SC-6, Fukui
SC VI/4a3
11 September 2013

Preparation and Piloting of Local Bio-diversity Strategy and Action Plan in Three
Ecological Production Landscapes of Nepal

A Proposal

SUBMITTED TO

SATOYAMA initiative,
UNU Institute of Advance Studies, JapanSUBMITTED BYMINISTRY OF FOREST AND SOIL CONSERVATION, NEPALAND

KATHMANDU FORESTRY COLLEGE
KOTESHWOR, KATHMANDUAPRIL 18, 2013
Working Districts: Rasuwa, Kavre and Chitwan
Three Ecological landscapes: Syapru VDC of Rasuwa (High Hill > 2500 m), Kusadevi VDCof Kavre (Middle Hill- 1500 to 2500) m and Saktikhor VDC of Chitwan (Inner Terai- low hill 450 m- 1500 m)

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11 September 2013

1. Introduction
This proposal is part of the collaborative project proposal prepared for submission to SOTOYAMA
Initiative, United Nation’s University, Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS), Japan. Nepal has
prepared the Biodiversity Strategy (2002) and its Implementation Plan (2006-2010). These documents
are in draft form, which are being reviewed by local consultant. It is expected that the review will
provide a strong foundation and basis for revision of the national biodiversity strategy and action plans.
NBSAP will also include a general framework for LBSAP, but will be primarily focused at district level.
In the mean time, this proposal is intended to prepare general framework for LBSAP to be based at thesmallest administrative unit, the Village Development Committee (VDC). Based on the framework,
piloting of the LBSAP activities will be done in three VDCs, one each ecological region (Terai/Inner
Terai, middle hills and high hills). These VDCs include Saktikhor VDC of Chitwan district, Kusadevi
VDC of Kavre district and Syapru VDC of Rasuwa district, which fall in Inner Terai, Middle hill and Highhill region, respectively.

2. Goal and Objectives
The main goal of LBSAP is to support the respective VDCs to develop a sustainable plan through theintegration of effective administration, biodiversity conservation and maintenance of environmental
goods and services, development planning and growth of the local economy. The duration of theLBSAP will be of 10 year period and it includes broad strategies and specific actions that the respective
VDC will implement in a bid to conserve and enhance its biodiversity.
The specific objectives of the LBSAP are;1. Full integration of biodiversity conservation into the institutional and planning frameworks,
governance and regulatory processes and policies at VDC level
2. Management, conservation and sustainable utilisation of the respective VDC’s aquatic andterrestrial biodiversity assets
3. Community appreciation and active participation in the conservation of VDC level biodiversity.
4. Enhanced human well being and poverty reduction through the mainstreaming of biodiversity
conservation into the local economy.
LBSAP Principal
1. The LBSAP will establish the foundation for the long term integration of biodiversity
considerations into all aspects of the institution and its governance practices.
2. The LBSAP will facilitate legal compliance.
3. The LBSAP will enable the respective VDC to lead by example
4. The LBSAP will consider broader environment issues that relate directly to the conservation ofbiodiversity as these VDCs have no environmental plan
5. The LBSAP will make optimal use of available resources and opportunities
6. The LBSAP will promote socio economic development

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3. LBSAP development process
The LBSAP development process includes four phases as depicted in Figure 1.

Phase 1:
Project
inception

Mobilization of theproject on the basisof mutually agreed
on service levels
and quality
standards

Phase 2:
Stakeholder
analysis andconsultation

Identification andconsultation withkey stakeholders
who will contributemeaningfully andadd value to theLBSAP

Phase 3:Strategic
development andaction planning

Development ofdraft LBSAP,
prioritization ofprojects andapproval

3

Phase 4:Adoption

Adaption of theLBSAP by the VDCcouncil

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11 September 2013

4. Methodology
4.1 Stakeholder consultation process
The LBSAB will be developed in consultation with National, District and VDC level stakeholders.
However, the primary focus will be District and VDC level stakeholders. The following steps will befollowed during consultation:
1. Identify the biodiversity issues
2. Identify how the core functions of various stakeholders impact on biodiversity
3. Identify interventions aimed at the direct and indirect conservation and promotion of biodiversity
in the VDC area
4. Solicit inputs from stakeholders on initiatives they would like to see incorporated into thebiodiversity plan
5. Identify partnership opportunities that the VDC can make use of to promote the conservation ofbiodiversity.

4.2 Biodiversity priority identification and analysis
Of the various issues identified by stakeholder consultation, the possible issues will be prioritized. Thepriority issues would be the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Institutionalization of biodiversity at VDC level
Integration of biodiversity into VDC planning frameworks and processes
Conservation and management of freshwater aquatic biodiversity
Conservation and management of terrestrial biodiversity
The impact of waste and pollution on biodiversity
Lack of biodiversity awareness
Mainstreaming biodiversity into local economic development. Under this, the potential
economic activities such as NTFP domestication and eco-tourism activities will be identified.

4.3 Biodiversity strategy and action planning
Based on the objectives and process identified earlier, the biodiversity strategy and action plan will bedeveloped. A total of 10 strategies will be formulated to achieve the objectives. Each strategy will thenbe broken down into projects to be implemented over the 10 year period of the LBSAP. Projects willthen be categorised as;
Short term 1-3 years
Medium term 4-5 years
Long term 6-10 years

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11 September 2013
The possible project activities to be implemented in the next three years are listed below: However, thisactivity list can be changed based on local consultation.
1. Create a position for an environmental manager /officer in the VDC office and fill the position
with a suitable incumbent
2. Develop and implement an annual awareness programme.
3. Farmers will be provided with necessary skills and training required for biodiversity conservationand other economic activities related program (NTFP, ecotourism).
4. Biodiversity induction program for VDC officials and ward committee members.
5. Group formation for promotion of economic activities (NTFP and ecotourism)
6. Development of an Invasive Species monitoring, control and eradication Plan
7. Exposure visit to conservation areas
8. In-situ and ex-situ conservation/domestication of NTFPs
9. Ecotourism promotion
10. Farmers’ group networking and federation
11. Farmers cooperative development and marketing
12. Sharing workshop at district and national level
13. Documentation, publication and student exchange

4.4 Implementation
The implementation plan details the manner in which the VDC will implement the shortterm projects in terms of; Outcomes Key activities
 Resources Roles and responsibilities
 Time frames (Financial year) Locality (Ward /Area)

4.5 Review, Monitoring and Evaluation of LBSAP
The LBSAP will be included in existing 5 year VDC periodic plan and or will be reviewed on an annualbasis together with the periodic plan. The projects will be included in the Service Delivery Budget
Implementation Plans (SDBIP’s) of the VDC official and secretary and progress will be reviewed by theVDC Council on a quarterly basis.

4.6 Legislative and Policy Framework:
The LBSAP will be informed by various legislation and policy frameworks including the Constitution,international legislation, national legislation, national policies, provincial legislation, provincial policies,
district policies and local policies.

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5. Timeline
Activities
A. LBSAP preparation phase
1. Project inception
2. Stakeholder analysis andconsultation
3. Strategic development andaction planning
4. Final LBSAP preparation andadoption by VDC
B. LBSAP Piloting/Implementation
5. Create and fulfill a position forenvironmental officer at VDC
6. Develop and implement anannual awareness program
7. Training (bio-diversityconservation, NTFPs andEcotourism)
8. Bio-diversity induction
program for VDC officials
9. Group formation for
promotion of economicactivities (NTFP andecotourism)
10.Development of invasive
species monitoring, control
and eradication plan.
11.Exposure visit to conservationareas
12.In-situ and ex-situ
conservation anddomestication of NTFP
13.Eco-tourism promotion
14.Farmers’ group networking
and federation
15.Farmers cooperative
development and marketing
16.Sharing workshop at district
and national level
17.Documentation andpublication

First year

Second year

Midterm review
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6. Community Participation and Contribution
KAFCOL has been working in all three districts (Rasuwa, Kavre and Chitwan) for the last half a decadewith support of various local organizations and national organizations including Nepal Agroforestry
Foundation, Action Aid Nepal, World Education, and various local groups. A strong community base orfoundation has been established in these areas. These organizations have already collected a hugeamount of saving as a village bank, which could be used for borrowing money for NTFP processing andmarketing. Meeting held with local communities revealed that all communities are very much willing towork in this project. Besides, VDCs and district line agencies, particularly District Forest Office,respective conservation areas and National Park and District Soil Conservation Office, will be fully
cooperating with the project to implement the proposed activities under direction of the Ministry ofForests and Soil Conservation (MFSC).

7. Organizational and Human Resource Planning
The human resource planning has been done at two phases. These include:
1. Preparation of LBSAP: A team of 6 members comprised of various backgrounds (including
terrestrial biodiversity-agriculture and forestry, aquatic biodiversity, NRM/ environmental laws, genderand social inclusion, and GIS and Remote Sensing) will be constituted at KAFCOL. This will help in
preparation of LBSAP. This team will be supported by the scientists of Ministry of Forests and Soil
Conservation (MOFSC). This phase will be completed in 6 months of the first year.
2. Implementation/piloting of LBSAP: A core team of nine members will be involved in the LBSAP
implementation. The implementation will be done in three phases. The first phase will last for 3 years as
discussed earlier. The implementation of second and third phase will be the responsibility of theconcerned VDC officials.
Overall implementation responsibility will be vested on KAFCOL with technical backstopping from theMinistry of Forests and Soil Conservation, Nepal. The UNU- Institute of Advanced Studies, Japan willprovide both technical and financial support to execute the project. A 9 member team led by aprofessor of the Kathmandu Forestry College (KAFCOL) with PhD degree in Agroforestry and RuralDevelopment with background in LBSAP and biodiversity conservation and use will run the project. This
team will be technically backstopped by a senior scientist from the MOFSC with PhD degree in Forestryand Environment Science including background in bio-diversity conservation and NTFP. The TeamLeader (TL) and Senior Scientist from the MFSC will visit the site and provide overall guidance to theteam on a regular basis. One professor or faculty from UNU-IAS will visit Nepal during the first year of
the project implementation and provide his/her feedback to the project team.
Of the rest 7 members of the team, three forestry and environment graduates (one each per site) andthree field change agents (one each site) will be based in the field. The rest one will be looking after thefinancial aspect of the project. He or she will be frequently visiting the field from KAFCOL. The threeforestry graduates/ scholar will help in documenting both aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity resourcesin the project area and will make sure that each of the identified species is registered in the respective
VDC. Forestry officers will coordinate the field activities in close coordination with TL. He/ She will keep7

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11 September 2013
his/her field team abreast of information. He/she will be responsible in coordinating with VDC, districtline agencies and other relevant organizations involved in biodiversity conservation and overallmonitoring of the project. The three forestry experts are responsible to provide trainings at field level.
The Field Change Agents will help to follow up of the field program, organize group meetings andexposure visits and keep abreast of information and disseminate information to farmers. Farmers are
given the topmost priority during the implementation of the activities from planning to end of the activity.

8. Project Monitoring and Evaluation
Process monitoring
Of the 9 persons listed under human resource section, six staff will be stationed in the district withfrequent visit in Kathmandu and will make regular follow up and monitoring of the project activities intheir respective sites. The process documentation will be done by each of these experts according totheir professional discipline. The process documentation report will be submitted to all threecollaborating partners. All the processes and activities mentioned earlier will be monitored on a regularbasis. On-going monitoring and follow up will be done by partner institutions including MoFSC andKAFCOL.
Final Evaluation
The program will be monitored and evaluated by a joint team of all stakeholders at the end of the thirdyear program of the project implementation. This activity will be conducted at crop maturity stage andmedia persons also participate in the program. Evaluation will analyse the shortcomings and strengthsof the project and this will be a guideline for further improvement in the rest of the implementation
period (4th-10th years) to be carried out by the VDC itself.

9. Expected Outputs






FIRST LBSAP PREPARED
LBSAP institutionalized
LBSAP adopted by VDC council
In-situ conservation of locally threatened NTFP species
Bio-diversity documentation of important NTFP species done
Improved livelihoods of at least 150 households per site achieved through integration of NTFP
into the existing farming systems
Biodiversity training manual prepared
One VDC level federation of collector/domesticator farmers established from each site
Pressure on natural ecosystems decreased considerably: Support to biodiversity conservation

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10. Reporting
A. LBSAP Preparation
 Inception report
Inception report will be made ready one month after the contract is signed with client

Draft report
The draft report will be sent to UNU-IAS and MOFSC, Nepal at the end of the first quarter.

Final report -LBSAP
Final LBSAP will be ready in six month period

B. LBSAP piloting/ImplementationProject annual Report
The annual report of the project submitted to UNU-IAS will prove the project outputs regularly.

Project follow up report
Follow up will be done quite frequently by the Implementing agencies and collaboratingorganizations. This report will serve a means of verification.

Mid-term evaluation report: in sixth quarters (i.e. one and half years period), a mid-term
evaluation will be done to see whether the project is on track or in line with the objectives of theproject. This will be done jointly by MFSC and KAFCOL.

Project evaluation report
A report will be produced by the evaluation team including one member from District line agency
for further improvement of the project. The team will consist entirely from outside.

Final report
Final report covers all the outputs and achievements as well as recommendations for furtherimprovements of similar kinds of projects. The documentary film will show the impact andsuccess story of the group and will be the source of encouragements for farmers’ as well as alltechnicians working in the same field.

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11 September 2013
Cost Estimation
The total budget exclusive of VAT is NPR 13,045,500.00
The total budget inclusive of VAT is NPR 14,741,415.00
S.N.
A.
1
23
4
5
6
7B.
123
4
56
7
8
91011C.
1
23
4
56
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.

Budget Items

USD

169,441.55

NumberQuantity
Unit

Unit
Cost(NPR)

SalaryProject Director/Team Leader
1150
9,000
Senior Scientist (MoFSC)
110010,000
LBSAP preparation experts
6309,000
Project Accountant
160
5,000
Biodiversity experts (months)
33620,000
Field change agents (Months)
33615,000
Word Processor
1601,000
Sub-Total: A
Per Diem, Travel and Transportation
Per Diem
Project Director/Team Leader
160
2,000
Senior Scientist
1452,000
LBSAP preparation experts
6102,000
Project accountant
160
1,500
Biodiversity Experts
3400
300
Change agents
315300Surface Travel1610,000
Vehicle Rental
1558,000International travelLocal Transportation
Sub-Total: B
Direct Project activity costs
A. LBSAP preparationInception report
Stakeholder analysis and consultation
Strategic development and action planning
Final LBSAP preparation and adoption by VDC
B. LBSAP piloting
Create and fulfill a position for environmental officer at VDC
Develop and implement an annual awareness program
Training (bio-diversity conservation, NTFPs and Ecotourism)
Bio-diversity induction program for VDC officials
Group formation for promotion of economic activities (NTFP and ecotourism)
Development of invasive species monitoring, control and eradication plan.
Exposure visit to conservation areas
In-situ and ex-situ conservation and domestication of NTFP
Eco-tourism promotion
Farmers’ group networking and federation
Farmers cooperative development and marketing
Sharing workshop at district and national level
Publication and student exchange program with UNU IAS
Sub-total C
Institutional Overhead / Indirect Cost (10% on D)
Total Cost (A+B+C+ D + E )VAT 13% of F
Grand Total ( F + G )10Grand Total in US dollars @NPR 85/USD

Unit
TypeTotal Cost(NPR)

Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day
Day

1,350,000.00
1,000,000.00
1,620,000.00
300,000.00
2,160,000.00
1,620,000.00
60,000.00
8,110,000.00

NightNightNightNightNightNight
Round Trip
Day
Lump sum
Lump sum

120,000.00
90,000.00
120,000.00
90,000.00
360,000.00
13,500.00
60,000.00
600,000.00
1,000,000.00
150,000.00
2,603,500.00

Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum

10,000.00
100,000.00
20,000.00
10,000.00

Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lumpsum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum
Lump sum

200,000.00
100,000.00
150,000.00
50,000.00
50,000.00
50,000.00
150,000.00
300,000.00
50,000.00
50,000.00
50,000.00
80,000.00
700,000.00
2,120,000.00
212,000.00
13,045,500.00
1,695,915.00
14,741,415.00
169,441.55