Building Agroforestry-based Adaptation plans for Resilient floodplains (BAGAR)

Nepal is highly vulnerable to climate change and multi-hazards, especially regular monsoon floods and unpredictable climate-induced flooding. Adaptation measures are urgently needed in the country’s river basins, which are hotspots of ecosystems and ecosystem services that sustain the climate-sensitive livelihoods of marginalised communities. Sedimentation has rendered floodplain lands uncultivable, causing food insecurity and loss of livelihood opportunities, especially for women and marginalised groups.  

The project Building Agroforestry-based Adaptation plans for Resilient floodplains (BAGAR) will focus on the regeneration and sustainable management of floodplains in Nepal’s Bagmati river basin. The two project areas are in Marin municipality, located in the mid-hills, and Gadhimai municipality, located in the lowlands of the Bagmati river basin. These areas are representative of dozens of similar municipalities in the region. These marginalised groups have limited influence in local governance processes, compounded by a system of informal land tenure. Although mandatory, the municipalities have not yet developed formal or inclusive land use plans.  

Under the project, adaptation plans will be developed collaboratively with vulnerable local communities and will emphasise agroforestry practices that promote native fodder species, which support key ecosystem services and provide livestock feed for the community smallholder farmers. This will achieve social and environmental benefits in flood risk reduction and create opportunities for growing fodder and food that can withstand frequent flooding. The adaptation plans will serve as models for scaling up riparian restoration and sustainable floodplain management to other interested municipalities. 

Project Status

Ongoing