IPSI Case Study Summary Sheet
Please submit this form along with your case study. We ask that you keep your responses here asconcise as possible. This information will be posted on the IPSI website unless otherwise requested.
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Basic Information
Title of case study (should be concise and within approximately 25 words)

Biodiversity conservation, sustainable land use practices, agroforestry, community-based conservation,
ecotourism, and the challenges faced in promoting sustainable development in the Solukhumbu regionof Nepal.
Submitting IPSI member organization(s)Nepal Indigenous Nationalities Preservation Association NINPA, GPO BOX 7238, KATHMANDU, NEPAL

Other contributing organization(s) (IPSI members and/or non-members)High Himalayan Agriculture Farm

Author(s) and affiliation(s)CBD, WIPO and UNPFIIFormat of case study (manuscript or audiovisual) Manuscript
Language
EnglishKeywords (3-5 key concepts included in the case study)
Keywords: socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS), IPSI case studies, knowledge sharing,sustainability, biodiversity
Date of submission (or update, if this is an update of an existing case study)
15-04-2023
Web link (of the case study or lead organization ifNAavailable for more information)

Geographical Information
Country (where site(s) or activities described in the case study are located – can be multiple, or even “global”)
Nepal
Location(s) (within the country or countries – leave blank if specific location(s) cannot be identified)
Solukhumbu Everest region
Longitude/latitude or Google Maps link (if location is identified)
Latitude: 27° 29' 59.99" N
Longitude: 86° 34' 59.99" E
Ecosystem(s) (please place an “x” in all appropriate boxes)
Forestx
GrasslandxAgriculturalx
In-land waterx
CoastalDryland
Mountainx
Urban/peri-urban x
Other (Please specify)
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area (within 50 words)
This study examines the socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the Solukhumbu District in Nepal,
a mountainous region known for its tourism industry and Mount Everest. Despite the opportunities, the region
faces significant challenges due to its vulnerable mountain environment. Sustainable tourism is identified as a
key challenge and opportunity for the region, requiring collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and local
communities to address social and environmental impacts.
Description of human-nature interactions in the area (land-use, traditional resource management practices etc. – within 50
words)

Solukhumbu, located in the Himalayas of Nepal, has a complex but symbiotic relationship between humans and nature. The Sherpa
community, known for their mountaineering skills, practices sustainable land use, including yak grazing and seasonal crop rotation.

However, the increasing tourism industry has led to the degradation of the environment, including deforestation and waste
management issues. The challenge is to balance economic development with sustainable resource management practices.

Contents
Note: The following fields are used for information about activities described in the case study or the production of the case study itself,and contents may vary depending on the nature of the case study. For example, a case study about on-the-ground activities may include
the rationale, objectives etc. for the activities; a case study about a SEPLS-related policy may describe the policymaking process; or acase study describing a SEPLS may address particular practices used there. Please make an effort to fill as many fields as possible.

Status (“ongoing” or “completed”)
Ongoing
Period (MM/YY to MM/YY)
3/25/23 to 4/11/23
Rationale (why activities or policies described, or information shared in the case study are needed – within 50 words)
The case study highlights the importance of understanding and preserving traditional resource management
practices and balancing economic development with sustainable resource use. It also emphasizes the need for
responsible tourism practices to minimize negative impacts on the environment. This knowledge can inform
policies and activities that promote sustainable development and help mitigate the adverse effects of humannature interactions in the region.
Objectives (goals of activities or policies described, or of producing the case study – within 50 words)
The objectives of this case study are to increase awareness of the complex human-nature interactions in the
Solukhumbu area and to promote sustainable resource management practices. It aims to inform policy
decisions and activities that balance economic development with environmental conservation and promoteresponsible tourism practices that minimize negative impacts on the environment.
Activities and/or practices employed (within 50 words)
The activities and practices employed in Solukhumbu include traditional resource management practices suchas seasonal crop rotation and yak grazing, as well as responsible tourism practices, such as waste management
and ecotourism. Additionally, the local community is involved in conservation efforts through initiatives like
community forestry programs and the establishment of conservation areas.
Monitoring methodology (e.g. GIS-based monitoring, citizen science, Resilience Indicators in SEPLS, survey - within 40 words)
Monitoring methodology in Solukhumbu involves a combination of GIS-based monitoring, citizen science, andsurveys. Remote sensing and GIS tools are used to map land use changes and monitor deforestation. Citizen
science and surveys are employed to collect data on wildlife populations and monitor community perceptionsof conservation efforts.
Results (within 50 words)
The traditional resource management practices in Solukhumbu have helped maintain a balance between human needs
and environmental conservation. However, the tourism industry has led to environmental degradation, highlighting theneed for responsible tourism practices. Community forestry programs and conservation areas have helped mitigate theimpacts of human-nature interactions on the environment.

Lessons learned (factors in success or failure, challenges and opportunities – within 40 words)
The case study highlights the importance of traditional resource management practices and responsible
tourism practices in promoting sustainable development. It also underscores the need for community
involvement in conservation efforts. The challenges include balancing economic development withenvironmental conservation and the need for capacity building to promote sustainable resource management
practices.
Funding (any relevant information about funding of activities or projects described in the case study)
Thank you for the clarification. Based on the updated information, the activities or projects described in thecase study are funded through the organization's own limited resources.

Contributions to Global Agendas
CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (https://www.cbd.int/gbf/targets/)
Please place an "x" under a number to rate how much this case study contributes to each CBD Target.
Note 1: The number scale goes from 1, the lowest rating, to 5, the highest rating. N/A indicates “not applicable”.
Note 2: Please only mark those to which the case study has or will actually contribute, not those to which it could potentiallycontribute in the future.

TargetContribution

Description
1

1. Reducing threats to biodiversity

1

2

3

4

Ensure that all areas are under participatory, integrated and biodiversity inclusive
spatial planning and/or effective management processes addressing land- andsea-use change, to bring the loss of areas of high biodiversity importance,
including ecosystems of high ecological integrity, close to zero by 2030, while
respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities.

5

N/A

x

2

Ensure that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of areas of degraded terrestrial, inland
water, and marine and coastal ecosystems are under effective restoration, inorder to enhance biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, ecologicalintegrity and connectivity.

3

Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 per cent of terrestrial and inland
water areas, and of marine and coastal areas, especially areas of particularimportance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively
conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected andequitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based
conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, whereapplicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while
ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully
consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights ofindigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional
territories.

4

𝐸𝑛𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑢𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒− 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑚𝑖𝑧𝑒 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛
X− 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑓𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑡 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑒𝑥𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒.

5

Ensure that the use, harvesting and trade of wild species is sustainable, safe andlegal, preventing overexploitation, minimizing impacts on non-target species andecosystems, and reducing the risk of pathogen spillover, applying the ecosystemapproach, while respecting and protecting customary sustainable use byindigenous peoples and local communities.

6

Eliminate, minimize, reduce and or mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species
on biodiversity and ecosystem services by identifying and managing pathways of
the introduction of alien species, preventing the introduction and establishmentof priority invasive alien species, reducing the rates of introduction andestablishment of other known or potential invasive alien species by at least 50 per

x

X

X

X

2. Meeting people’ s needs through sustainable use and benefit-sharing

cent by 2030, and eradicating or controlling invasive alien species, especially inpriority sites, such as islands.

7

Reduce pollution risks and the negative impact of pollution from all sources by
2030, to levels that are not harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem functions andservices, considering cumulative effects, including: (a) by reducing excess
nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, including through more
efficient nutrient cycling and use; (b) by reducing the overall risk from pesticides
and highly hazardous chemicals by at least 8half, including through integrated
pest management, based on science, taking into account food security andlivelihoods; and (c) by preventing, reducing, and working towards eliminating
plastic pollution.

8

Minimize the impact of climate change and ocean acidification on biodiversity
and increase its resilience through mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk
reduction actions, including through nature-based solution and/or ecosystembased approaches, while minimizing negative and fostering positive impacts ofclimate action on biodiversity.

9

Ensure that the management and use of wild species are sustainable, thereby
providing social, economic and environmental benefits for people, especiallythose in vulnerable situations and those most dependent on biodiversity,
including through sustainable biodiversity-based activities, products and services
that enhance biodiversity, and protecting and encouraging customary sustainable
use by indigenous peoples and local communities.

10

Ensure that areas under agriculture, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry are
managed sustainably, in particular through the sustainable use of biodiversity,
including through a substantial increase of the application of biodiversity friendly
practices, such as sustainable intensification, agroecological and other innovative
approaches, contributing to the resilience and long-term efficiency andproductivity of these production systems, and to food security, conserving andrestoring biodiversity and maintaining nature’s contributions to people, including
ecosystem functions and services.

11

Restore, maintain and enhance nature’s contributions to people, including
ecosystem functions and services, such as the regulation of air, water andclimate, soil health, pollination and reduction of disease risk, as well as protection
from natural hazards and disasters, through nature-based solutions and/or
ecosystem-based approaches for the benefit of all people and nature.

12

Significantly increase the area and quality, and connectivity of, access to, andbenefits from green and blue spaces in urban and densely populated areas
sustainably, by mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity, and ensure biodiversity-inclusive urban planning, enhancing native
biodiversity, ecological connectivity and integrity, and improving human healthand well-being and connection to nature, and contributing to inclusive andsustainable urbanization and to the provision of ecosystem functions andservices.

X

X

X

X

X

X

3. Tools and solutions for implementation and mainstreaming

13

Take effective legal, policy, administrative and capacity-building measures at alllevels, as appropriate, to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits thatarise from the utilization of genetic resources and from digital sequence
information on genetic resources, as well as traditional knowledge associatedwith genetic resources, and facilitating appropriate access to genetic resources,and by 2030, facilitating a significant increase of the benefits shared, in
accordance with applicable international access and benefit-sharing instruments.

14

Ensure the full integration of biodiversity and its multiple values into policies,
regulations, planning and development processes, poverty eradication strategies,
strategic environmental assessments, environmental impact assessments and, as
appropriate, national accounting, within and across all levels of government andacross all sectors, in particular those with significant impacts on biodiversity,
progressively aligning all relevant public and private activities, and fiscal andfinancial flows with the goals and targets of this framework.

X

X

Take legal, administrative or policy measures to encourage and enable business,and in particular to ensure that large and transnational companies and financial
institutions:(a) Regularly monitor, assess, and transparently disclose their risks, dependencies
and impacts on biodiversity, including with requirements for all large as well astransnational companies and financial institutions along their operations, supply
and value chains, and portfolios;
15(b) Provide information needed to consumers to promote sustainableconsumption patterns;

X(c) Report on compliance with access and benefit-sharing regulations andmeasures, as applicable;
in order to progressively reduce negative impacts on biodiversity, increase
positive impacts, reduce biodiversity-related risks to business and financial
institutions, and promote actions to ensure sustainable patterns of production.

16

Ensure that people are encouraged and enabled to make sustainableconsumption choices, including by establishing supportive policy, legislative or
regulatory frameworks, improving education and access to relevant and accurate
information and alternatives, and by 2030, reduce the global footprint ofconsumption in an equitable manner, including through halving global foodwaste, significantly reducing overconsumption and substantially reducing waste
generation, in order for all people to live well in harmony with Mother Earth.

17

Establish, strengthen capacity for, and implement in all countries, biosafetymeasures as set out in Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity andmeasures for the handling of biotechnology and distribution of its benefits as set
out in Article 19 of the Convention.

18

Identify by 2025, and eliminate, phase out or reform incentives, including
subsidies, harmful for biodiversity, in a proportionate, just, fair, effective andequitable way, while substantially and progressively reducing them by at least

X

X

X

$500 billion per year by 2030, starting with the most harmful incentives, and scale
up positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Substantially and progressively increase the level of financial resources from all
sources, in an effective, timely and easily accessible manner, including domestic,
international, public and private resources, in accordance with Article 20 of theConvention, to implement national biodiversity strategies and action plans,
mobilizing at least $200 billion per year by 2030, including by:(a)
Increasing total biodiversity related international financial resources fromdeveloped countries, including official development assistance, and fromcountries that voluntarily assume obligations of developed country Parties, todeveloping countries, in particular the least developed countries and small island
developing States, as well as countries with economies in transition, to at least$20 billion per year by 2025, and to at least $30 billion per year by 2030;(b)
Significantly increasing domestic resource mobilization, facilitated by the
preparation and implementation of national biodiversity finance plans or similar
instruments according to national needs, priorities and circumstances;

19(c)Leveraging private finance, promoting blended finance, implementing
strategies for raising new and additional resources, and encouraging the private
sector to invest in biodiversity, including through impact funds and other
instruments;

X(d)Stimulating innovative schemes such as payment for ecosystem services,
green bonds, biodiversity offsets and credits, and benefit-sharing mechanisms,with environmental and social safeguards;(e)
Optimizing co-benefits and synergies of finance targeting the biodiversity
and climate crises;(f)Enhancing the role of collective actions, including by indigenous peoples
and local communities, Mother Earth centric actions[1] and non-market-based
approaches including community based natural resource management and civilsociety cooperation and solidarity aimed at the conservation of biodiversity;(g)Enhancing the effectiveness, efficiency and transparency of resource
provision and use;

20

Strengthen capacity-building and development, access to and transfer oftechnology, and promote development of and access to innovation and technicaland scientific cooperation, including through South‑South, North-South andtriangular cooperation, to meet the needs for effective implementation,
particularly in developing countries, fostering joint technology development andjoint scientific research programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of
biodiversity and strengthening scientific research and monitoring capacities,
commensurate with the ambition of the goals and targets of the Framework.

X21

Ensure that the best available data, information and knowledge are accessible todecision makers, practitioners and the public to guide effective and equitable
governance, integrated and participatory management of biodiversity, and tostrengthen communication, awareness-raising, education, monitoring, researchand knowledge management and, also in this context, traditional knowledge,
innovations, practices and technologies of indigenous peoples and local
communities should only be accessed with their free, prior and informed
consent,[2] in accordance with national legislation.

X

22

Ensure the full, equitable, inclusive, effective and gender-responsive
representation and participation in decision-making, and access to justice andinformation related to biodiversity by indigenous peoples and local communities,
respecting their cultures and their rights over lands, territories, resources, andtraditional knowledge, as well as by women and girls, children and youth, andpersons with disabilities and ensure the full protection of environmental humanrights defenders.

X

23

Ensure gender equality in the implementation of the Framework through agender-responsive approach, where all women and girls have equal opportunityand capacity to contribute to the three objectives of the Convention, including byrecognizing their equal rights and access to land and natural resources and theirfull, equitable, meaningful and informed participation and leadership at all levelsof action, engagement, policy and decision-making related to biodiversity.

XUN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs)
Please place an “x” in the “direct” or “indirect” boxes next to any of the UN Sustainable Development Goals to which the work
described in this case study contributes as appropriate. Note: please mark only those that the case actually has made or is making acontribution, not those to which it could make a potential contribution in the future.
SDG
Description
DirectIndirect

End poverty in all its forms everywhereX

End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainableagriculture

X

Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages
X

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning
opportunities for all

X

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
X

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
X

Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for allX

Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive
employment, and decent work for all

X

Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, andfoster innovation

X

Reduce inequality within and among countries
X

Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
X

Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
X

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
XConserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, andhalt biodiversity loss

X

X

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide accessto justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

X

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership forsustainable development

X