekhani, BMC of Gandaki basin, Pokhara, representatives from Khageri Khola Sub-watershed Coordination Committee, Khageri Irrigation Water User’s Association and Diyalo Pariwar, Hariyo Ban Program implementing partners. During the visit, site suitability for a variety of watershed management activities were evaluated.

Watershed concern ~ Jaladhaar Sarokar: With an aim to share learning from implementation of ISWMP and PES in Khudi Marsyangdi-Lamjung, Khageri- Chitwan and Phusre – Kaski, and to operate issue- based panel discussion on integrated watershed management in the presence of multi-stakeholders, three events for Jaladhaar Sarokaar were organized. Panel discussions with the key representatives of multi stakeholders including government officials, respective local governments, community representatives and other stakeholders, were held in the meeting. A total of 23 Government officials representing District Coordination Committee, Metropolitan City Municipality/Rural Municipality, Division Forest Office, Soil and Watershed Management Office, River Basin Management Centre - Gandaki River Basin, participated in the events.

The program brought the attention of multi-stakeholders on issues and challenges of integrated watershed management and natural resources management; relevance of integrated watershed management; the need of package program/activities and multi-stakeholders coordination and collaboration; formulation of different plans and policies for watershed management and natural resources management. Furthermore, the program prepared three episodes documentary of Jaladhaar Sarokar which can be used internally as outreach materials. Statements in the box below represent views and commitments made by stakeholders during the events.

Table 3: Remarks from the head of local governments and government line agencies during Jaladhaar Sarokar

“I ensure that we will establish a functional system to deal with the environmental issues within my tenure. Our major focus now is greenery promotion and heading towards zero emission of carbon in Pokhara city. We have allocated budget for lake and river conservation. I strictly urge chairpersons not to ignore environmental parameters while developing infrastructure ”.

Mr. Man Bahadur GC, Mayor, Pokhara Metropolitan City

“Excessive exploitation of stones, sands and gravels from rivers/streams and deforestation are major issues that need to be addressed on time. We revised the IEE report received from the consultant and have focused on Khageri watershed too. Last year, we went for monitoring visit and changed our strategy in consultation with stakeholders. We set the parameters for extracting the resources from river and request all concerned to Mr. Krishna Kumar Dallakoti, Chief, visit the watershed after 6 months” DCC, Chitwan

“Constructing new roads isn’t the major priority of Ratnanagar Municipality. We allocated around NRs. 8 million on the title of environment and disaster risk reduction. Conservation of Mani Khola, Panchanadhi, and Butter Khola is our priority. We work in coordination with Swiss government for proper management of watershed. The fundamental principle is green city. So, I request all CFUGs and its users for initiating plantation cum conservation Mr. Narayan Ban, Mayor, Ratnanagar campaign. We are digging big recharge pond in Padampur for Municipality preserving the wetlands near to Chitwan National Park. We have started coordinating with the upstream local government as well”

“The District Development Committee (then) made decisions for proper utilization of royalty from hydro powers by investment in watershed management and preservation of water sources. The DCC liaises among three tier government and stakeholders of Lamjung. I appreciate the Hariyo Ban Program's work on the vulnerable sites like Punwakhola. We request local government to allocate the budgets and corresponding programs for preserving

Mr. Dolraj Pandey, Chief, DCC, Lamjung forest, water resources and ecosystems”.

Result 2.3: Climate-induced risks to people and ecosystems reduced through disaster risk reduction and management efforts

In order to reduce climate-related hazards’ risks to people and ecosystems through DRR and management efforts, the Program has been supporting different DRR activities. In year 4, the Program planned to support the safety net measures - health, agricultural crop and livestock insurance; scale up of agro- advisory services by farmers, conduct DRR interaction/policy advocacy at the provincial and local government levels, capacity building at the consortium, local partner and community levels.

Hariyo Ban II has initiated development of resilience measurement methodology during the reporting period based on Resilience Framework (prepared and refined in previous years). The resilience measurement methodology/tool is being tested/refined which will be used to carry out assessments/studies in the second half of year 4.

Differential impact assessment and response planning

Differential Impact Assessment and Response Planning (DIA-RP) framework was developed and assessments were carried out in Year 2 and 3 with an objective to explore firsthand information on differential impacts on different groups of peoples (based on their experiences); find out potential/possible responses; and share its key findings with the respective local governments, including the response plan as an addendum in the revised LAPAs. Based on the DIA-RP reports, Hariyo Ban developed package-based response plans to tackle differential impacts and supported LAPA committees to implement them.

In the past six months, a learning brief on 'Responding to Differential impacts: Lessons from Hariyo Ban Program' , has been prepared and published, consolidating learning and early results from the differential impact assessment and response planning. Distribution of the learning brief is in the process. Nepali version of the framework on DIA-RP has been finalized for publication and wider sharing to encourage replication of the practice beyond Hariyo Ban. Moreover, integration of DIA-RP in remaining LAPA and ISWMPs of Hariyo Ban Program is ongoing . The DIA-RP has been prepared for seven additional LAPAs and ISWMP (~Lamkichuha LAPA, Janaki LAPA, Duduwa LAPA, Kolma LAPA, Kristinachnechaur LAPA, Phusre Khola sub watershed, Phedikhola LAPA).

Learning center

The CCA-DRR Learning Center established in Myagde Rural Municipality in Tanahun in Year 3 has been fully owned and operated by the rural municipality. In the past 6 months, 281 people from different institutions and groups have visited the center including 136 females. An introductory video on the learning center has been prepared for its promotion.

Furthermore, the program supported for the preparation of Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan of the Thakurbaba Municiaplity.

Preparation for DRR

To strengthen the capacity of local bodies on dealing with disaster risks, the Program has delivered four training events on DRR and CCA, two each in Parsuram and Bedkot Municipalities. Then after, the Program handed the light search and rescue equipment to the ward offices – 9 & 10 in Parsuram and 1 & 2 in Bedkot Municipalities. The equipment will be used by the ward offices and trained human resources for saving lives and rescuing communities in case of any disaster situation. Figure 17: Communities in Bedkot taking part in practical Flood hazard mapping session on light search and rescue during CCA DRR training

The Program plans to facilitate implementation of the study report on flood hazard/inundation mapping of Seti sub-basin which was finalized during this reporting period. Plans are to support upgrading of hydro-meteorological stations for early warning system development in Seti Sub-basin in collaboration with DHM and preparation of CCA-DRR plan in vulnerable areas, identified in the flood hazard/inundation mapping. By analyzing information from the report and datasets, a concept note has been prepared to facilitate implementation of the study report. Flood hazard/inundation mapping of Seti Sub-basin has been shared with DHM and Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Gandaki Province. The ministry which is in preparation of DRR related strategy and action plan has considered it as a valuable reference. One meeting is being planned with concerned local governments and DHM upon the request from the Ministry. The Program seeks to implement the proposed activities as above in a coordinated manner.

The Program has designed and published 1,000 copies of IEC material (posters) on early warning system cum agro-advisory services during the reporting period. For wider outreach, these posters have been distributed. It provides information on a variety of sources, links and toll-free contacts for updated information during any disaster situation for better preparation and response. Moreover, it encourages audiences to adopt and utilize agro-advisory services, safety-net measures like crop, livestock and health insurances. This is expected to be helpful for communities for accessing and using information for reducing risks and improve resilience to climate change and disaster. Based on the record of distribution, it is expected to benefit at least 20000 households.

Hariyo Ban Program has continued dissemination of important bi-weekly bulletin and SMS from Krishi_Info for agro-advisory services. In addition, the Program in coordination with SAMARTHYA (Promoting inclusive governance and resilience for right to Food, a DANIDA supported program of CARE Nepal), has initiated 'farmer responsive agro-advisory services'. One of the sites for the agro- advisory services is Duduwa RM, Banke. The Program has collaborated with LI-BIRD (technical support in coordination with National Agriculture and Research Council/DHM/Agriculture Knowledge Center), the National Farmer Group Federation: NFGF (umbrella organization of farmer groups- to coordinate implementation), Duduwa RM (coordination and engagement) and NEEDS Nepal (financial/social

27 mobilization backstop). To materialize the efforts, joint visits and interaction with stakeholders and common understanding on the approach were done in early October 2019. One orientation program for 17 representatives of various stakeholders mentioned above was conducted to capacitate them on agro- advisory model and various applications and technologies for implementation of agro-advisory service.

A local Aviyanta (campaigner) has been selected and mobilized to facilitate agro-advisory services in three agriculture/farmer groups (Paschim Tilakpur Women Farmer Group, Parishramik Farmer Group, Pipalchautari Farmer Group) in Duduwa. Meetings with farmer groups were completed to raise their awareness on different weather condition, agro-practices, pest and insects in cash and food crops, which is available through the namis.gov.np site.

Moreover, the production and broadcasting of CCA and DRR messages in the form of radio jingle through an extensive network of community radio (~340) called Association of Community Radio Broadcasters Nepal is under progress.

Under the Small Grant Program, preparation of Local Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan of Tikapur Municipality in Kailali has been completed. Likewise, installment of lightening arrester in seven schools from Chitwan, Kaski, Makwanpur, Parbat and Tanahun were completed which will safeguard the vulnerable communities from lightening hazard. Along with this, the assessment of Climate Change with Thunderstorms as Proxies has also been completed. Moreover, construction of earthen mounds to protect Black Buck from high flood, in Blackbuck habitat, Krishnasar conservation area, Bardia and development of framework for River Basin Management: A case illustration from Seti River Basin’ have been completed. Support for the Government of Nepal to formulate National River Basin Strategy and Action Plan has been initiated.

Collaboration with SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR HKH), ICIMOD

Hariyo Ban jointly with FECOFUN is collaborating with USAID funded SERVIR-HKH (ICIMOD) Project, with an objective to apply the Hariyo Ban’s innovative approaches/tools (e.g. forest fire insurance) and SERVIR HKH's Climate Resilient Forest Management System products (forest fire risk data/information) in an integrated way for better results in natural resources management and resilience building. As Hariyo Ban II and SERVIR HKH both are supported by USAID and are working on some of the common aspects of disaster risk Figure 18: Meeting with SERVIR HKH and Hariyo Ban reduction and forest management in Nepal, this Program collaboration will further enhance the work by mutual efforts. Hariyo Ban jointly with FECOFUN and SERVIR -HKH agreed to the following tasks to complete within this fiscal year with the collective efforts:

x Forest fire risk map developed by ICIMOD and analysis of the forest fire risk map to be demonstrated and forest fire insurance prioritized in the forest fire-prone districts.

x Survey questionnaire form for collecting primary and secondary data for CF database has been developed and revised to minimize the conflicts and complexity. Each question has been reviewed for its feasibility and the final questionnaire survey form has been developed and shared with DoFSC as requested. A guideline of this survey questionnaire is under preparation to use the form for field data collection. x Shortlisting of 1-2 model CFUGs from different altitudinal gradients for joint analysis to understand the correlation between inclusiveness and forest management. x Digitization of Model CF data including their survey maps and other information collected from the questionnaire forms.

2.3. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion

GESI is one of the key cross cutting themes of Hariyo Ban II and the Program is continuing its effort to promote gender equality and social inclusion and minimize the GESI barriers in natural resource management sector in Year 4 as well. For this, the Program has adopted a GESI mainstreaming approach throughout its project cycle and an approach to bridge the gender barriers and gaps through GESI focused actions. All consortium partners have made efforts in integrating GESI in project implementation, sensitizing communities and local partners; developing GESI focused policies and guidelines and producing GESI specific or mainstreamed knowledge products and communication material in context of climate change adaptation and biodiversity management. For instance, the Ministry of Forest and Environment organized a consultation with stakeholders to gather feedback on draft GESI strategy and action plan of the Ministry with support of Hariyo Ban II. The strategy is expected to be supportive in creating an enabling environment for promoting gender equality and social inclusion in natural resource management sector. NTNC recently prepared guidelines on the Prevention and Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (SEAH); Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT); and Child Safeguard (CS) to set clear obligations for its employees that include all forms and levels of employees and other service providers to prevent and respond to SEAH, AHT and CS. FECOFUN is taking lead in organizing initiatives to eliminate gender-based violence (GBV) in forestry sector. This year as well, FECOFUN organized a “National Dialogue on GBV and Violence Against Women (VAW)” to mark 16 Days of activism on 4 December 2019 in Kathmandu with the slogan “Generation Equality, stands against Rape”. The dialogue was focused on gender-based violence in natural resource management sector. A total of 122 participants (87 women and 35 men) representing parliament, civil society organizations, and government and non-government organizations participated this Dialogue. The main objectives of the program were to share the existing GBV and VAW in NRM sector and informal workplaces including policy recommendations to influence policy formulation revision process for developing national, provincial and local policies. Considering the fact that impact of climate change and disaster are not gender neutral, the Program recently published a learning brief titled 'Responding to Differential Impacts (DIA): Lessons from Hariyo Ban Program in Nepal'. The purpose of this brief is to share the lessons on DIA Response Planning to wider stakeholders at different levels so that the PVSEs get due priority and appropriate support for in policies and actions; and also, to share the method and options to effectively reach target groups. One of the key lessons learned of the study was people with disabilities, early/old age, poverty, social exclusion,

29 women and adolescent girls are amongst the most vulnerable and they need tailored response in order to reduce their vulnerabilities. During this reporting period, an information brief on Women Friendly and Climate Smart Technology and Tools is published. The purpose of brief is to inform the PVSEs and stakeholders about the tools and technology and out scale it in wider range. CARE just initiated development of seven success studies of women leaders (of CLACs) and PVSEs. The first draft of the stories is being reviewed.

The Program conducted some women-focused actions to enhance their awareness level in their role on Combating Wildlife Trade and Biodiversity Conservation among CLAC members in TAL. The participants were oriented on various issues of biodiversity conservation, such as human-wildlife conflict, anti-poaching, combating wildlife trade, etc. After the orientation, they started conducting awareness programs in their communities. Women groups and members of CLACs participated in 30 sensitization events through which they were able to raise awareness among 825 people (156 male and 669 female). The Program has prioritized inclusion of women and marginalized communities while implementing activities. Recently, the training on DRR and CCA were conducted in Pantura and Radha ISWMP sites focusing more on PVSE members of the area (detail reported under CCA section). In order to assess a performance of three outcome level GESI indicators, a third-party Mid-Term Assessment was conducted in CHAL and TAL. The result showed that there has been improvement in the midline values of all three indicators, compared to baseline (Annex 6). The assessment revealed that 82.43% of the female and marginalized groups perceived that NRM members including men and decision-makers exhibit gender equitable and socially inclusive behavior, slight increment in baseline value of 78.96%. Likewise, out of the 200 executive respondents (all female) , 52.5% perceived that they could perform their roles effectively, also displaying an increase from the baseline value of 43%. However, 9% of executive members representing Dalit community, felt that due to their educational background and economic status, they could not perform their roles effectively. The Program also conducted studies on Resilience Measurement in its project area particularly to measure the level of resilience in ecosystem and community increased through its interventions. For this, GESI and governance have been taken as a component of the study and it has also been integrated in all resilience parameters . The first piloting study in Chitwan has recently completed and report on GESI and Governance section is being drafted.

The gender and caste/ethnicity wise beneficiaries in Hariyo Ban II during the first six months of Year 4 are given in Fig19. The Program organized a number of interventions under different themes, which benefited 28,955 people.

Figure 19: Gender (left) & Caste/Ethnicity (right) wise representation of beneficiary in Program (July-December 2019)

GESI Result 1: Improved internal GESI policies, standards and governance practiced by user groups In order to increase participation of women and excluded groups and improve access to NRM and to support in creating a conducive environment for this, Hariyo Ban II is supporting implementing partners and NRM groups to develop their action plan and guideline and to sensitize the target groups on it. Recently, an orientation program was organized for 33 frontline field staffs of CARE Nepal, LRPs and FECOFUN representatives to capacitate in facilitating preparation of GESI internal policy and action plan at CFUG level. The orientation program was conducted with field testing and an action plan for the preparation of an internal policy for NRM groups, at the end of the orientation. The draft policy has been prepared in 5 CFUGs during its field practice. Similarly, upon request of the Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward 22, the Ward level GESI guideline was prepared. The Program is also planning to support Pokhara Metropolitan City to develop its metropolitan level GESI policy. Aiming at raising awareness among policy makers on the role of women and marginalized groups in biodiversity conservation, a video documentary has been planned. The documentary will primarily feature the engagement and contribution of local women and marginalized groups in biodiversity conservation. The Program also organized capacity building trainings targeting women journalists from all seven provinces on environmental crime (reported also in biodiversity section above). The main objective of this activity was to build capacity of the women journalists of all seven provinces of Nepal, on curbing environmental crime.

GESI Result 2: More Women, Youth and Marginalized Groups Perform Effective Leadership, Decision Making and Advocacy The Social Analysis report of Hariyo Ban II has identified gender-based violence as one of the key barriers for women for their effective participation in decision-making in conservation sector. Different issue-based partners were mobilized in previous years to implement activities to work on the identified issues. Partnership with Chepang Sangh, Chitwan was made to raise awareness against child marriage in Year 3 and conducted a number of interventions based on the advocacy plan that was prepared then. During this period, the review and adaptation of the advocacy plan (prepared in Year 3 as support to issue-based partners to advocate in their priority issues) developed by Nepal Chepang Sangh, is completed. In order to tackle these social issues throughout the working areas, new CLACs have been formed and capacitated, and active CLACs from first phase were mobilized in TAL and CHAL. In this reporting period, the six CLACs in Kaski, Kailali, Syangja and Tanahun have been supported for organizing different campaigns especially on GBV, health and sanitation, etc. in their respective communities. A total of 1,239 communities have attended the events including 990 females. Some of the achievements recorded as a result of mobilization of CLACs are explained here under: x Lamkichuha Municipality is continuing the Chhaupadi free campaign in all wards after learning from Year 2 of Hariyo Ban II. The ward no. 5 has already been announced as chhaupadi free. The Municipality has adopted policy to replicate the same action in the rest of its wards.

x Self-applied technique for quality health/nutrition (SATH) program was jointly organized by Hariyo Ban II and Suaahara II in Badi and Muslim CLACs of Lamkichuha Municiaplity, Kailali. This helped to sensitize and encourage mother groups to maintaining quality health and nutrition in their families. This has greatly helped to understand and apply this process for improving health and nutrition plan by the community. An assessment was done in Parki tole, Bedkot in Kanchanpur to conduct the similar campaign as was done in Lamkichuha. x Kalika and Srijana CLACs in collaboration with Kalika Municipality and Ichhakamana RM, Chitwan conducted interaction of parents and students regarding school dropout, awareness on child marriage; and oriented on the legal provisions in the Constitution of Nepal, National Code of Nepal focusing on Gender-Based Violence. An estimated 100 individuals participated in these events. x Children's Day was celebrated in Bharatpur, Chitwan. The day was celebrated through inter school speech competition on title "Children's Role in Climate Change Adaptation". A total of 12 students from 8 schools participated in speech competition. Besides, 31 people participated in the events including 16 female, 20 BCT, 3 Janajati, 5 Newar, 1 Muslim, and 16 Youths. The event brought diverse knowledge groups in one platform to create collegial environment and share the ideas/issues on climate change adaptation. GBV campaign is one of the major activities carried out by FECOFUN through CFUGs at local level. Altogether, 12 GBV campaigns (rallies, mass assemblies, interaction programs, role play/drama) were conducted in Hariyo Ban II working areas in presence of 3,511 participants (2,109 women). Some of the notable events: x In Lamjung, a rally program was conducted in the presence of 105 representatives from fifteen CFUGs and the students of Mahendra Secondary School (Marsyangdi Rural municipality). Province 3 parliament member Hon. Madhu Adhikari was a chief guest. A drama was staged to show the causes and consequences of GBV. x Nawalparasi FECOFUN conducted a mass assembly with about 2,000 participants representing 54 community forests of five palikas. The campaign was conducted in association with Kawasoti Municipality, Devchuli Municipality, INSEC Nawalpur, Namuna Sandesh Saptahik and in presence of DFO Nawalpur, Samudayaik Mel Milap Karta Samaj, etc. x With the objective to address the GBV issues in Rapti Rural Municipality, Dang, a network has been formed. The network is composed of five members including Division Forest Office, Local FECOFUN, Inter Party Women Network and Paralegal Women Network with the leadership of Rapti Rural Municipality. The main issues raised in the program are increased workload for women because of both household chores and forest management, unequal labor wage between men and woman for the same work, sexual harassment, ignorance of women and disadvantaged group's voice in planning and decision-making. Despite the sufferings, the victims are compelled to tolerate the violence due to social fear and family prestige. Capacity on Gender Based Violence and Sexual Harassment: Conservation partners in Nepal are continuously playing an important role in promoting

Figure 20:21: GroupNTNC photostaff attending taken during orientation Orientation on GBV on GBVand Sexualand harassment sexual harassment at workplace in NRM organized sector, in Chitwan Kathmandu the involvement of women and marginalized people in natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. To raise the awareness about GBV, discuss the issues, existing law and policy and mechanisms to deal with it, two orientation events were conducted at i) Chitwan: targeting local institutions to incorporate GBV issue in NRM sector; ii) Kathmandu: targeting NTNC staff to create awareness on gender-based violence; sexual harassment in the workplace; existing laws and policies and mechanisms adopted by the Government of Nepal to address them. In these two events, altogether 118 participants (Female-52, Male-66) were sensitized on GBV and sexual harassment issues. These workshops were very interactive; discussed on various forms of sexual harassment and preventive steps to create a GESI-friendly workplace, both in organization and in the community, which helped in guiding the participants to act as a responsible individual to end gender-based violence in the workplace. In addition, a training on “Women Leadership and Communication Training” was organized for building capacity of 36 women executive members from FECOFUN, representing 25 districts (from both phase I and Phase II working areas). The objective of the program was to develop leadership qualities in participants, to make them aware about the present national and international laws as well as to make them familiar about GBV in the past and present context. At the end of the training, participants prepared an action plan to conduct different activities in their respective areas for leadership development of the women and commitment was made to play an active role in fighting against GBV issues in their communities.

GESI Result 3: More equitable access to and benefit from natural resources for women and marginalized groups In order to enhance women and PVSE group's access to and benefit from natural resources, a number of initiatives such as improving internal GESI policies of government and NRM groups, livelihood support, Climate smart and GESI friendly technology, capacity building and awareness raising activities, targeting these groups, have been carried out during this report period. . Hariyo Ban II has been making conscious efforts to improve the internal GESI policies of local governments and NRM groups so that women and people from marginalized groups have better representation in decision making process as well as in benefit sharing. The NRM groups led enterprises supported by Hariyo Ban have more inclusive policies that ensures that poor and marginalized users receive preferential support based on participatory wellbeing ranking. Besides, the Program through its livelihood interventions, has been targeting and benefiting women and PVSE groups, and also supported conserving indigenous skills and knowledge, while working for reducing local dependency in the forest. The Korak, upstream area of Chitwan National Park is primarily inhabited by indigenous Chepang and Tamang communities heavily dependent on forest resource in order to fulfil their livelihoods. Traditionally, they practiced slash and burn in order to cultivate maize and lentils. Animal husbandry is also a major occupation of these people. So, they have common practice of open grazing in community forest areas. As an alternative livelihood option for the forest dependent groups, the honeybee enterprise has been promoted in Korak. A total of 33 households of Thakaltar CFUG were supported last year for the promotion of honey enterprises in the area, through a five-day training on handling modern beehives.

Clay jewelry enterprise was promoted in Deurali Inclusion Thread: Bimala Nepali, a member of CFUG- Dordotar, Tanahun focusing on Dalit Srijanshil Kanthamala Mahila Samuha says, “the Women. The program supported to capacity revolving fund supported by Hariyo Bann Program has changed our lives. We have been able to earn NRs 8000 per month easily. Spending all day without work used to 33be worthless. Now I am engaged in jewelry making and it also contributed to raise my household level income”. building of the women members by providing support for a revolving fund, leadership training. Along the same lines, strengthening of the institutional mechanism was also done by means of support to construct their own building and registration of the group. The income from this enterprise is being used for business expansion, also meeting household expenses and children’s education.

Furthermore, Tharu Sanskritik Atithi Griha, Kumrose and Bijaysal homestays in Nawalparasi, Chitwan and Kanchanpur respectively supported and promoted by the Program, have been all led by women.

Furthermore, market-based alternatives livelihood such as vegetable farming, wool Weaving, Pig/goat farming, Mud Pot enterprise, honey enterprises, broom enterprise etc. have been supported with focus to women.

Similarly, in order to reduce dependency of people on forest through the small grant program a project titled Engaging' Indigenous People’s Networks to promote Local Livelihoods of Women and Indigenous People_ Entrepreneurship Development of Forest-Dependent Women for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation' was implemented in TAL and CHAL area of Chitwan, Tanahun and Nawalparasi districts. 24 women of diverse ethnic background were capacitated on Entrepreneurship Development Training (Start and Improve Your Business- Model Based) and Financial Literacy Training. These women will be supported for business registration, business plan preparation and initiate the business.

2.4. Governance

Hariyo Ban II has been focusing the Governance theme in two broad areas: 1) Institutional capacity building of NRM groups and institutional governance; and 2) Creating an enabling environment and policies for user groups and other stakeholders to better conserve biodiversity and adapt to climate change.

Result 1. Improved institutional capacity of user groups

The Program developed an integrated Institutional Capacity Assessment (ICA) tool and completed ICA of 415 NRM groups in year 1 and 2. It also developed the Institutional Capacity Building (ICB) packages/manual as facilitator reference/guide to address the gaps identified by the ICA. The ICB package was developed based on a reflective approach that demands continuous follow up to assess the progress and implement further actions on a cyclic order (reflection Æ actionÆ reflection Æ actionÆ). All 415 NRM groups have now received the 1st cycle of ICB package delivery in Year 3 and the follow up support is ongoing in Year 4.

Within this reporting period, FECOFUN has developed "Local FECOFUN and CFUGs institutional capacity building approach" guideline and endorsed by the management. The objective of the approach is to develop collaboration among FECOFUN structures (local to national - palika, district, province and center) as well as local government to localize and institutionalize the CFUGs institutional capacity building process. FECOFUN is willingly committed to replicate it throughout the country (753 Palikas) in coming days. In this approach, local/palika level FECOFUN plays a lead role for process facilitation and coordination. Regarding the process, in 1st Step - institutional capacity mapping of CFUGs (Palika level);

2nd Step - based on capacity mapping, explore the opportunity to exchange the best practices among groups (interested group who likes to learn from other group); 3rd Step - develop three-month action plan and implementation; 4th Step - review reflection in each three-month period. During the review reflections, action plan progress, problems as well as learnings is shared/discussed. Based on that, the next three-month action plan is developed so that such four steps will continue in a cyclical order. Beyond this, local/palika level FECOFUN supports them to provide technical as well as financial support to implement the joint capacity building initiatives such as advance account keeping training, forest-based enterprises, etc., which is not possible from the group to group facilitation approach.

Within this reporting period, the application process of the same approach has started. FECOFUN center conducted two orientation programs in TAL and CHAL with an objective to orient, share and build common understanding about the "local level FECOFUN and CFUGs institutional capacity building guideline/approach". A total of 71 districts and local level FECOFUN’s chairpersons (30 female) attended the events. In addition, 8 palika level events were conducted in Banke, Bardiya, Kaski, Lamjung, Syangja and Tanahun. Altogether, 199 (83 women and 116 men) Figure 22: Participants during orientation organized CFUG executives and members attended the events. in CHAL

At the end of the events, all Palika level FECOFUN developed their three-month action plan for group to group institutional capacity building. Through this approach, the ICB process is going to scale out beyond Hariyo Ban selected 415 NRM groups. The details on the effectiveness of the approach including volume of scale out, will be reported in the annual report.

Institutional Capacity Reassessment – As per the plan and process of tracking the progress/outcomes including effectiveness of ICB, the Program already completed the reassessment of 247 NRM groups (212 CFUGs, 9 LHFUGs, 10 BZCFUGs and 16 CAMCs) in Year 3. The remaining 168 NRM groups’ reassessment is now ongoing. In this reporting period, reassessment of 87 NRM groups (78 CFUGs, 7 CAMCs and 2 BZCFUGs) has been completed. Altogether, 1,696 CFUG members (866 women and 830 men) participated in capacity Figure 23: Institutional Capacity Reassessment of Indreni CFUG, Chitwan reassessment events.

The reassessment information/data is under compilation process. After the completion of institutional capacity reassessment of all 415 NRM groups, the information/data will be analyzed. The changes/outcomes of NRM groups ICB will be prepared and included in Year 4 APR.

Result 2. Improved capacity of user groups to leverage and mobilize resources

The Program has focused to build the capacity of ISWMP coordination committees, LAPA implementing committees and other NRM groups for their internal fund mobilization as well as resource leverage from local government and other government and non-government agencies. During this reporting period, one LAPA committees in ACA- Mustang have leveraged NRs from rural municipality and other agencies to implement various activities prioritized in the plans. As most of the activities planned for Year 4 are under implementation process, the updated information on resource leveraging by LAPA and ISWMPs committees will be reported in the annual report.

Result 3. Improved technical capacity of user groups to advance local solutions on biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation issues

The Program developed the approach paper on local solutions in Year 3 in close coordination with consortium partners. Based on the approach papers, the Program has initiated the process of documentation of local solutions currently being practiced by various community groups, including opportunity for their replication. Initially, we collected a list of 41 potential practices which have the potential of qualifying as local solutions. Within this reporting period, the Program has selected two local solution practices named i) use of leaf-bag for vegetable seed germination; ii) Yam farming in sacks and doko from TAL and CHAL based on the replication opportunity within Hariyo Ban II. The Program also developed both local solutions brochure as a communication/reference material in Nepali language. To date, 27 interested CFUGs have been selected and the replication plan is also prepared. Specially the leaf bag replication plan, included the technical orientation training to farmers with practical sessions such as leaf bag preparation, soil preparation, seed broadcasting etc., to enhance their knowledge and skills. At the end of the training, the participants will develop the action plan to demonstrate the technology in their group and replicate to other farmers. Such plan is under implementation process. The progress and learnings will be included in the annual report.

Result 4. Improved policy and enabling environment for biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation.

The Program has been continuing the policy engagement efforts by conducting as well as participating at different levels of policy discussion and interaction programs, to sensitize people and influence policy makers, to address the issues related to natural resource management. As a result, Government of Nepal recently endorsed three acts (Forest Act 2019, Environment Protection Act 2019 and Climate Change Policy 2019) in which the issues raised/feedbacks from Hariyo Ban Program have been incorporated. Considering the nine years of efforts on policy advocacy since the start of Hariyo Ban in 2011, the Program planned to develop a systematic documentation process. The basic preparatory works of documentation is underway and will be finalized by the end of Year 4.

3. OVERARCHING THEMES AND ACTIVITIES

3.1. Small Grants Program

The Small Grants Program under Hariyo Ban II is being executed to ensure innovation, capacity building, research testing and to promote innovative science and technology, pilot new approaches/tools focusing on ecological and community resilience-building. It has four major components: i) Student research grant, ii) CSO and private sector grant, iii) Government agencies grant; and iv) Grant for Disaster Response and Management.

During this reporting period, an additional 35 students received support to undertake their academic research work to fulfil partial requirement of their degrees. As of now, a total of 192 students have received grants from the Program. Among them, 130 have completed their research and submitted their final report.

Under Government Agencies grant, an additional four projects (Annex 5) were initiated during the reporting period. Among them, Forest Research and Training Center has successfully conducted “South Asian Conference on Agroforestry Research” for the first time in Nepal. In addition, SWMO, Parbat, is implementing the Renovation of Thulipokhari as part of wetland management. Furthermore, two national level activities: Preparation of National Integrated River Basin Strategy and Action Plan and Revisiting Ecosystems and Forest Types of Nepal, is being implemented. Other proposals received from government agencies are under approval and/or agreement process.

Among last year grants, Krishnasar Conservation Area built one new earthen mound and upgraded three existing mounds to protect Blackbuck during high floods. The Department of Plant Resources documented and published “Historical Dictionary of Food Plants of Nepal”, for the first time in the country. MoFE drafted “GESI strategy and action plan for forestry and environment sector” and the draft strategy is under the approval process. Similarly, DoFSC prepared the “Framework for River Basin Management: A case illustration from Seti River Basin, which is expected to support and contribute in the formulation of a national river basin strategy and action plan.

Most of the activities initiated in third year under CSO and private sector grants, have been completed and results are being documented. Environment Coordination Committee, Kailali, conducted a Vulnerability Assessment of Tikapur Municipality and facilitated the Municipality to develop Local Disaster and Climate Resilience Plan. The draft plan is under approval process. In addition, Lightning Atmosphere Research Center provided training on safeguarding mechanism for vulnerable communities from lightning hazards; and installed lightning arresters in 7 schools/colleges in CHAL to safeguard students and school management teams from lightning hazard.

Moreover, Designing and piloting market-based wildlife damage insurance scheme to mitigate Human Wildlife Conflict; strengthening local governance to restore Dipang Lake for climate resilient lake environment, biodiversity, tourism & livelihoods, are some projects being executed and expected to be completed in the remaining period of this fiscal year. Building on these experiences, efforts have been

37 made to link the grants wherever possible with the Program’s regular interventions for better results and synergetic impacts.

Shortlisted proposals under CSO and private sector grants for Year 4 are under approval process. It is expected that activities will be under implementation by the end of June 2020.

In this reporting period, call for application for Disaster Response and Management grants has been announced and proposals have been received for the same. The selection process is planned in January 2020 and implementation will start from February 2020.

The team, for remaining period, will continue to align small grant activities within the Result Framework and MEL plan of the Program and conduct periodic reviews and monitoring of the small grants activities.

3.2. Communications

The Communications Unit of Hariyo Ban Program ensured appropriate stakeholder engagement through measured communications strategy. The Unit developed a stakeholder engagement strategy to set defined approaches and procedures to be followed upon identifying the relevant stakeholders. Overall, the Unit focused on maintaining the profile of the Program to ensure its legacies are known to and acknowledged by all relevant stakeholders.

One of the major accomplishments of the Unit has been the effective use of social media of USAID Nepal, which has significantly higher outreach level in Nepal and beyond. In this reporting period, USAID Nepal ran a social media series on the contribution of green enterprises towards livelihood enhancement and their linkages to biodiversity conservation. The series, which ran from October 30 to December 18, 2019, shed light on several livelihood interventions established as well as strengthened by Hariyo Ban Program through 14 social media posts on USAID Nepal’s Facebook and Twitter accounts. This series has helped immensely in outreach of livelihood interventions by the Program. Some contents of the series have been picked up and shared globally as model intervention by USAID. Furthermore, the public was made aware of the Program interventions through social media of all consortium partners as well. In addition, several stories about beneficiaries from various interventions of the Program were synthesized and developed in this reporting period.

The Communications Unit focused on collecting, sharing and Figure 24: Screenshot of social disseminating information about the Program at various levels with media series conducted by USAID on green enterprise primary focus on local governments (Municipalities, Rural Municipalities), community-based organizations, local communities, NGO partners and Civil Society Organizations. The Unit supported and worked closely with GoN to celebrate important national events that are relevant to achieving Hariyo Ban Program’s objectives and communicating key messages.

This year, another prime target audience are the local communities, who were reached through simple communication tools such as stickers, posters, street dramas and radio programs, among others. The Program published reading materials, wherever possible, in the Nepali language to facilitate the understanding of the stakeholders.

The Unit continued the Media Fellowship granted to renowned journalists from major national publications. The journalists covered national issues within and beyond Hariyo Ban Program’s interventions in three separate articles to raise public Figure 25: Stickers published and awareness on glaring issues and to let the public know how the disseminated to sensitize people on CWT Program strives to benefit both nature and people. In addition, 11 news related to the Program were published in National Newspapers in this reporting period. The Unit believes that the outcomes of these fellowships and news coverage will help garner the Program’s stature in the mass media as well as receive public support for the interventions.

For video documentation of major interventions, the Unit has contracted an expert for video documentation. The outcomes of this work will be the production of eight videos documenting legacies of the Program and will help all stakeholders, understand implementation strategies as well as importance of the programs to the communities. The Unit together with Wildlife Team has initiated a project to sensitize communities on illegal wildlife trade via storytelling using folk songs. All the songs are composed using a traditional stringed musical instrument of Nepal, Sarangi, commonly played by the Gandharva ethnic group. The lyrics feature stories of those incarcerated in wildlife crime, based on true incidences, with the aim of discouraging communities from engaging in wildlife poaching and trade.

The Unit also continued its routine activities including editing, proofreading, translating and ensuring branding and marking of outreach documents. The Unit also played a pivotal role in the publication of several documents.

3.3. Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning

Monitoring and Evaluation is an integral part of the Program and has been guided by i) Results based planning, monitoring and performance reporting; ii) Strengthening institutional monitoring mechanism, iii) Creating meaningful evidence of change for informed decision making, iv) Building Learning and knowledge management and v) Development of common and clear understanding of the concepts across all levels.

In last three years of Hariyo Ban II, the foundations for MEL system were built, and the system has been fully operationalized with preparation and implementation of MEL plan and Collaborating, Learning and Adapting (CLA) Plan; development and operation of online database software; assessments for outcome tracking; alignment of the annual work plan with indicators targets. Besides, other regular functions like capacity building, review and reflection meetings, monitoring visits and Data Quality Assessment were conducted as well.

M&E activities during the first half of Year 4 was focused more on learning and knowledge management, capacity building, midterm evaluations, field monitoring and data quality assessments. Particularly, the MEL Unit has been engaged with program team at various levels to review the targets and progress on indicators. This has helped to increase stewardship of consortium partners on Performance Indicator Tracking Table (PITT) targets and put consolidated focus in attaining indicators targets. Refer Annex 6 for performance of indicators during the first half of Year 4. The strategies were devised and are being implemented to meet targets of some low performing indicators as a joint effort. Major highlights of the M&E Unit for this reporting period are as follows:

Capacity Building: A total of 28 persons (8 women) comprised of frontline program staff from Implementing Partners and Grantees from TAL were capacitated by taking part in one day M&E refresher training. More practical sessions on planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting with reference to one particular activity was done during the event. The participants opined that the practical session that covers all cycle of project management is the best part of the training and Figure 26: Participants during group work in M&E refresher helped to brush up on their skills. One event of training training is also planned to be conducted in CHAL.

Learning and Knowledge Management: During closure of Phase I, learning and knowledge documentation of Hariyo Ban interventions were prioritized and done accordingly. The documentation work is completed, which has created a vast repository of knowledge for future application. In the current phase, the M&E Unit has been prioritizing to capture learning and documentation from last year. Fourth Year has been highly focused on knowledge documentation. As such, the documentation of the initiatives on Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley and effectiveness of Predator Proof Corral in TAL area for managing HWC have been conducted under the leadership of the MEL Unit. The external consultant was recruited for undertaking these documentations. Other important documentation works that aim to capture key outcomes and knowledge from Hariyo Ban interventions are given in the annex 7.

Significant progress has been made in some of the internal documentation works listed in the table by the respective consortium partners under the leadership of thematic experts.

The Review reflection meetings at various levels are planned to be conducted during the second half of the year.

Midterm Evaluation: The Social Welfare Council did mid-term evaluation (MTE) of Hariyo Ban II during later part of Year 3 through a team of experts. The team submitted MTE Report in November 2019. The Management response to the recommendations provided by the evaluation team has already been submitted and implementation of recommendations is being carried out at respective levels.

Midterm Assessment of GESI Indicators: The baseline value of the three-outcome level GESI indicators were established during December 2017. As per MEL Plan, the Program had to report the

40 progress on these indicators during Year 3. During this period, the independent consulting firm was appointed to conduct the midterm assessment of GESI indicators. The firm conducted the field survey following the same methodology and reaching out to the same respondents as possible as in the baseline survey. The firm has submitted the report with updated values for indicators, which shows that there is an increment on the indicator values from the baseline values as a result of Hariyo Ban interventions. Details of the findings is given in GESI section.

Field Monitoring: The MEL Unit in collaboration with the program team conducted the thematic monitoring of biodiversity interventions. The visit to the field aimed to find out the implementation status of biodiversity conservation interventions and explore how they have contributed in reducing biodiversity threats in Banke-Kamdi Complex. Learning questions were set before and the entire visit was focused on exploring answers to those questions. The visit was accompanied by the MEL team along with thematic lead, Program Manager - TAL from WWF and relevant field Figure 27: Interaction with CF and CBAPU members during thematic visit in Narainapur, Banke program teams. The consultation meeting among the stakeholders was conducted during the visit followed by the field observation and interaction with NRM group members and beneficiaries.

Similarly, the core team visited the interventions which are enlisted as a Legacy Activity covering both TAL and CHAL. This helped to assess the status of acclaimed legacy interventions by respective consortiums and provide immediate feedback to makeover and strengthen the interventions for ensuring their future sustainability. Besides, the regular monitoring visits were conducted by the MEL Unit center and respective M&E persons from consortium partners. These visits were focused more on output and outcome monitoring.

From this year onwards, the MEL Unit started sharing the visit findings, follow up of the implementation status of recommendations not just within the implementation team, but also by conducting one-to-one meeting with the senior management of consortium partners. This has helped to make teams accountable on the recommendations and contributed to improve the adaptive management within the Program.

Data Quality Assessment (DQA): DQAs are done to ensure that standard data collection templates are being used with common understanding; to check if the data submitted on the online system is consistent with the data at field level; and to identify gaps and ways forward for effective data collection and management. As such, three visits for DQAs were completed in this reporting period by central MEL Unit and covered 10 partner organizations. Besides, the DQAs are being conducted by the M&E focal persons of consortium partners as per their plan. These assessments were helpful in identifying the data gaps at different levels and building common understanding among partners about templates. This has helped to improve data management and the reporting system of the Program.

3.4. Sustainability and Legacy

Hariyo Ban developed a Sustainable Plan and Program Legacies towards the end of Year 2 with an aim to ensure the sustainability of results/impacts after the end of Hariyo Ban Program. The document has two components: (i) Sustainability Plan and (ii) Program Legacies. While Sustainability Plan ensures that Hariyo Ban achievements are not lost and progress towards the program goals, continues beyond the Hariyo Ban period, as well as smooth closeout of its administrative and financial processes, the Program Legacies encompass those results and achievements which were innovative; had local, regional, national and/or global significance; provided value addition; and presented opportunities to scale up.

The Program has been implementing these two plans from Year 3 onwards and continued in Year 4 as well. Engagement with three tiers of government for policy related sustainability, capacity building of relevant institutions to ensure institutional sustainability, identifying sources for fund leverage for financial sustainability, documenting and sharing successful practices and learning for replication/scaling out are some of the Hariyo Ban initiatives to achieve overall sustainability.

In addition to the ongoing implementation of the sustainability plan, Hariyo Ban has initiated the process of gradually shifting responsibility of continuing Program interventions and results to those local governments (municipalities) and local stakeholders (local institutions and networks, implementing partners) where the Program has mostly completed field level interventions. For this, a step-by-step process has been developed. As a first step, an information sheet capturing key interventions in a particular municipality, their outcomes and learning is being prepared which will be shared with the concerned municipality authorities and other relevant stakeholders. In the second step, joint monitoring visit to the intervention sites and communities by a team comprising of Hariyo Ban staff and municipality authorities is planned to observe the results of Hariyo Ban interventions and to interact with the Program beneficiaries directly. Third step entails a collective meeting (also called ‘handover’ event) of Program team, municipality representatives and Program beneficiaries. In the meeting, information sheet with key interventions and results from Hariyo Ban interventions, outcomes, learning and major findings from the monitoring visit will be shared and discussed. One of the key areas for discussion would be post ‘handover’ role of municipality authorities and local stakeholders as well as Hariyo Ban Program. The period starting from the ‘handover’ event till the phase out of Hariyo Ban Program will be taken as ‘sustainability assessment’ period, which will test the hypothesis behind the sustainability plan – that successful interventions and results will be carried forward and scaled up by local government and relevant stakeholders. Hariyo Ban aims to complete such ‘handover’ events in all municipalities where its investment has been significant by the end of the fourth year. As part of the sustainability test, the Program has also started gradual reduction of human resources at the field level, without affecting the quality of work.

With regard to documentation of Program legacies a comprehensive plan for documentation of Program legacies, noticeable outcomes/results, successful practices and learning was developed in Year 3. Further work on this plan has been ongoing during this reporting period, including a visit by Hariyo Ban team to assess the status of legacies. The visit also sought answers to the following questions:

x What is the significance of the legacy?

x What is the current status (ongoing, ready for handover to concerned stakeholders, already handed over)? x What are the key remaining tasks to take it to logical conclusion if it is still ongoing? Logical conclusion means to make it ready for handover (e.g. proper documentation) to concerned stakeholders, including consortium partners post Hariyo Ban phase out. x What will be the role of consortium partners to carry on with this legacy after Hariyo Ban phases out?

Based on the findings of the visit, few proposed legacies were taken out from the list, current status of viable legacies was assessed and remaining tasks to take the legacy to logical conclusion was reviewed. Documentation of some of the legacies (refer to main sections) that are ready for handover to local stakeholders have been initiated and will be completed by the end of the fourth year.

4. MANAGEMENT

4.1. Coordination and Collaboration

Internal Coordination Mechanism

We continued with the internal coordination mechanism that was established in the first year of Hariyo Ban II. Program Management Committee meetings were regularized to share and address critical issues related to the Program. The Hariyo Ban Program Management Unit, representing the implementation team of the consortium partners, continued monthly meetings with all consortium partners to ensure smooth planning, implementation and monitoring of the Program activities. As in the past, the core team continued weekly meetings to manage day-to-day business. An extended core team representing the program and finance staff of consortium partners continued meeting every month to review both financial and programmatic progress.

Coordination and Engagement with the Government of Nepal

Federal Level: We continued to closely work with the Ministry of Forest and Environment and all other concerned GoN agencies at federal level. The coordination at the federal level continued through the Program Steering Committee and its Working Group represented by different ministries, USAID, senior management of the four core partners, and core Hariyo Ban staffs, to ensure overall guidance and integration with GoN priorities and policies. The Program Steering Committee has a Working Group that meets regularly. The Program supported the federal government to formulate, review and update policies, strategies, species conservation action plans and other activities of national priority.

Local Level: We constantly coordinated with the provincial and local governments of our working landscapes to share our landscape level plans, programs and key achievements. We also supported local governments in capacity building, providing technical assistance and joint implementation of mutually agreed interventions. In addition, we have been also supporting some of the local governments in the preparation of their sectoral and GESI policies as well as periodic plans.

Coordination with USAID/Nepal and Other USAID Funded Projects

The Program regularly conducted bi-weekly meetings with Agreement Officer’s Representative of USAID and shared the biweekly updates on overall progress of the program as per cooperative agreement. The Monitoring & Evaluation Unit of the Hariyo Ban Program coordinated and consulted with the USAID MEL team on a regular basis. The bi-weekly meeting with USAID/Nepal has greatly helped to meet Hariyo Ban objectives. We also coordinated with USAID funded PANI and PAHAL projects in Rangoon and Lower Karnali watersheds and with USAID funded IWMA to carry out different interventions in a collaborative way. SUAAHARA is another USAID project which Hariyo Ban has been collaborating for joint field level activities in both TAL and CHAL.

The Program in Rangoon Khola watershed coordinated with PAHAL to implement the package-based activities as prioritized by ISWMP Pantura. Hariyo Ban II, PAHAL, and Parshuram Municipality-9

44 signed a formal agreement on December 18, 2018, to construct an irrigation scheme, train farmers on commercial vegetable farming, train forest users on forest fire management and institutional strengthening of the Khulebhat CF in Milan Debari of Parshuram Municipality-9. As per agreement, the PAHAL constructed the irrigation scheme to support farmers to initiate commercial vegetable farming and the Program organized other activities as planned.

The PANI Field Office and Hariyo Ban II had series of meetings and discussion to collaborate officially for ensuring sustainability of community-based early warning system of Aurai Khola catchment of Lower Karnali Watershed. According to the decision on 20 Dec. 2019, it has been decided that the three training events will be conducted jointly by Hariyo Ban II (two events at community level) and PANI (one event at stakeholder level) on community-based flood early warning systems, and disaster management.

Hariyo Ban jointly with FECOFUN initiated collaboration with USAID funded SERVIR-HKH (ICIMOD) Project, with an objective to apply the Hariyo Ban Program's innovative approach/tools (e.g. forest fire insurance) and SERVIR HKH's Climate Resilient Forest Management System products (forest fire risk data/information) in an integrated way for better results in natural resources management and resilience building.

4.2. Operating Environment including Risk and Mitigation Plan

Overall the operating environment during the reporting period remained stable. The political situation is becoming more stable with all three levels of government functioning fully and coordination among them improving gradually. Although the eastern part of Nepal was affected by monsoon floods and inundation, Hariyo Ban Program area did not witness any major disasters.

Hariyo Ban has intensified its collaboration with local and provincial governments in the working area. In terms of field level implementation, the Program has been collaborating in joint planning, implementation and resources sharing for the implementation of plans that have been formally endorsed by the local, provincial and federal governments (e.g. LAPAs, ISWMPs, Integrated Lake Basin Management Plan of LCPV, periodic plans). In addition, the Program has been supporting all three levels of governments in strategic initiatives such as formulation of Policies, Plans, Acts and Regulation related to biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and GESI (refer to details in the main sections). The proactive engagement and collaboration with all three levels of government is expected not only to upscale successful Hariyo Ban interventions but ensure sustainability of results in the long run.

The Program does not anticipate any direct threats that would affect its smooth operation. The disrupting acts of disgruntled groups, who disagree with ongoing political processes, have been going down in recent months. All the consortium partners and field teams are aware of such risks and have been sensitized on measures to reduce potential impacts.

5. LESSONS LEARNED

The list of lessons learned, and best practices of the Hariyo Ban II for this reporting period are included below. Some selected success stories have been presented in Annex 8. x Coordination with different line organizations, especially the local governments, right from planning of any activities helps to increase their ownership and support in program implementation. For instance, the Chairpersons and Members from Pokhara Metropolitan Ward 21 and 22 joined the exposure visit on Watershed Management; Deputy Mayor and Mayor from Krishnapur and Bedkot Municipalities, respectively joined the exposure visit on Homestay Management supported by Hariyo Ban II. After the visits, the representatives of local governments became more positive and supportive for resource leveraging and implementation of Hariyo Ban activities in their areas. x Issue-based discussions on watershed management held in Khageri, Khudi Marsyangdi and Phurse Khola watersheds helped policy makers and planners to internalize the importance of particular watershed issues and motivated them to integrate watershed management activities in their annual plans and programs with budget allocation. In addition, the facilitation of these events by external resource persons has enabled to create a conducive environment where stakeholders internalized the issues. x Constant follow up and engagement with the local government and stakeholders helped to leverage resources to sustaining the Pilot PES in Marsyangdi. The Chairperson of Marshyangdi Rural Municipality has decided to prepare PES guidelines at Palika level, and the Mayor of Beshishahar Municiaplity has planned to mobilize local partners in social mobilization and bio-engineering practices by mobilizing Municipal budget. x ICB package implementation modality is an effective approach for improving the governance status of the NRM groups. Integration of ICB package with other regular activities is more effective than stand-alone governance activities. x The exposure visits for policy makers are essential for enhancing group level understanding on how CFs are contributing to conserve the local environment, and biodiversity and creating livelihood opportunities. More of these visits need to be planned to motivate policy makers to devise user friendly policies on community forestry. x Coordination and collaboration among local governments and Division Forest Offices are essential for successful adoption of Model CF and fund leveraging. x Upstream and downstream linkage is crucial to address social and environmental issues at basin or sub basin levels. x Identification and promotion of local knowledge and practices on controlling pest and diseases on the on-farm based enterprises is efficient and economical to address the issue. x The refresher training of CBAPUs is essential to ensure effective mobilization in conservation works. Furthermore, the financial sustainability of these anti-poaching units at community level must be ensured to continue their engagement. x Insurance at enterprise level is crucial to protect entrepreneurs from potential vulnerabilities and disasters. This will help entrepreneurs motivate to up-scale and/or commercialize the enterprises.

6. CHALLENGES AND ANTICIPATED FUTURE PROBLEMS

Hariyo Ban II did not face any notable challenges during the first half of Year 4. However, some of the difficulties that were faced and likely to be encountered during the remaining period are as follows:

x Unforeseen delays in donor’s approval of the sub-awards can cause postponement of some of the activities affecting timely delivery of the AWP and meeting targets. x The turnover of government officials due to government staff adjustment processes has hindered the program implementation particularly the government sub-grants for CFOP renewal support. x Most of the landscape and central level activities in AWP are documentation, assessments and studies. These activities are time consuming and might not be completed by the end of June. x More resources are required to enrich all the identified gaps in case of legacy activities and integrated sites, including scaling out and scale up of successful practices and key interventions. The resource scarcity is a challenge to upscale the legacy activities. The program team at landscape level are approaching local governments to allocate resources to fulfill the resource gap. However, the regular engagement and dialogue with local government and communities by both field team and centrally based team is essential to meet this objective. x Increased HWC in recent years have negatively impacted communities increasing reluctancy among local communities towards wild animal conservation. Recent incidents of human casualties (6 children) in Bhanu Municipality, Tanahun by common leopard can result the retaliatory killing of leopard. x In case of broom grass enterprise, group spirit is gradually turning towards individualistic approach. The poor transportation facility in the area has increased the production cost of the final product. Besides, the low volume of broom grass production in the area has reduced the bargaining power of farmers in the market, which has caused farmers to sell their products at a low price. x Full implementation of Operation Plans and ICB package application remains challenging for NRM groups with limited technical and financial capacity. x The government has been formulating various new policies, strategies, acts and action plans intensively at local, province and federal level. FECOFUN is proactively participating in the policy formulation process at different tiers to ensure community forest users rights and justice. However, resource constraint to invest on mobilization of FECOFUN personnel to engage in policy formulation and revision process at different level, has limited Program’s reach.

x 7. OPPORTUNITIES AND PROSPECTS FOR NEXT REPORTING PERIOD

7.1. Opportunities

Local governments are constantly approaching the Program team for technical support in formulation of different policies on CCA, DRM, GESI, PES, Natural Resource Conservation, etc. Hence, there is still wide scope of collaboration with local government by sharing program’s best practices and knowledge in formulation of different acts, regulations and directives. Recently, the GESI policy of Pokhara Metropolitan City- ward no 22, has been prepared with technical assistance from the Program. Immediately, the Program received the request to provide technical support to formulate GESI Policy of Pokhara Metropolitan city as well.

Replicating the learning from Thakurbaba Municipality, the Program has been working with Bheemdatt Municipality, Kanchanpur to prepare a 25 years Master Plan for the Municipality. The MoFE has initiated formulation of Integrated River Basin Strategy and Action Plan for Nepal and classification of ecosystems and forest types where Hariyo Ban II will provide both technical as well financial supports.

7.2. Prospects for next reporting period

During this reporting period, the Program received the final report of the Midterm Evaluation executed by the Social Welfare Council (SWC). The management response on recommendations provided by the team has already been submitted to SWC. All implementing partners, will implement the recommendations during the remaining of Year 4.

The remaining period of fourth year is very crucial for the Program as it has to deliver the outputs stipulated in the AWP despite of the delays in approval of sub-awards and other hindrances. Following actions have been prioritized for the remaining period of Year 4:

x Completion of documentation of key interventions by linking with legacy activities at consortium partners level x Continue engagement/collaboration with local government within working area to accomplish remaining activities and support for policy formulation process x Initiate process for responsibility transfer to selected local government level before the formal closure to ensure their stewardship for durability of program achievements. x Scale out and scale up of successful practices and key interventions at watershed, river sub-basin, landscape and central level by synchronizing with sustainability plan and exit strategy; and CLA strategy of the Program. x Continuously engage with DHM, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Laws at province level and respective local governments and stakeholders for preparing LDCRPs in flood prone areas; establishing and strengthening early warning system in Seti Sub-River Basin; and upgrading hydro-meteorological stations. x Finalize the Resilience Measurement Framework considering social, ecological and economical processes of Hariyo Ban working sites.

48 x Continuously engage on fulfilling gaps in the legacy interventions. x Strategically work towards achieving the LOA (life of activity) targets as committed in MEL plan x Capacitate the Model CF’s overall aspects and building on each CF's unique potential, and document successes. x Institutional endorsement of "Local FECOFUN and CFUGs institutional capacity development and mobilization guideline'' and orient to the neighboring CFs of Model CF. x Facilitate the 30 additional districts to purchase forest fire group insurance policy. x Continue support to strengthen institutional capacity building and to prepare GESI friendly internal policies, standards and plans at NRM groups level. x Continue to strengthen institutional, managerial and marketing capacity of different green enterprises. x Sharing sustainability and exit plan to the relevant stakeholders for mainstreaming, sustaining and initializing of Hariyo Ban legacy interventions and best practices.

Annexes

Annex 1: Hariyo Ban II working areas covered during July - December 2019

Complex Corridor Working District Municipality/Rural Municipality Sites/Block 1. Shuklaphanta Bramhadev 1. Puntura Khola Sub Dadeldhura Parshuram Municipality Brahmadev watershed (Northern Complex flank of Amargadhi Municipality Corridor)/Jogbuda Area Aalital Rural Municipality 2. Suklaphanta Kanchanpur Bedkot Municipality Wildlife Reserve and Punarbas Municipality Buffer Bheemdatt Municipality Zone(Southern part Belauri Municipality of the Corridor) Shuklaphanta Municipality Krishnapur Municipality 2. Bardia- Karnali 1. Daulatpur Ghat Bardia Rajapur Municipality Karnali cluster Kailali Tikapur Municipality Complex 2. Balchaur Cluster Kailali Lamkichuha Municipality Godawari Municipality Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City Janaki Rural Municipality Bardgoriya Rural Municipality 3. BNP and Northern Bardia Thakurbaba Municipality Buffer Zone Madhuwan Municipality Rajapur Municipality 3. Banke- Kamdi 1. Kamdi Western Banke Duduwa Rural Municipality Kamdi block Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality Complex Narainapur Rural Municipality Kohalpur Municipality Nepalgunj Sub-Metropolitan City 2. Banke National Banke Baijanath Rural Municipality Park (BaNP) and Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality Southern Buffer Kohalpur Municipality Zone Dang Babai Rural Municipality 3. Kamdi Eastern Dang Gadhawa Rural Municipality Block Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City 1.Chitwan- Barandabhar 1. Barandabhar Chitwan Bharatpur Metropolitan city Barandhabhar Northern Part Ichchhakamana Rural Municipality Complex Kalika Municipality Rapti Municipality Ratnanagar Municipality Nawalparasi Hupsekot Rural Municipality Gaidakot Municipality Sunwal Municipality

Complex Corridor Working District Municipality/Rural Municipality Sites/Block Madhyabindu Municipality Kawasoti Municipality

2. CNP and core Chitwan Ratnanagar Municipality Buffer Zone 2.Daraudi sub- Daraudi sub- 1. Daraundi Lower Gorkha Ajirkot Rural Municipality basin basin part Gorkha Municipality Palungtar Municipality Dharche Rural Municipality 2. MCAP+ BZ Gorkha Chumnuwri Rural Municipality 3.Marshyangdi Marshyangdi Middle Marshyangdi Lamjung Besishahar Municipality sub-river basin sub-river Marsyangdi Rural Municipality basin Rainas Municipality Kwholasothar Rural Municipality Dordi Rural Municipality Sundarbazar Municipality 4. Seti sub-river Seti sub- 1. Gaighat complex Tanahun Devghat Rural Municipality basin river basin Aanbookhaireni Rural Municipality Bhanu Municipality Suklagandaki Municipality Rhishing Rural Municipality Vyas Municipality Bandipur Rural Municipality 2. Jamune Tanahun Rhishing Rural Municipality Pokharibhanjyang Vyas Municipality complex Myagde Rural Municipality 3. Kyangdi Complex Tanahun Bhimad Municipality Suklagandaki Municipality Syangja Putalibazar Municipality Syangja Phedikhola Rural Municipality 4. Phusre Khola- Kaski Annapurna Rural Municipality Fedikhola Block Pokhara Metropolitan city 5. Panchase - Kaski Pokhara Metropolitan city Pokhara lake cluster Annapurna Rural Municipality (Ramsar sites) 6. ACA Mustang Mustang Lomanthang Rural Municipality Dalome Rural Municipality Thasang Rural Municipality Gharapjhong Rural Municipality Barhagaun Muktikhsetra Rural Municipality

Annex 2: Summary of progress of activities – AWP Year 4 (July 2019-December 2019)

Summary of progress on biodiversity activities R 1.1 Threats to target species reduced

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks One sharing workshop on Bijaysal conservation has been conducted this period Bijaysal area management with an aim to share the progress and status of bijaysal conservation initiatives 1 (as prioritized in Bijaysal Ha 12 led by the Program. Conservation Action Plan) In the natural habitats, the Program has been supporting conservation measures like: plantations, tending operations, fire line maintenance, awareness etc. The support has been continued for CBAPU mobilization in TAL and CHAL, in critical trade routes. 2 CBAPU Mobilization No. 412 A total of six capacity building training events were organized in Banke and Kanchanpur to further strengthen the mobilization of CBAPUs. Altogether 88 CBAPU members attended the trainings and build their capacity. Intensive management of the habitat inside the enclosure, supplement food and proper veterinary care has been continuously supported. To provide additional forage to the population, cultivation of cereals in 1.5 ha has been done. With Blackbuck habitat 3 Ha. 51 the continuous and dedicated support provided, the blackbuck population in management SuNP has significantly increased from 42 founders to 93 individuals till date. Habitat management work in 58.8 ha of enclosure will be continued in upcoming period. To further equip molecular lab and enhance the lab facilities, support has been Strengthening molecular lab provided to install biosafety cabinet and purchased water distillation unit and 4 No. 1 (equipment purchases) digital pH meter. Remaining equipment like dissecting microscope and digital nano drop is under procurement process. For the regular pangolin monitoring, agreement has been done with 9 CFUGs (Makwanpur-4 and Chitwan-5). CFUG members are continuously engaged in monitoring of this species and no any record of poaching or death of pangolins CFUG mobilization for have been recorded in these areas. However, the photographs captured on Pangolin conservation (as No. of camera trap indicates that feral dogs can be a potential threat for pangolins 5 11+ prioritized in Pangolin CFs conservation as dogs were captured sniffing around pangolin burrows in the Conservation Action Plan) camera trap. Furthermore, the pangolin conservation package (awareness raising, branding etc.) is planned to carry out in 8 CFUGs in Gorkha in upcoming period.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks

A survey on amphibians and reptiles (as model organism of climate change Research on climate indicators) of CHAL was conducted in August-September 2019. The primary sensitive species in CHAL 6 Study 1 results recorded 80 (30 amphibians and 50 reptiles) species herpetofauna in the including permanent plots landscape. A detailed report of this survey will be submitted after second round (focusing on Herpetofauna) of the survey and a book will be published after two consecutive years' survey. For making the events more effective, clusters 21 cluster level meeting were conducted by CBAPUs in Banke, Dadeldhura of CBAPU have and Kanchanpur. These meetings have provided a platform where CBAPUs at been delineated Cluster level meetings of district level can build a cordial relationship between each other, share 7 No. 4 and supported to CBAPU experiences, information, learnings, new ideas, best practices, challenges and conduct joint find out solutions. Cluster level meetings of CBAPUs is planned to conduct in meeting and Kaski, Tanahun and Chitwan. patrolling instead of river basin and complex level. Management of reintroduced wild water buffalo has been continued. The Management of newly intensive care of Arna and regular management of Arna enclosure- direct 8 established population of Site 1 observation, sweeping inside enclosure, fence maintenance, regularize water Arna supply etc. has shown positive indication in physical and reproductive capacity of Arna. Human-common leopard conflict management strategy and action plan has Rollout and implementation been prepared by Nepal government and is in the process of endorsement. 50 of human-common leopard events of awareness program have been planned in Seti, Marshyangdi and 9 Event 50 conflict management Daraudi sub river basin. For the same, high conflict zone in these three sub- strategy and action plan river basins has been identified. Sub-grant agreement is under process and activity implementation is planned for January.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks

Capacity building training to The training on HWC preventive and curative measure, combating wildlife forest guard on human- trade issues and climate change adaption measures has been planned for forest 10 wildlife conflict, combatting Event 5 guards from community forests. The content for the training has been wildlife trade and climate developed and training will be completed during February. change adaptation Meetings with local governments for combatting wildlife poaching and trade is Engagement with CBAPU being planned to conduct in Kaski, Tanahun, Gorkha, Lamjung, Chitwan & and local government for Nawalparasi. This engagement expected to support local governments to know 11 Event 17 combatting wildlife the issues on poaching and wildlife trafficking at local level and also capacitate poaching and trade on illegal wildlife trade in national and international context as well as HWC relief fund and its importance. CBAPU day celebration The Program will support CBAPUs for celebration of CBAPU day on March 3, 12 Event 1 support 2020. One event of CBAPU refresher training in LNP has completed so far where 31 CBAPU network 13 Package 1 participants representing 8 CBAPUs were capacitated on current issue of mobilization training wildlife crime in LNP and mitigation measures. Champ/Cinnamon plantation Documentation is planned to be done covering biodiversity theme rather than 14 management status Ha. 15 focusing only on champ and cinnamon. This will be started during the end of documentation Year 4 and completed by mid of Year 5. Plantation of lemon seedlings in 5.37 ha area of land has been completed to Alternative unpalatable promote the alternative unpalatable crops for HWC management. 78 farmers 15 Ha. 2 crops for HWC management have been involved in this private plantation. In long run, this will contribute to increase household income as well. Instead of focusing events on four complexes, we A total of 27 events of trainings and 33 events of workshops were conducted to focus on different Engagement with judiciary, sensitize customs, postal authorities and transportation workers during this trade routes postal, custom and period. A total of 1795 stakeholders including 379 females attended the events 16 Event 4 linking north and transportation services for and raised their understanding on CWT issues and their roles in minimizing the south reaching out combatting wildlife trade CWT. These sensitization events were also conducted beyond the working to the 25 beyond districts of the program reaching out to districts under most critical trade routes. Program working areas. More events were conducted as we

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks need to cover strategic locations in trade routes. HWC relief fund in 17 Site 1 This is planned for next quarter. Marsyangdi Tracking of the Human This is a continuous process and the relief fund status is being tracked in 18 Study 1 Wildlife Conflict relief fund coordination with FECOFUN. Support to develop CBAPU This will be done through grant. The process will be started in upcoming 19 formation guidelines and Package 2 period. training manual

Planned for next Completed On Track Delayed Cancelled reporting period

Result 1.2: Threats to target landscapes reduced

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks Two new CFs have been selected (Shanti CF- Bardiya and Rajdevi CF- Gorkha) to support as Model CF in this period. The vision statement has been developed for both CFs. The CFs developed their strategic action plan. Support for No. of 1 Support to Model CF initiative 10 implementation of different activities to 11 of the Model CF is ongoing. CF The model CFs took part in the 4th community forest day event organized in Kathmandu by FECOFUN and shared their learnings and demonstrate the forest- based products. CF database preparation and 2 Database 1 Planned for next quarter. publication Forest fire awareness 3 Event 17 Planned for next quarter. campaign To replicate this good practice in other districts of Nepal, FECOFUN has made an institutional provision through “Jumla Declaration” at FECOFUN’s National 4 Forest fire insurance District 20 Executive Meeting on September 7, 2019. FECOFUN will pay the premium required for insuring community forest users against forest fire. The insurance policy will be purchased in upcoming dry season. One training was organized to train 20 officials of Forest Divisions in CHAL. Support for strengthening This training is designed to conduct on wildlife crime investigation training to 5 institutional capacity of forest No 19 division forest officials. Coordination was made with province forest directorate, division and monitoring cost Gandaki province to conduct the training. The support for grassland management is being planned to carry out in TAL 6 Grassland management Ha 200 area. Implementation of grassland management works will be done in upcoming period. 7 Action research on grassland Study 1 Multiyear action research on grassland in BNP is ongoing. A total of 6.75 ha of enrichment plantation has been completed this year. 7004 Enrichment plantation No. of 8 2000 seedlings of Champ, Lapsi, Khair, bamboo, fruits and broom grass etc. were (seedlings support) seedlings planted. Bamboo plantation along river Preparation for bamboo plantation in degraded land of Indreni CFUG, in 9 bank of critical bottleneck Ha. 5 Bharatpur metropolitan-29, Chitwan is being carried out. 2,000 Bamboo areas rhizomes are booked, and plantation will be done during June-July. This activity has been cancelled. The budget has will be mobilized for habitat 10 Support for private forestry ha 35 management works.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks Solar pump support has been made in Bardiya National park in two sites, to 11 Water hole maintenance Site 23 recharge the waterholes inside the park. The support is expected to contribute to bring 362 ha of area under improve management. Fencing of length 3.3 km has been installed in CF area in Kamdi corridor. The Wooden fencing for grazing fence is expected to check encroachment in the forest land, help to improve 12 Km 1 control natural regeneration, and control grazing. This initiative will contribute to maintain corridor connectivity in long run. The grant has been signed for undertaking this activity. The support will be 13 Support for forest nursery No. 1 made in upcoming period in Kamdi. Habitat management/solar Bardia National Park has been supported to install solar water uplifting system. 14 Sites 5 water uplifting system Details of this is reported in SN 11. The maintenance of the power fence of total length 3.35 km is planned to conduct in MCA, which was installed in Phase I. The heavy GI wire with solar Power fence improvement/ battery will be installed. Community will leverage resource from Rural 15 Km 2 maintenance Municipality for the implementation of activity. Detail field verification and estimate has already been completed while materials for fence is under procurement process. The program supported management committees of Gunde and Maidi Lakes with boat to support for lake cleaning. As a result, 7.42 ha of lake has been Pokhara Lake Cluster cleaned up. Management support and The activities such as Salix plantation, support for fishery and lake cleaning, 16 Package 1 support for Ramsar Lake City dyke improvement, water source protection, lake-based ecotourism promotion, declaration support for ginger enterprise and different sediment retention activities, including strengthening of Phewa PES board are being planned to focus on Phewa, Khaste, Niureni, Gunde, Maidi and Kamalpokhari . Greening Trans-Himalayan Enrichment plantation in 12 ha of the plantation area in Ghami, Tsrang and 17 Ha. 12 region Lomanthang has been planned during plantation season i.e. May – June, 2020. Cross learning visit of lake Two events of exposure visit to Phewa watershed ecosystem management conservation committees and No. of 18 2 committee and representatives of local government was organized. A total of 30 local government visit persons attended the visit and benefited. representatives Cinnamon plantation on 19 ha 15 Planned for upcoming period of Year 4. private land 11 CFOPs in Kaski have been renewed in Seti sub river basin. Renewal of No. of 20 CFOP renewal support 100 remaining CFOPs is being started and will be completed in next reporting CFs period.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks

Revised CFOP implementation No. of The program has supported for the implementation of 6 CFOPs in Kaski. In such 21 30 support CFs 6 water source protection works were carried out. Assessment of construction The assessment of construction activities has been started by recruiting activities including bio- 22 Study 1 consulting firm and field works in sample sites have been completed. Report is engineering measures (Phase I expected by February. and II) Assessment of IGA and The tracking of revolving fund in TAL and CHAL is planned to carry out during 23 Biogas revolving fund in TAL Study 2 March 2020. and CHAL Training on Green Road Two trainings “Green Road Engineering” has been organized at Kaski and Engineering to technical staffs Gorkha District. These training delivered technical knowledge and good 24 Event 4 of the local and provincial practices on Green road construction approach to 39 engineers and sub engineers governments of local government bodies. Engagement with GoN, donor agencies, private sector and Informal meetings are being carried out with Department of Road and 25 development stakeholders on Event 1 Department of National Park and wildlife conservation, Department of Railway wildlife friendly infrastructure and multilateral banks. (meeting/workshop) In 2014 Hariyo Ban Program established 12 virtual plots and taken baseline data in order to document changes in the future through the engagement of local communities, citizen scientists, academic institutions and researchers. After 5 Long-term climate change 26 Package 1 years, WWF Nepal/Hariyo Ban Program has initiated detailed study on monitoring identified indicator species (flora and fauna) of climate change across Gandaki River basin in the given plots based on the previous studies conducted and strengthen mechanisms for local level monitoring for long-term monitoring. Infrastructure assessment report of CHAL is already completed. While, Study/assessment on linear 27 Event 2 Infrastructure assessment report of TAL is almost complete and will be finalized infrastructure and shared by June. Support for During this period, the world tiger day has been celebrated in communities. The 28 national/international day Event 7 supports will be extended to celebrate World Environment Day and CBAPU day celebration in upcoming period.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievement Remarks

During this period, the program has collaborated with Local government for Engagement with local As per 29 Event celebrating 16 days campaign against GBV. In addition, 17 representatives from government for policy support need local government from Seti sub river basin took part in Cross learning visit.

The program supported the Lamkichuha Municipality to prepare the Roadside Support to Lamki Chuha RM Plantation Management Plan. Taking reference of the plan, the program in 30 for preparation of roadside Package 1 collaboration with Lamkichuha Municipality and BAFER Nepal, has completed plantation management plan the roadside plantation in around 10 km area. Support to Parsuram The support planned for Parsuram M has been shifted to Bheemdatt M. The 31 Municipality for preparation of Package 1 strategic master plan preparation of the Municipality is under process in Land-Use Plan technical support of HB II. Rollout of National Ramsar One event to roll out National Ramsar Strategy and Action plan is planned to 32 Package 1 Strategy and Action Plan conduct during February.

Result 1.3: Market based livelihood alternatives developed and promoted

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks Support for upscaling and Establishment of vegetables collection and selling center in Jhalari with 1 market linkages vegetable Site 1 collaboration of Nabakiran saving and credit cooperative is underway, and first farming enterprises installment was released for the same. The program during this period supported to strengthen the Rana Tharu homestay. The materials support was made to all households. Moreover, one Support to Rana Tharu Home 2 Site 1 capacity building training on Homestay management for 17 members were stay organized including 10 females. Similarly, 26 persons took part in the exposure visit and learned more from the other homestay in the area. Support to strengthen existing For strengthening of madal enterprise, training for Madal making and formal madal enterprises by linking 3 Site 1 registration of enterprise in the municipality are being planned to complete in market and service providers upcoming period. and product diversification Support to upscale and out As a support to upscale and scale out the wool spinning business of local women 4 scale wool spinning and carpet Site 1 in Padampur area, Chitwan, three months carpet weaving training has been weaving enterprise completed. 15 women took part in the training. In order to scale up the enterprise and to add the value of cardamom, the plan is 5 Upscale cardamom enterprise Site 4 underway to support for installation of 5 dryers-2 in Rohigaun and 3 in

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks Ghyamrang. The dryers installation will be done during February – March 2020.

New enterprise initiatives in 6 Site 7 Planned for next reporting period. Model CF Support to establish cold 7 storage for vegetable and local Site 1 Planned for next reporting period. seeds Vegetable and mud pot 8 enterprise promotion in Model Site 2 Planned for next reporting period. CF Training on pig farming was delivered to 10 farmers in Tanahun during this 9 Pig shed improvement support Site 2 reporting period. Sheds will be provided in next reporting period. Goat shed improvement 10 Site 1 Planned for next reporting period. support in Kalika Model CF Altogether 14 persons (11 female) from Bijaysal homestay, representatives from local government and selected youth leaders from Bedkot Municipality, Hospitality trainings for Kanchanpur took part in the learning cross visit. The team visited different 11 Site 1 homestay entrepreneurs homestay sites run by communities, stayed there, shared the experiences and learned the hospitality techniques. The visit has been helpful to learn more hospitality and business tips for the homestay operators. The tracking of revolving fund for this period is ongoing. Tracking of fund at Review of LIP implementing 12 No 5 Seti Cluster has been completed during this period and shows that 52 additional households’ performance HHs have been benefited by mobilization of the funds. IGA revolving fund This is an ongoing process. The IGA revolving fund is being utilized by the 13 mobilization and vegetable No 1 users for initiating different livelihood options. enterprise promotion support Fish enterprise support (maintenance, equipment and The program supported for installation of solar pump to extract underground 14 capacity building) in Site 2 water below 180 meters. This has now ensured the water availability in the pond Babukuwa and Binauna (Naya throughout the year. Gaun) IGA revolving fund 15 mobilization and vegetable No 1 Planned for upcoming period. enterprise strengthening Additional beehives and exposure visit is planned for the farmers involved in 16 Support for honey enterprise Site 1 honey making business in MCA, as a scale up of the intervention. This will be conducted in upcoming period.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks One hulling machine was supported to the coffee farmers in Phusre which will help to value addition in coffee production. Likewise, the farmers were provided Coffee enterprise promotion the coffee diary each, which contains information and tips for coffee farming. 17 (value addition and seedling Site 2 Coffee plantation in additional 3.35 ha has been completed in Adhikaridanda. support) Plans are underway to support coffee enterprise in Adhikaridanda in upcoming period. For promotion and strengthening of the bel juice enterprise, the program supported to conduct focused visit and interaction with CFUGs affiliated with Technical support on product enterprise. Besides, the interaction with multi stakeholders was also conducted. 18 diversification, market linkage Site 1 In upcoming period, the program will support for documentation, marketing, in Bel Enterprise capacity building of management committee and linking enterprise to different stakeholders. The Program plans to support for institutional build up, promoting marketing Support for clay jewelry 19 Site 1 services and expanding revolving fund this year to the clay enterprise. The marketing support will be made in upcoming period. Plans are underway to support plantation of additional 17,000 seedlings in 17 ha 20 Upscale tea enterprise Site 1 of additional private land in Bhadaure this year. Plantation will be done in monsoon 2020. Support for broom grass 21 Site 1 Planned for next reporting period. collection center At Aamdanda Khodemoriya CFUG, foot trail from village to motor road is not Access improvement in broom 22 site 1 in a good condition to manually transport broom grass. Hence to ease the grass plantation area transportation, 200m foot trail will be improved this year. A total of 1250 seedlings of citrus has been planted by 51 farmers in this 23 Up scaling citrus plantation Site 1 reporting period. The supports have been completed for strengthening of Rana Tharu homestay Strengthening Community- (reported above). To strengthen the eco-tourism in the Khaireni village, Bardiya, based Ecotourism 24 Site 6 the program handed the four wooden boat to the CF. The boat will be used for (improvement of facilities, cleaning up the Satkhaluwa Lake and sailing the guests visiting homestay in equipment and promotion) Khaireni. Documentation of Success story on Livelihood 25 Event 3 Planned for upcoming period. improvement and biodiversity linkage Skill-based trainee/IGA fund 26 No 4 The tracking of skill-based trainees is underway. tracking 27 Green enterprises management Event 1 This activity has been merged with landscape/local level learning sharing events

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks learning sharing which will be conducted in upcoming period. The promotion of agro-forestry based enterprise is being planned to focus in Promote agro-forestry based 28 No. 1 Pokhara, Mulban CFUG. Different activities will be supported to link Panchase enterprise protected forest and downstream of Seti-sub river basin.

Summary of progress on climate change adaptation activities

Result 2.1: Participatory Climate change vulnerability reduction integrated into local, district and national planning process

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks Sharing of achievements and learning from 1 LAPAs/ISWMPs/PES and GESI/GBV Event 19 Planned for upcoming period. integration with Palika level stakeholders Sharing and observation of LAPAs/ISWMPs/PES and GESI/GBV 2 integrated activities engaging Event 1 Planned for upcoming period. landscape/province/central level stakeholders Mainstreaming CCA-DRR in model CF One meeting was organized for mainstreaming CCA-DDR in central 3 Event 5 framework level. Two events of CCA DRR related issue-based campaigns were Celebration of special events (environment, conducted in Banke. A total of 85 persons representing government 4 biodiversity, International women’s day) and Event 2 agencies, community groups and relevant stakeholders took part in other issue-based campaigns the events. Policy engagement – local to national level 5 Package 1 Planned for upcoming period. focusing on HWC Relief provisions Capacity building on advocacy cycle (tools 6 Event 1 Planned for upcoming period. and techniques) Two events of site visits of policy makers were conducted in Chitwan and Kaski with an aim to make them understand the working mechanism of CFs and their role in biodiversity conservation, climate CCA – DRR related issue-based advocacy change adaptation and social development. A total of 34 policy 7 Package 11 based on advocacy plan makers attended the visit. Furthermore, three consultation meetings with local elected bodies on CCA were organized in presence of 77 representatives of local bodies and other stakeholders. Support for CFOP revision incorporating CFOP renewal process in underway. This will be completed in next 8 No. 50 CCA-DRR reporting period. IEC materials production and dissemination No 9 (special issue on CCA and GESI; Ban Aabaj 1 Planned for upcoming period. (type) and Calendar) Workshops for integration of CCA-DRR and The activity has not been started yet as the sub-award has been 10 Event 3 mainstreaming in plans and policies of local recently approved.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks governments and PA

Strengthening long-term climate change 11 Package 1 Planned for remaining period. impact monitoring mechanism Technical experts from program provided inputs on draft policy and Roll out of policy/frameworks/strategy and LAPA framework. The MoFE has recently endorsed the revised 12 action plans prepared/updated by GoN - No 1 framework on LAPA. The program will support its roll-out in NAP and others coordination with the Ministry and local governments in upcoming period. Preparation of LAPA/LDCRP as per new 13 No 1 Planned for upcoming period. policy/framework (on demand) Technical staff (Soil and Watershed Training on ISWM Planning for 20 technical government staffs from 14 Conservation Offices) capacity building on Event 1 soil and watershed management offices was conducted during this ISWM planning reporting period. A joint learning visit form Gov officials to the Khageri Khola sub- Support capacity building of local watershed, Chitwan for observing and learning from current activities 15 Event 1 government on ISWMP and planning for scaling up and out of the effective activities among the multi-stakeholders.

Result 2.2: Community readiness to adapt to and benefit from climate change increased

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks A total of 12 LAPAs-in TAL and CHAL were supported for implementation. 346 students (244 female) from Kaski and Lamjung received training on 1 Support implementation of LAPAs No 15 CCA, DRR and environment friendly local governance. 14 LAPA committees in Banke, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Kaski, Lamjung, Syangja and Tanahun have conducted review, reflection and planning meetings. Discussion are ongoing with FECOFUN to collaborate on mainstreaming and Support to implement priority implementation of 3 LAPAs in Kailali, Kaski and Lamjung; preparation of 5 adaptation activities of LAPAs in 2 No 4 differential impact assessment and response plan and implementation; along coordination with NTNC and with support in implementation of CCA-DRR activities in Model CF during FECOFUN second half of fourth year. Support implementation of priority 3 No 3 Planned for remaining reporting period adaptation activities of LAPA

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks During this period, three LAPA in ACA, Mustang namely Lomanthang, Chosser and Surkhang were supported for implementation of its priority Support to implement priority activities. From implementation of irrigation maintenance work and 4 No 8 adaptation activities of LAPAs greenhouse support, 320 families have been benefited. Similarly, three CCA awareness events were conducted in Lomanthang benefiting 65 community people. Support local government to Support is being planned to develop GESI Policy of Pokhara Metropolitan 5 develop periodic and sectoral plans No 2 city. (based on demand) Capacitate CAMCs for Mainstreaming workshop is planned to conduct at Sirdibas, Gorkha and 6 implementation and mainstreaming Event 2 Jomsom in January. of LAPA 7 International training/conference No 1 Planned for June 2020.

A total of six ISWMPs have been supported for implementation during this reporting period namely, Khageri, Kyangdi, Khudi-Marsyangdi, Phusre, Support implementation of priority Pantura and Radha. 10 events of capacity building trainings for 497 8 No 7 activities of ISWMPs communities and school students on CCA DRR were conducted. From implementation of different hardware interventions in sub watersheds total 617 households have been benefited. Matching support for Thakurbaba 9 Municipality strategic plan Package 1 Planned for remaining reporting period implementation Assessment and evidence A work on preparing resilience framework is ongoing. The workshop has generation for integration, 10 Package 1 been planned in January to draft, field test and finalize the framework in vulnerability change and/or participation of all key persons from consortium partners. resilience building Learning sharing and issue-based panel discussion on integrated watershed management for engaging multi-stakeholders were completed in Lamjung, Matching fund for establishing Chitwan, and Kaski. The program brought the attention of multi-stakeholders linkages of sub/micro-watershed including local governments on issues and challenges of integrated watershed 11 coordination committee with local Package 1 management and natural resources management; relevancy of integrated government and stakeholders in watershed management; the need of package program/activities and multi- priority sub-watershed/sub-basin stakeholders coordination and collaboration; formulation of different plan and policy for watershed management and natural resources management. Sharing of ISWMPs and fund A total of seven meetings in Lamjung were conducted for facilitating 12 Events 1 raising for PES basket fund discussions on PES and ISWMP during this reporting period. Furthermore,

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks one exposure visit to the sub watershed coordination committees was conducted in which 18 persons took part. Support to organize PES policy 13 Events 1 Planned for remaining reporting period advocacy workshop Sensitization on forest fire 14 No 1 This will be done during the dry season. management (Jingle airing)

Result 2.3: Climate related risks to people and ecosystem reduced through DRR and management effort

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks One event of workshop for sharing the flood hazard Mapping report was Support to upgrade of hydro completed in presence of Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law of Gandaki 1 Event 1 metrological stations province. The ministry has considered it as a valuable reference, as it is preparing DRR strategy and action plan. Support capacity building of The four ward offices - two each in Parsuram (9 & 10) and Bedkot (1 & 2) Packa 2 DDMC, DEOC and LEOC in 2 municipalities have been equipped with Light Search and Rescue materials ge emergency preparedness/response during this reporting period. Engagement with local Local governments for long-term 3 Gover 2 Planned for next reporting period integrated/CCA-DRR nment plans/policies/LDCRPs The program has drafted some scripts with key message for climate change Mass dissemination of CCA-DRR Packa 4 1 adaptation, disaster risk reduction and resilience building which will be and early warning information ge broadcasted through an extensive network of community radio. The program has designed, printed and distributed 1000 pieces of IEC material on early warning system cum agro-advisory services. Collaboration with NARC and Packa The Program continued dissemination of important bi-weekly bulletin and 5 1 others for agro-advisory service ge SMS from Krishi_Info for agro-advisory services. The program in collaboration with many partners, has initiated 'farmer responsive agro- advisory services' in Duduwa RM, Banke. The learning brief entitled 'Responding to Differential impacts: Lessons from Preparation and support on CCA- Packa Hariyo Ban Program' has been published. Based on this, the DIA RP was 6 3 DRR plan ge prepared in 7 LAPAs including, Lamkichuha, Janaki, Duduwa, Kolma, Kristinachne Chaur and Phedikhola and Phusre ISWMP.

SN Activity Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks Program has initiated development of resilience measurement methodology Ecosystem and Biodiversity during the reporting period based on Resilience Framework. The resilience 7 Study 1 Resilience Monitoring measurement methodology/tool is being tested/refined which will be used to carry out assessments/ studies in the second half of year 4.

Summary of progress on GESI activities

SN Activities Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks Overarching GESI Activities 1. Study on value addition of GESI No 1 Planned for upcoming quarters. and Governance Leadership and communication 2. workshop for women leaders of Event 1 Planned for upcoming quarters.

Centre FECOFUN 3. Document the change story of No 1 Planned for upcoming quarters. PVSE leaders Collective Review of GESI 4. Analysis and Action Plan of Hariyo Assessment 1 Planned for upcoming quarters.

Ban Program Review, update and publication of 5. Guideline GESI mainstreaming guideline and 2 Planned for upcoming quarters. and manual women's leadership development 6. Institutional GESI assessment of Event 1 Planned for upcoming quarters. FECOFUN One event of Orientation for its central staff on Gender Based Violence 7. Promote and mobilize GESI Event 4 and Harassment in Workplace was completed by NTNC, in which 32 champions staff participated. “National Dialogue on GBV and VAW” was organized in Kathmandu with the slogan “Generation Equality stands against Rape”. The dialogue 8. Dialogue on GBV at national level - Event 1 was focused on gender-based violence in natural resource management NRM sector sector which was attended by 122 persons representing parliament, civil society organizations, government and non-government organizations. To increase public awareness on GESI jingle is being broadcasted in the 9. Promoting GESI awareness through Ujjalo network (national news Kayakairan and Nepal Darpan) alternately Event 1 radio jingle covering more than 130 local radios across the country from July 26, 2019.

SN Activities Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks 10. Documentary Event 1 The making of documentary is planned to initiate in third quarter.

GESI Result 1: Improved internal GESI policies, standards and governance practiced by user groups In order to facilitate the preparation of GESI internal policy at NRM groups, 33 frontline field staffs were capacitated by conducting one orientation event. These resource persons will facilitate the policy 1. Develop and implement GESI NRM 208 preparation works at NRM groups. internal policy Groups One orientation on Gender Based Violence in NRM Sector was organized in Chitwan in presence of 90 participants representing the NRM groups and stakeholders. 2. Matching support to implement Guideline 4 Planned for next reporting period GESI mainstreaming guideline Follow-up/supports to advocacy Issue 3. plan implementation of issue-based Meetings and joint field visit and orientation on agro advisory have been Based 3 partners in coordination with CARE completed. Network Nepal i.e. Right to Food Project The program supported the preparation of GESI guideline of Pokhara Metropolitan Ward - 22 to mainstream social issues of ultra-poor, Support for preparation and 4. socially excluded community and minority in every planning process of publication of GESI policy and Policy 2 Ward. strategy of Local Government Plan is underway to support preparation of GESI Policy for Pokhara metropolitan city. GESI Result 2: More women, youth and marginalized people perform effective leadership, decision making and advocacy

Support to post CLAC/change agent In total six CLACs in Kailali, Kaski (and Syangja have organized 1. NRM initiatives for social transformation 24 different initiatives for social transformation. A total of 1239 Group and resilience building communities have attended the events including 990 females.

2. Develop profile of CLACs and Case Study 4 Outline for profile has been prepared. Information are being collected. Change Agents 3. Impact study of 3-type CLAC/post Impact study of CLACs is being conducted. This is planned to complete Assessment 1 CLAC initiatives by June 2020. 4. Altogether 12 GBV campaigns were conducted in HB working areas in GBV Awareness Campaign Events 21 presence of 3511 participants (2109 women).

SN Activities Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks Day celebration (16 days Campaign, 5. International Women’s Day) in Event 4 coordination with local governments and other stakeholders 6. Celebration of International Event 7 Planned in March 2020 Women's Day 2020 Two events of orientation on GESI for newly elected female members in 7. Capacity building of elected Dalit Event 2 local bodies were conducted in Mustang. A total of 67 women members and women members were benefited by taking part in these events. GESI Result 3: More equitable access to and benefits sharing from natural resources for women and marginalized groups The program in coordination with LIBIRD and Right to Food team has Promotion of women/GESI friendly developed flyer/brief on these tools, technology and practices. The 1 technology/practices to reduce Package 3 materials will be used for wider dissemination and replication for public workloads/drudgery information. The publication of materials is underway.

Summary of progress on Governance activities

S. Activity IP Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks N. O1 Overarching Review revise and publication of This activity has been shifted to Year 5. Institutional Capacity Assessment The process has to be owned by local bodies and government 1 C Event 1 tool and Institutional Capacity agencies, which will made in Year 4. This is why we shifted the Building packages revision and publication works for Year 5. Capacity enhancement for staffs and Two events of capacity building orientations to 71 executive 2 executive committee members of F Person 300 members of FECOFUN were organized. FECOFUN Capacity building and mobilization 3 F Package 1 Planned for upcoming period of Local Resource Persons Orientation on mature CFUGs 4 mobilization and local action F Event 2 Planned for upcoming period network strengthening R 1 Improved institutional capacity of user groups W, During this period, follow up of institutional capacity building Follow-up institutional capacity 1 C, Group 208 package was conducted in 23 NRM groups in TAL and CHAL. building packages to NRM groups F, N One training on account and bookkeeping was organized in

S. Activity IP Unit Target Status Achievements Remarks N. Dadeldhura to capacitate 20 members from NRM groups.

W, During this reporting period, the capacity reassessment was Capacity reassessment of NRM 2 C, Group 151 conducted of 87 NRM groups in 10 districts covering both TAL and group F, N CHAL. W, Review Reflection on NRM group 3 C, Event 9 Planned for upcoming reporting period Institutional Capacity Building N

We plan to share the findings of reassessment with the stakeholders. Sharing progress of ICB package The reassessment work in NRM groups is still ongoing. Hence these delivery to Sub/Division Forest 4 C Event 8 sharing workshops will be conducted during April May. The Office, Local Governments and/or feedback on ICA tool and ICB package will be collected from the related stakeholders workshop and will be used to revise and publish the document

Capacity building of government and 5 C Event 3 Planned for upcoming reporting period. related structures on ICB

R 3 Improved technical capacity of user groups to advance local solutions on biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation issues

Matching support to Model CFUGs Model One meeting with Chipleti Model CF was conducted to support the 1 /scaling out GESI friendly tools and C 5 CF CF to scale our GESI friendly tools and technologies. technologies R 4 Improved policy and enabling environment for biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation Policy engagement at local to 1 national level (policy formulation F Event 1 Planned for upcoming period and implementation) Support to federal, provincial and Master plan preparation of Bheemdutt municipality, Kanchanpur local governments for policy, C, As per has been initiated. 2 strategies and plans (LDCRP, Master No. W Need Supported preparation of GESI guideline of Pokhara Metropolicy- plan, Sectoral plan, GESI policies on 22. cost sharing basis)

Annex 3: List of peer review papers from genetic lab

Sn Details of peer review papers from genetic lab 1 Chetri, M., Jhala, Y.V., Jnawali, S.R., Subedi, N., Dhakal, M. & Yumnam, B. (2016) Ancient Himalayan wolf (Canis lupus chanco) lineage in Upper Mustang of the Annapurna Conservation Area, Nepal. ZooKeys, 143. 2 Chetri, M., Odden, M., Sharma, K., Flagstad, Ø. & Wegge, P. (2019) Estimating snow leopard density using fecal DNA in a large landscape in north- central Nepal. Global Ecology and Conservation, 17, e00548.

3 Chetri, M., Odden, M. & Wegge, P. (2017) Snow leopard and Himalayan wolf: food habits and prey selection in the Central Himalayas, Nepal. Plos One, 12. 4 Kandel, R.C., Shrestha, M., Sadaula, A., Medha, K., Maharjan, J., Solanki, G.S., Chalise, M.K., Asada, M., Kaneko, O. & Poudel, R.C. (2019) First report of malaria parasites in water buffalo in Nepal. Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, 18, 100348. 5 Singh, P.B., Khatiwada, J.R., Saud, P. & Jiang, Z. (2019) mtDNA analysis confirms the endangered Kashmir musk deer extends its range to Nepal. Scientific reports, 9, 1-11.

6 Kandel, R.C., Poudel, R.C., Sadaula, A., Kandel, P., Gairhe, K.P., Pokheral, C.P., Bajracharya, S.B., Chalise, M.K. & Solanki, G.S. (2019) Revisiting genetic structure of Wild Buffaloes Bubalus arnee Kerr, 1792 (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal: an assessment for translocation programs. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 11, 14942-14954.

Annex 4: Profile of Model CFs as of December 2019

Initiat Local Municipality/R Name of War Area Number of S.N ed Facilitati District ural Vision Statement Model CF d (Ha.) Household Year on Role Municipality Prosperous, Good governance and Sustainable FECOFU Annapurna Rural 1 Banpale CF Year 2 Kaski 3 16 159 forest management. Gender equitable and N Municipality Entrepreneur Model Banpale community forest Sustainable forest management and ecotourism for FECOFU Besisahar 2 Kalika CF Year 2 Lamjung 1 63.24 151 prosperity, Model Kalika Community Forest for N Municipality Inclusiveness and Livelihood Improvement Inclusive governance, entrepreneur sustainable FECOFU Phedikhola Rural 3 Chipleti CF Year 2 Syangja 1,2 37.44 153 management of forest as identification of Model N Municipality Chipleti Community Forest "Good governance and collective Community Jumdanda FECOFU Bandipur Rural 4 Year 2 Tanahun 4 47 106 Forest sustainable forest management for Jhapri CF N Municipality livelihood" Ecotourism with sustainable management of FECOFU Gadhwa Rural 5 Kulpani CF Year 2 Dang 1 436 585 forest, equitable good governance with prosperous N Municipality model Kulpani Community forest Interest of all users, Model Janshakti CF in Janshakti FECOFU Tikapur 6 Year 3 Kailali 2 140.5 597 ecotourism, sustainable management and CF N Municipality entrepreneurship Puspatinath FECOFU Duduwa Rural Model in religious tourism and entrepreneurship is 7 Year 3 Banke 5 85.5 155 CF N Municipality the interest of Puspatinath CF Thangkhol FECOFU Kalika Sustainable Thangkhola CF, Model in ecotourism, 8 Year 3 Chitwan 2,3 199 1739 a CF N Municipality good governance and inclusiveness Biodiversity conservation, safeguarding socio- Musedada FECOFU Nawalpa Hupsekot Rural 9 Year 3 4 75.66 476 cultural belief through SFM, ecotourism and CF N rasi Municipality entrepreneur development FECOFU Gorkha Rajdevi ma digo ban, rojgari;ban ma saalak, ghar- 10 Rajdevi CF Year 4 Gorkha 13 159.6 259 N Municipality ghar ma tapari FECOFU Rajapur Susashait ra samridha santi samudayek ban, digho 11 Santi CF Year 4 Bardiya 7 24.12 102 N Municipality ban bewastan udhamshilta hamro chahana

Annex 5: List of Government Agencies Grant (4th Year)

S. N. Activity Objective Location Grantee Name Status Drafting National To prepare “National Integrated River Integrated River Basin Basin Strategy and Action plan.” Department of Forests 1 Management (IRBM) National Level Under implementation and Soil Conservation Strategy and Action

Plan Revisiting Ecosystems To revisit the ecosystem and forest Ministry of Forests and 2 and forest types of National Level Under implementation types of Nepal Environment Nepal To improve and ensure rainwater harvesting and supply system in Thulipokhari, ultimately supporting Soil and Watershed Renovation of the livelihood condition of concerned 3 Landscape level Management Office, Under implementation Thulipokhari settlers through obtaining healthy Parbat ecosystem and maintaining land productivity as well as socio- economic condition of the area To share and exchange research findings knowledge and experiences South Asian on forestry and agro-forestry by Forest Research and 4 Conference on National Level Completed bringing together leading Training Center Agroforestry Research academicians, scientists, policy makers from south Asia

Annex 6: Performance Indicator Tracking Table (PITT): July 2019 – December 2019, Year 4

Data Year 4 : as of Dec, 2019 Reporting Baseline (& Y1 Year 2 Year 3 SN Indicator Unit Disaggrega Regular SGP Total Justification Frequency Year) Actual Actual Actual Target tion Actual Actual Actual Goal: To increase ecological and community resilience in the Chitwan- Annapurna Landscape and Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal Objective 1: Improve the conservation and management of GON-identified biodiverse landscapes-CHAL and TAL Result 1.1: Threats to target Species reduced Tiger 2018 198 (2013) 235 NA 1.1.1 Population size of key species Number of Rhino 2019/2020 645 (2015) 0 NA 1 (USAID PMP 2.3.3-1) individual Snow 301-400 2021 0 NA leopard (2017) 1.1.2 Number of rhino and tiger poaching Number of Tiger NA 0 0 2 incidents recorded by USG supported poaching Annual Rhino 0 (2016) 2 0 0 programs (USAID PMP 2.3.3-2) incidents CBAPUs 201 (2011- 1.1.3 Number of Community based anti- Semi-annual 4 39 34 Number of Formed 2016) 3 poaching units (CBAPUs) formed and/or CBAPUs CBAPU 351 (2012- mobilized Annual 163 355 418 412 mobilized 2016) 1.1.4 Number of people that apply Sex, improved conservation law enforcement Number of Caste/ethni 2,572 (2011- 4 Annual 2,071 4,467 3723 4,120 practices as a result of USG assistance people city/ age 2016) (EG.10.2-6) group Baseline and endline at 1.1.5 Value of economic loss (in USD) due 88.69 Program to incidents of human-wildlife conflict USD/HH-Year 5 USD Landscape level and recorded by USG supported programs ( April 2016 - annual at (USAID PMP 2.3.3-3) April 2017) intervention sites. Number of 1.1.6 Number of protected area protected 6 management plans revised to make climate area NA Annual 1 (2011-2016) 2 4 1 smart managemen t plans 1.1.7 Percentage of project supported 9.09% ( April % of HHs Baseline and 7 households that perceive that relief amount Landscape 2016 - April 0 supported endline is paid in a timely manner 2017) 1.1.8 Percentage of people perceiving that 50.58% ( April Baseline and 8 they receive benefits from conservation % of people Landscape 2016 - April 0 endline activities 2017) 1.1.9 Number of peer reviewed scientific Number of 9 publications resulting from USG support to publication Annual 3 10 research and implementation programs s Result 1.2: Threats to target landscapes reduced 10 1.2.1 Number of sub-watershed plans Number of NA Semi-annual 5 (2011-2016) 3 0 0

Data Year 4 : as of Dec, 2019 Reporting Baseline (& Y1 Year 2 Year 3 SN Indicator Unit Disaggrega Regular SGP Total Justification Frequency Year) Actual Actual Actual Target tion Actual Actual Actual prepared/revised and implemented plans revised Number of 14 (2013- plans NA Semi-annual 3 1 1 2016) Prepared Number of plans 14 (2013- NA Semi-annual 6 1 implemente 2016) d Annually 1.2.2 Number of water source (perennial) Number of 11 NA from Year 2 4 (2012-2016) 8 12 3 conserved in 21 micro-watersheds Catchment onwards 1.2.3 Number of people trained in Sex, sustainable natural resources management Number of caste/ethnic 33,509 12 Semi-annual 512 8336 3,500 1204 95 1299 and/or biodiversity conservation as a result people ity /age (2011-2016) 10,350 of USG assistance (EG.10.2-4) group Sex, 1.2.3a Number of people participated in Number of caste/ethnic 211,469 13 sustainable natural resources management Semi-annual 11,137 42,569 20,000 13,970 447 14417 people ity /age (2011-2016) 61,380 and/or biodiversity conservation group The Management 1.2.4 Number of hectares of biologically Plan of Dhorpatan significant areas under improved natural 532,979 14 Ha Landscape Semi-annual 28,698 211,402 159,89 75,000 132500 has been endorsed. resource management as a result of USG (2011-2016) 132,500 9 The LOA target has assistance (EG.10.2-2) been met by now. 1.2.5 Number of hectares of biologically significant areas showing improved 75,376 (2011- 15 Ha Landscape Semi-annual 193 18,412 12,543 9,800 889 15 904 biophysical conditions as a result of USG 2016) assistance (EG.10.2-1) 481 (2012- 1.2.6 Number of community forest Renewal 49 117 100 11 11 Number of 2016) 16 operation plans (CFOPs) supported for Semi-annual CFOPs Implemente renewal and implementation NA 49 117 100 11 11 d EG.10.2-5 Number of laws, policies, or regulations that address biodiversity conservation and/or other environmental No. of 10 (2012- 17 NA Annual 2 3 2 themes officially proposed, adopted, or policies 2016) implemented as a result of USG assistance (USAID PMP 2.4.1-2) Result 1.3: Market-based livelihood alternatives developed and promoted Individual NRs. 1.3.1 Revenue generated from conservation 3,313,13 42,429, 18 NRs. Household Annual 14,302,040 ( ####### friendly enterprises 2 385 & Group Dec 2017) 1.3.2 Number of people with improved Sex, Number of 79830 (2011- 19 economic benefits derived from sustainable caste/ethnic Semi-annual 10,950 10,310 10,000 1,535 0 1,535 people 2016) natural resource management and/or ity /age

Data Year 4 : as of Dec, 2019 Reporting Baseline (& Y1 Year 2 Year 3 SN Indicator Unit Disaggrega Regular SGP Total Justification Frequency Year) Actual Actual Actual Target tion Actual Actual Actual biodiversity conservation as a result of USG group assistance (EG.10.2-3) Caste/ethni 1.3.3 Number of women entrepreneurs Number of 292 ( Dec 20 city /age Semi-annual 363 211 55 2 2 engaged in conservation friendly enterprises Women 2017) group Sex, Number of caste/ethnic 1,127 (2012- people Semi-annual 324 65 ity /age 2016) trained 1.3.4 Proportion of skill-based trainees group 21 employed Sex, % of Annual in caste/ethnic 55% (2012- 48% 55% trainees Year 3, 4 and 0 ity /age 2016) (156) (192) employed 5 group GNDR-2 Percentage of female participants in USG-assisted programs designed to % of 22 increase access to productive economic Landscape Annual NA 56% female 45% resources (assets, credit, income or employment Objective 2: Reduce climate change vulnerability in CHAL and TAL Result 2.1 Participatory Climate Change Vulnerability reduction integrated into local, district and national process 2.1.1 Number of vulnerability assessments Number of 529 (2011- Khudi Marsyangdi 23 conducted at sub-basin, sub-watershed, Landscape Semi-annual 4 9 8 1 1 VAs 2016) ISWMP rural municipality level Support made to prepared LDCRP of Tikapur Number of 90 (2013- Municipality, LAPA Landscape Semi-annual 1 3 1 1 2 2016) Kailali prepared DPRP plan of Thakurbaba Municipality 2.1.2 Number of LAPAs prepared and/or 24 We continued to implemented support implementation of Number of 15 LAPAs out of 59 LAPAs 70 (2013- Landscape Semi-annual 18 20 21 15 supported so far. implemente 2016) The Program team d is working for implementation of 15 new LAPAs. We don’t report 2.1.3 Number of climate change adaptation Number of this indicator due to 25 plans being implemented in collaboration Landscape Annual 6 (2013-2016) 0 0 10 LAPAs closure of EFLG with EFLG Committees at different levels Program 2.1.4 Number of local bodies (DDC, Number of 26 Municipality and VDC) and PA authority Landscape Annual 6 (2011-2016) 1 12 11 7 local bodies incorporating climate change adaptation,

Data Year 4 : as of Dec, 2019 Reporting Baseline (& Y1 Year 2 Year 3 SN Indicator Unit Disaggrega Regular SGP Total Justification Frequency Year) Actual Actual Actual Target tion Actual Actual Actual DRR and/or EFLG provisions in their plans EG.11-3 Number of laws, policies, regulations, or standards addressing climate Number of 27 change adaptation formally proposed, NA Annual 4 (2011-2016) 1 1 policies adopted, or implemented as supported by USG assistance (USAID PMP 2.4.1-3) Result 2.2 Community Readiness to adapt to and benefit from climate change increased Sex, 2.2.1 Number of people trained in climate Number of caste/ethnic 18,744 (2011- 28 change adaptation supported by USG Semi-annual 855 1,721 2,071 1,330 911 33 944 people ity /age 2016) assistance (EG.11-1) group Sex, 2.2.2 Number of people participating in Number of caste/ethnic 395,331 29 Semi-annual 4,632 48,626 58,246 30,000 6,944 362 7,306 climate change adaptation activities people ity /age (2011-2016) group Adaptation 2.2.3 Number of institutions with improved capacity/Ge capacity to assess or address climate change Number of 2,114 (2011- 30 neral Semi-annual 23 75 70 38 10 0 10 risks supported by USG assistance (EG.11- institutions 2016) climate 2) capacity Implementi ng risk reducing 2.2.4 Number of people using climate practices & information or implementing risk-reducing Number of Using 195,461 31 actions to improve resilience to climate Semi-annual 1,482 24,469 26,987 30,000 4,566 724 5,290 people climate (2012-2016) change as supported by USG assistance information (EG.11-6) in decision- making DIA-RP has been prepared in six 2.2.5 Number of adaptation plans that are LAPA and one implementing measures to address Number of ISWMP. 32 differential impacts of climate change and adaptation NA Semi-annual 2 (2013-2016) 7 8 5 Implementation of DRR on women and vulnerable plans plan will be communities/people supported in remaining period of Year 4. 2.2.6 Number of institutions established and Number of 14 (2013- 33 operational at sub basin, sub-watershed and Landscape Semi-annual 3 15 5 institutions 2016) micro watershed level Result 2.3 Climate-related risks to people and ecosystems reduced through disaster risk reduction and management efforts 2.3.1 Number of people with improved Number of 34 capacity to recover from disasters including NA Semi-annual NA 492 1,772 2,584 1,100 356 356 people from climate induced disasters 35 2.3.2 Number of CCA and DRR plans Number of Landscape Semi-annual 2(2013-2016) 2 20 6 5 The Program team

Data Year 4 : as of Dec, 2019 Reporting Baseline (& Y1 Year 2 Year 3 SN Indicator Unit Disaggrega Regular SGP Total Justification Frequency Year) Actual Actual Actual Target tion Actual Actual Actual implemented plans is working for implementation of new CCA DRR integrated LAPAs. Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) GESI Result 1: Improved internal GESI policies, standards, and governance practiced by user groups GESI 1.1 Number of NRM groups Number of 36 integrating GESI provisions in plan and NA Annual 251 (2017) 25 167 40 groups policies GESI 1.2 Number of NRM groups Number of 37 NA Annual 242(2017) 25 139 50 implementing the GESI provisions groups 82.43% Midterm assessment GESI 1.3 Women and members of ethnic of the indicator has and marginalized groups perceiving that been carried out in 78.96% ( Dec 38 NRM members including men and decision % NA Year 3 and 5 0 December 2019. 2017) makers exhibit gender equitable and Hence the progress socially inclusive behavior is reported in Year 4 instead of Year 3 GESI Result 2: More women, youth, and marginalized people perform effective leadership, decision making and advocacy

Wome n and margin alized - 74% Women and (wome GESI 2.1 Percent of leadership positions in marginalized - n only- USG-supported community management 72% (women 47% 39 entities that are filled by a woman or % NA Year 3 and 5 only- 40% ; (margi member of a vulnerable group (USAID marginalized nalized PMP 1.3.2-1) men only - women 32%): 2017 23%); margin alized men only - 27%) Midterm assessment of the indicator has GESI 2.2 Proportion of women and men Sex, been carried out in (members of NRM groups) who believe that caste/ethnic 65.44% ( Dec 40 % Year 3 and 5 77.61% December 2019. the gender roles have been changed as a ity /age 2017) Hence the progress result of USG assistance group is reported in Year 4 instead of Year 3. GESI 2.3 Proportion of women and Midterm assessment 43% ( Dec 41 marginalized groups in NRM leadership % NA Year 3 and 5 52.50% of the indicator has 2017) positions perceiving they have been able to been carried out in

Data Year 4 : as of Dec, 2019 Reporting Baseline (& Y1 Year 2 Year 3 SN Indicator Unit Disaggrega Regular SGP Total Justification Frequency Year) Actual Actual Actual Target tion Actual Actual Actual perform their roles effectively December 2019. Hence the progress is reported in Year 4 instead of Year 3. GESI Result 3: More equitable access to and benefit sharing from natural resources for women and marginalized groups NRs. (million) Landscape Annual 111 (2017) 111 14.49 2 Income/ Revenue GESI 3.1 Benefits received by women and NRs. 4.82 42 members of ethnic and marginalized groups (million) (33% from NRM and adaptation interventions allocated 12 (2017) of for women Landscape Annual (11% of total 12 0.7 annual and revenue) revenu marginalize e) d groups Governance Governance Result 1: Improved institutional capacity of user groups Based on the scores they 10% (40) have received on their %. of capacity, 49 % Gov 1.1 Percent of local organizations with institutions local 43 improved capacity and/or performance NA Annual 13% (50) 35% (Number of organizations scores (USAID PMP 1.3.1-2) institutions) fall under good, 44% medium and 7% weak categories Governance Result 2: Improved capacity of user groups to leverage and mobilize resources Gov 2.1 Number LAPA groups able to Number leverage resources from other sources, 28 (2014- 44 LAPA NA Semi-annual 6 23 27 20 1 1 including government agencies for 2016) groups CCA/DRR Governance Result 3: Improved technical capacity of user groups to advance local solutions on biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation issues Replication plan has been prepared and 27 interested Gov 3.1 Number of local organizations No. of CFUGs have been 45 receiving U.S assistance engaged in NA Semi-annual NA 0 4 50 institutions selected. The implementing initiatives for local solutions progress will be reported in annual reporting. Governance Result 4: Improved policy and enabling environment for biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation Gov 4.1 Number of No. of 24 (2012- 46 NA Annual 1 2 4 2 policies/Regulations/Administrative policies 2016)

Data Year 4 : as of Dec, 2019 Reporting Baseline (& Y1 Year 2 Year 3 SN Indicator Unit Disaggrega Regular SGP Total Justification Frequency Year) Actual Actual Actual Target tion Actual Actual Actual Procedures in following stages of development: Stage 1: Analysis; Stage 2: Stakeholder consultation/public debate; Stage 3: Drafting or revision; Stage 4: Approval (legislative or regulatory); Stage 5: Full and effective implementation (USAID PMP 2.4-2) Gov 4.2/ DR.4.2-2 Number of civil society No. of organizations (CSOs) receiving USG 47 organizatio NA Semi-annual NA 11 35 30 1 assistance engaged in advocacy ns interventions (USAID PMP 1.3.1-1) Gov 4.3 Number of public policies introduced, adopted, repealed, changed or No. of 48 NA Annual 30 (2017) 1 3 2 2 implemented consistent with citizen input policies [2.4.1-12, USAID PMP 1.4.1-1] NEW Indicators NRM groups 50 (with NRM ICA results: improve groups: Number of Weak -28 d CBLD-8 Number of USG-assisted Type of 85 institutions/ Medium -176 performa organizations with increased performance organizatio Annual ISWM organizatio & Good - 197 nce improvement ns P ns ISWMP scores of commit committees: NRM tees: 2 NA groups) LAPA: LAPA: 20 Type of 21 RESIL-1 Number of host government or LAPA: ISWMP: plans and ISWM community-derived risk management plans Number of 18 1 LAPA: phase of Annual NA P:1 formally proposed, adopted, implemented plans ISWMP: Manage 15 developme Manag or institutionalized with USG assistance 6 ment nt ement Plans: 2 Plans:4 LCPV: 1 YOUTH-3 Percentage of participants in USG-assisted programs designed to % of youth Sex Annual NA 11% increase access to productive economic resources who are youth (15-29) [IM-level]

Annex 7: List of documentation works that aim to capture key outcomes and knowledge from Hariyo Ban interventions

SN Component Documentation topic Status Remarks 1 Biodiversity Conservation Bijaysal conservation and promotion Factsheet prepared Documentary produced 2 Biodiversity Conservation Original assemblage Translocation Rhino, Arna, Swamp Deer, Factsheet produced Black buck Video under production compiled of all species (past and present) Blackbuck document under preparation (legacy) 3 Biodiversity Conservation Livelihood Interventions (This is a research to identify the Field work completed and report under preparation livelihood linkage between biodiversity conservation and livelihood interventions) 4 Biodiversity Conservation Video on coffee and cardamom preliminary draft prepared livelihood Socio economic Empowerment of PVSEs through different Kanthamala video produced enterprises (link contribution of livelihoods and conservation)

5 Biodiversity Conservation Community based Red Panda monitoring and Red panda-based Report prepared. floral species Ecotourism in Langtang National Park and its Buffer Zone

6 Biodiversity Conservation National Tiger Survey (2013 2018) Draft ready, review ongoing. 7 Biodiversity Conservation Red panda National Survey 2016 Draft ready, review ongoing. 8 Biodiversity Conservation Pangolin National Survey 2016 Draft ready, review ongoing. 9 Biodiversity Conservation Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund modalities ToR ready. Data analysis underway 10 Biodiversity Conservation Policies and plans supported List updated Climate Change Adaptation Factsheet prepared 11 Human Wildlife Conflict Predator proof coral support Report prepared. Four-page document (Nepali versions) & factsheet prepared 12 Biodiversity conservation National capacity for handing the wildlife disease and forensic Write up started (legacy) established and enhanced Story published

SN Component Documentation topic Status Remarks 13 Combating Wildlife Trade CBAPU mobilization Four-page document (Nepali versions) Training manual drafted and under review Constitution drafted and under review 14 Combating Wildlife Trade Training, sensitization and awareness in CWT outreach Stocktaking completed to start write up include this in grant agreement from CWT 15 Combating Wildlife Trade Community based participatory approach to combat wildlife poaching and illegal trade (CBAPU formation and networking as a new initiative in CHAL) 16 Habitat restoration Champ conservation and promotion for corridor restoration Monograph published Four-page document drafted (English version) 17 Governance Policy advocacy 18 Payment for Environmental PES Phewa & Marsyangdi basic feature and status – Four-page document of Phewa PES (Nepali version) Services environmental services, fund status, buyers, sellers, Factsheet Phewa PES prepared management, major activities implemented (Phewa), (Marshyangdi) 19 Biodiversity conservation Model CF Brochure (Nepali and English) published Governance Four-page document prepared (Nepali versions) 20 Biodiversity Conservation Forest fire management (fire line and insurance) Two-page document prepared (Nepali) Factsheet prepared 21 Habitat restoration Plantation 22 Habitat restoration CFOP renewal and implementation support 23 Habitat restoration Lake Cluster of Pokhara Valley management plan Knowledge document prepared implementation integrating with PES and Ramsar Strategy Fact sheet prepared Restoration factsheet of Khaste Neureni prepared 24 Habitat restoration Water sources holes restoration and conservation for people and wildlife 25 Habitat restoration Improved bio physical condition (plantation, fencing, fire line, Four-page document prepared (Nepali Version) LAPA Climate Change Adaptation grassland management, ISWMP, LAPA, restoration, …) Factsheet prepared of ISWMP Fencing story 26 Biodiversity Conservation Establishing the functional linkage between North South in Climate Change Adaptation CHAL

SN Component Documentation topic Status Remarks 27 Habitat Management Infrastructure assessment in TAL and CHAL Completed 28 Biodiversity Conservation Underpass effectiveness Study report completed 29 Habitat Management Green Roads Engineering Concept GRE Manual published GRRT manual published (phase I) 30 Biodiversity Conservation Guiding fence in Sikta Irrigation Study report completed 31 Habitat Management Bio engineering Two-page document prepared (Nepali) 32 Habitat Management Assessment of construction activity and bio engineering of Draft report prepared Phase I and Phase II 33 Livelihood Coffee enterprise Factsheet, brochure, video, produced 34 Livelihood Broom grass enterprise Success stories Knowledge document prepared Phase I Factsheet 35 Livelihood Wool weaving enterprise Factsheet prepared 36 Livelihood Bel juice enterprise Factsheet prepared Four-page document (Nepali) Brochure (Nepali) 37 Livelihood Cardamom enterprise Factsheet, brochure, video, produced 38 Livelihood Dairy enterprise 39 Livelihood Skill based vocational training Study report completed 40 Livelihood Ecotourism Homestay Factsheet prepared Two-page document (Nepali) 41 Livelihood Revolving fund Factsheet, two-page and four-page (Nepali) 42 Livelihood Review of Livelihood Improvement Program supported by Ongoing Hariyo Ban 43 Livelihood Assessment of Income Generation enterprise Activities in Ongoing TAL and CHAL 44 Climate Change Adaptation ISWMP's contribution to reduction of threats and vulnerabilities 45 Climate Change Adaptation Building resilience of poor and vulnerable communities

(LAPA, ISWMP, PA Management Plans, CFOPs, CCA DRR

SN Component Documentation topic Status Remarks integration in local planning)

46 Climate Change Adaptation LAPA's contribution in vulnerability risk reduction and resilience building 47 Climate Change Adaptation Climate smart, GESI friendly, time saving technologies Four-page document (Nepali) prepared GESI 48 Climate Change Adaptation Climate Change Impact Monitoring Plots: Living laboratory for studying climate change impact on people and nature

49 Gender Equality and Social CLAC formation and mobilization Factsheet, four-page (Nepali) published Inclusion 50 Gender Equality and Social Interventions and modalities for social and institutional Inclusion transformation (CLAC, post CLAC, change agent, LRPs) 51 Gender Equality and Social Post CLAC Support Factsheet, four & two page (Nepali) published Inclusion 52 Gender Equality and Social Change Agents mobilization Inclusion 53 Gender Equality and Social Social Mobilizer and Local Resource Person mobilization Inclusion 54 Gender Equality and Social Climate smart, GESI, time saving technologies Four-page document (Nepali) prepared Inclusion 55 GESI Climate Change Framework for responding differential impact of climate and Learning brief published. Adaptation disaster risks 56 GESI Climate Change Gender role redistribution: contribution of climate smart and Adaptation women friendly technology, tools and practices (tackling differential impacts of climate change) 57 Gender Equality and Social Reducing GBV in NRM Two-page Nepali document prepared Inclusion 58 Gender Equality and Social GESI Analysis and Action Plan implementation Inclusion 59 Gender Equality and Social Institutionalization of GESI for enhanced organizational Inclusion performance and program impact

SN Component Documentation topic Status Remarks 60 Governance Institutional Capacity Building of NRM Groups Four-page document prepared (Nepali Version) 61 Governance Policy advocacy 62 Governance Value addition of Governance Work 63 Governance Matured group and action network mobilization 64 Governance Reflective institutional capacity building approach for improved NRM governance 65 Habitat Management Conservation of Aahal and Pokhari Project report available Brief to be prepared 66 Livelihood Organic turmeric support Project report available Brief to be prepared 67 Climate Change Adaptation Customization of weather information Project report available Brief to be prepared 68 Gender Equality and Social Internal GESI Policy including Gender Based Violence Kaski Project report available Inclusion Brief to be prepared 69 Biodiversity Conservation Compendium of Academic Research Published 70 Human Wildlife Conflict Human Primate Conflict Video prepared by Small Mammal Conservation and research foundation Report available

Annex 8: Success Stories Story 1: Predator proof corral: successful mitigation measures for managing HWC

The threats and vulnerability assessments conducted in 2016 suggest that Human Wildlife Conflict is critical to biodiversity conservation. This issue is burgeoning in the corridors, and buffer zones of Protected Areas. To overcome this, Hariyo Ban Program has been working significantly in implementation of various curative and preventive measures. Preventive measures against the Human Wildlife Conflict implemented included: power fence, plantation of unpalatable crops, predator proof coral distribution and early warning system. These measures help to deter wildlife from the possible conflicts between human and wildlife.

Among all, predator proof corral (enclosure) support is one of the major interventions to deter HWC for reduction of livestock depredation by the wildlife. WWF TAL has made huge investment under the Hariyo Ban Program and supported 206 families to build predator proof enclosure (targeted to small livestock goats/pigs/sheep) in hotspots in Banke, Bardiya and Kanchanpur.

Parwati Singh one of the beneficiaries of modern predator proof corral from Baghphanta, Kanchanpur reported that corral has largely been helpful for safeguarding the livestock from wild predators, especially during nighttime. According to Parwati, it was very difficult to protect livestock from predators in traditional pen. Many families in her village are involved in goat rearing business as source of livelihood. People have suffered with huge economic loss due to livestock depredation by predators in the past. “We could not sleep during nights then. We remained awake for many nights in a fear and used to guard the livestock’, Parwati explains. But after the installation of predator proof corral in support of Hariyo Ban II, the days of sleepless nights are gone. Now the livestock are safe inside the corral. As an impact the people are encouraged to raise more goats which will help to improve their economic status.

A study conducted by the program to assess the effectiveness of corral in supported households found that before the construction of modern predator proof pen i.e. while communities had traditional self-made pen, 167 livestock of 51% families were killed by wild predator out of which maximum number (62%) were goats, 18% were sheep, 11% were pigs, and 9% were other livestock. After the support, the depredation of livestock has been drastically reduced to 26 livestock of 8% families who were supported.

Story 2: Trainings Usher Livelihood Options, Create Better Livelihoods for CFUG Members

Healthy ecosystems are unequivocally the essential foundation for economies to thrive and Hariyo Ban Program specifically works for the same objective. The livelihoods projects designed within the Program aim to improve the livelihoods of rural communities living near forests, and consist of a range of activities, including beekeeping, livestock raising, and agricultural projects, among others which are delivering livelihoods and conservation benefits. Coupling these interventions with skill-based livelihood trainings, the Program is benefitting humanity and nature now and for generations to come.

Take Hum Prasad Parajuli for an example. A resident of Madhyabindu Municipality – 7, Nawalpur, Hum Prasad Parajuli spent six years of his prime youth in Qatar as an unskilled labor. When he returned to Nepal, he did not have any skill added to his resume, and not much savings left in the bank. Being a member of community forest user group, he received electrician training from Hariyo Ban Program about one and a half years ago. The training proved to be significant for his livelihood as what he did afterwards has been nothing short of a fairy tale.

Parajuli now operates catering and clothes store businesses, but he is primarily an electrician. He has been performing house wirings ever since after the training and earns more now which helps him make ends meet to provide for his family.

“I am so happy I was provided the training by Hariyo Ban Program. Now I earn as much, if not more than what I would have earned during foreign employment. This training has helped me remain with my family in Nepal. On top of these, I have provided employment opportunities to two others who were forest-dependent just like me,” Parajuli says with a smile on his face.

His family now cooks food on a bio-gas stove; the family has shifted from traditional agriculture methods to tunnel farming, thanks to additional income from his occupations. Parajuli has been a source of inspiration to neighbors; wherever he goes, he is repeatedly asked about the progress he has made financially and socially upon returning to Nepal. He plans to scale up his investments and create employment opportunities for others in coming days.

Another beneficiary of such training provided by Hariyo Ban Program is 20 years old Karan Mahato from Madi Municipality – 4, Chitwan. He received electrician training after completing his Secondary Education Examination. As was informed by his neighbors about the training being provided to members of nearby community forests, he immediately felt that he had to participate; vocational education being one of his interests.

Once he completed the training, he started working at a nearby electrical shop. Immensely helped by the terminologies and practical sessions during the training, it was not much of an issue for him to understand the details about the job. Living in a joint family along with his wife and an infant daughter, he has been able to support his family with his earnings from the job.

“To move ahead in life with a vocational skill is a blessing. After I received training from Hariyo Ban Program, I am now able to look after my family without much ado. I am extremely satisfied with my job. This training has helped me stay in the country at time when a lot of my friends are going abroad for employment,” says a seemingly thankful Mahato.

His family has drastically reduced the usage of forest products for household purposes. His brothers idolize him for showing them the way to earn their livelihood, and neighbors have nothing but praise for him. Just like Hum, he also hopes to receive further trainings. He aspires to establish his own business soon.

Story 3: One step ahead for institutionalization of ISWMP committee

“Khageri Khola Sub Watershed Committee used to be a loose forum representing members from upstream, midstream and downstream areas who share a common interest to manage watershed resources in Khageri Khola Sub-watershed. However, the legalization of this loose forum was continuously on priority since its establishment. Now, after three years of rigorous meetings, discussions and sharing with local government, district administration office and other relevant stakeholders, this led to a common understanding what the mission of the loose forum is i.e. going from Khageri Khola Sub-Watershed Committee to being officially registered as Khageri Khola Sub-Watershed Conservation Committee. Hariyo Ban Program played a crucial role in this process through financial and technical backstopping for establishing the forum at sub-watershed level, providing capacity building, mobilization for ISWMPs implementation, preparation of the operating procedures and constitution, etc. The registration of the committee has opened new doors for integrated management of sub-watershed, further extending coordination and collaboration with multi-stakeholders, leveraging the resources as a legal entity. Our identity is growing and even local Government, stakeholders are also inviting us in discussions, and in workshops related to CCA, DRR and Watershed management” Mr. Tom Bahadur Tamang, Chairperson, Khageri Khola Sub Watershed Conservation Committee.

Story 4: Adaptive livelihood: a great relief The 55-year old Dhokalsi Gurung of Marshyangdi Rural Municipality of Ghermu village, Lamjung was doing subsistence farming and often struggled to meet the food supply for family of two persons, himself and his wife.

As a part of LAPA implementation, to support for adaptive livelihood, the Program trained Dhokalsi on vegetable farming. After the training he also received tunnels for farming. Not only him, but other 14 persons from his community were trained and provided with tunnels for vegetable farming. “Since then, my life has undergone a tremendous change. I started growing vegetables in my small patch of land. The cultivation of vegetables under the plastic tunnels almost doubles the yields and produces high quality crops. I am now earning NRs. 60,000 annually, which is sufficient for two of us” shares Dhoklasi.

WWF Nepal PO Box: 7660, Baluwatar, Kathmandu, Nepal T: +977 1 4434820, F: +977 1 4438458 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.wwfnepal.org/hariyobanprogram