Facing a record-breaking surge in forest fires, Nepal is shifting its strategy toward locally led "nature-based solutions" (NbS) to combat a crisis that has now become a year-round threat.
Government officials, ecological experts, and community leaders from Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpaschim provinces have called for an immediate scale-up of traditional forest management practices to protect lives and livelihoods. The move comes after a devastating start to 2024, which saw over 5,000 wildfire incidents across 74 districts in just six months.
The new approach focuses on blending ancient indigenous wisdom with modern technology. Rather than relying solely on expensive external firefighting equipment, the strategy empowers local communities to manage forest "fuel"—such as dry leaf litter—and restore natural water sources.
"The only sustainable way forward is to pair traditional practices with modern tools," said Ajit Kumar Karna, Secretary of the Ministry of Forest in Karnali Province. "Fire prevention becomes far more effective when communities can earn income from managing forest litter and restoring forests."
A community-driven defense
The initiative is a central part of the Punar Utthan Program (2025–2029). Supported by UK funding and implemented by Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Nepal, the project aims to bridge the gap between science and local action. By using AI-driven early warning systems, GIS mapping, and remote sensing, the program helps villages predict and react to fire threats before they spiral out of control.
Research conducted by the Global Institute for Interdisciplinary Studies (GIIS) has identified 43 specific community practices that significantly lower fire risks, including:
Human activity at the core
Addressing the human element remains the biggest challenge. Officials in Lumbini Province noted that 99% of Nepal’s forest fires are caused by human activity, whether through accidental negligence or intentional clearing.
"Equipment and budgets matter, but we cannot control fires without conscious communities," warned Pramod Bhattarai, Secretary of the Ministry of Forest and Environment in Lumbini.
The Punar Utthan Program has set ambitious targets for the next four years, including training 20,000 people in wildfire management and restoring 40 hectares of degraded land. Experts warn that without this shift toward nature-rooted strategies, Nepal faces "irreversible" ecological and economic damage.
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