Government Allocates Rs 12.31 Billion for Forests, Environment, and Climate Adaptation

Kathmandu — Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle has announced various plans and allocations for the forests, environment, and climate adaptation sector through the budget.

Wagle said about Rs 1 billion has been allocated to run activities such as water source conservation and pond construction, landslide control, and embankment construction to make the water cycle of the Chure and Tarai-Madhesh region sustainable.

The Finance Minister said the work of setting a support price for and purchasing herbs and non-timber forest products will be launched, and a herb processing centre will be set up in Karnali.

He said a results-based REDD+ programme will be run for emission reduction, giving priority to local communities in the benefits received for carbon emission cuts.

Wagle said arrangements will be made to give the private sector access to the concessional capital of international climate funds.

The Finance Minister said real-time information will be exchanged using drones and satellites to control wildfires, and that a human-wildlife coexistence programme will be run in high-risk areas.

He said air pollution measurement centres in major cities and the central environment laboratory will be upgraded.

The Finance Minister said a total of Rs 12.31 billion has been allocated for the forests, environment, and climate sector.