Seven Provinces Prioritize Forest, Environment, Watershed Protection, and Climate Adaptation in Budgets

Kathmandu. All seven provincial governments have prioritized forest, environment, watershed protection, and climate change adaptation in their budget statements for the fiscal year 2083/84. The provincial budgets clearly show a policy of sustainable use of natural resources, environmental conservation, and making forest areas a source of employment and economic income. Moving beyond traditional conservation-oriented policies, all seven provinces aim to create green employment through scientific forest management, ecotourism development, and promotion of non-timber forest products and medicinal herbs, thereby mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. The budgets have put forward innovative and technology-friendly programs for biodiversity conservation and human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

Koshi: Soil of Chure for Chure, Clean Water for All Koshi Province government has presented a budget focused on slogans for the development of forest, environment, and ecotourism sectors. A budget of Rs 3.49 billion has been allocated under the Ministry of Tourism, Forest, and Environment. Koshi Province has adopted a policy of sustainable forest management and commercialization of timber by making the use of local timber mandatory in public construction works. To conserve biodiversity and develop ecotourism, Rs 15.04 million has been allocated for the 'Capacity Building Project for Sustainable Management of Forest, Land, and Biodiversity' to be operated in five hilly districts of the province. Rs 18.92 million has been allocated for ecotourism development, establishment of wildlife conservation and rescue centers, and Chure conservation in the Ramdhuni area of Sunsari under the campaign 'Soil of Chure for Chure, Clean Water for All', emphasizing biodiversity conservation. The Koshi Province budget mentions that special programs will be conducted to promote the cultivation of Amriso, medicinal herbs, and high-value non-timber forest products within forest areas.