Forest and Soil Restoration and Land Use Change Impacts on Carbon Pools and Fluxes in the Himalaya: Research and capacity building in Nepal

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Ecosystems of the Himalayan region are fragile and highly sensitive to the impacts of climate change. The forests and soils of these ecosystems have come under severe stress from the ever-escalating human and livestock population pressures, which have le d to serious degradation of natural resources (forests, land/soil and water). The degradation of forests and soil has major implications for climate change and for the food/livelihood security of local rural communities in the region. Effective short-te rm measures and long-term strategies for enhancing carbon sequestration in forests and soils of the Himalaya would not only help mitigate global climate change by reducing carbon emissions, but could also lead to enhanced livelihoods and reduction of pove rty. The proposed programme aims to build upon past and on-going research to establish relationships among land use change, forest and soil degradation and potential carbon sequestration in forests and agroforestry systems in hill and plains agroecosyste ms of the Himalaya. Furthermore, demonstration plots will be established, along with training and capacity-building conducted to enable the participating institutions to lead and initiate lasting reforms at both the policy (REDD/REALU strategies) and fie ld-implementation levels.