Kathmandu, May 12: The government has announced a wide range of environmental and climate-related programmes for the upcoming fiscal year 2026/27, focusing on air pollution control, wildlife management, forest-based industries, green financing and climate adaptation.
Presenting the government’s policies and programmes, President Ramchandra Paudel said the National Air Quality Management Action Plan would be implemented by updating the Kathmandu Valley Air Quality Improvement Plan.
The government also pledged to strengthen measures to reduce growing human-wildlife conflict through early warning systems, preventive infrastructure, sterilisation and relocation of wild animals for population management.
According to the policy document, compensation mechanisms and the promotion of alternative crops will also be introduced to minimise human and property losses caused by wildlife attacks. The government further announced plans to control the illegal extraction of stones and gravel and promote sustainable forest management to increase the contribution of the forest sector to the national economy.
Industries based on timber, non-timber forest products, herbal medicines, tourism, insurance and carbon trade will be encouraged, with priority given to processing, value addition and export of forest products. The policy also states that leaves, pine needles and invasive plant species found in forests will be utilised in partnership with local communities and the private sector for the production of organic fertiliser, briquettes and biochar.
President Paudel announced that a “Nepal Carbon Authority” would be established and the REDD Plus programme expanded. Community forest groups will be provided direct benefits from carbon credit mechanisms. The government also said policy reforms would encourage greater use of domestic timber in construction and industries.
To strengthen forest fire management, a “Forest Fire High Alert Centre” will be established. Modern technologies including drones and satellites will be used for real-time monitoring of forest fires, encroachment and illegal activities.
The government pledged effective management of national parks, reserves and conservation areas to protect the habitats of rare and endangered wildlife species. Integrated conservation, watershed management and scientific excavation programmes will also be implemented in the Chure region.
Environmental Impact Assessments, land acquisition and forest-related permit procedures will be simplified through an electronic portal to balance infrastructure development with environmental protection. The government said bilateral and regional cooperation would be strengthened to control cross-border pollution and support climate adaptation efforts.
To expand green financing, Nepal will increase access to international climate finance and develop a “Green Taxonomy Framework” to attract concessional funding for environmentally sustainable infrastructure projects, including hydropower.
President Paudel also announced that a National Action Plan with sectoral targets and timelines would be implemented to fulfil Nepal’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2045. #Nepal
