Climate change is becoming one of the major environmental issues in Nepal. There is evidence that climate change is already affecting the biodiversity and weakening the livelihood assets of poor and marginalised communities. Despite this climate change has been largely left out of the Nepal Environment Policy and Action Plan. The existing government policy on the agriculture sector also takes no systematic account of the anticipated impact of climate change. The preparation of the National Adaptation Programme of Action (NAPA) is the first official initiative to mainstream adaptation into national policies and actions so as to address the adverse impacts of climate change and reduce vulnerability to changing climate and extreme events. The Ministry of Environment signed the contract in November 2008 with UNDP to officially start the NAPA formulation process in Nepal. The Ministry is planning to complete the NAPA by April 2010 with some good progress in terms of initial understanding on vulnerability context and identify preliminary sectoral issues through the mobilization of thematic working groups. Adaptation to climate change should be considered from a contingency planning process perspective. There is a need for integration of agrobiodiversity component within the NAPA. Adaptation in the agricultural sector can be seen in terms of both short-term and long-term actions. There is a need for provision of crop and livestock insurance, social safety nets, new irrigation schemes and local management strategies, as well as collaborative research, capacity building at different levels, inter departmental coordination and focused policies. Particular attention should be paid to building on existing local knowledge, practices and innovation, including good practices on agro-biodiversity management and related sectors. Focus should be given to participatory research and development so as to: identify and develop drought, flood, pest and/or disease tolerant varieties; strengthen on-farm in-situ conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources, including improve home garden diversification; strengthen farmer seed systems; enhance access to a larger portfolio of germplasm through promotion of community seed banks; promote and strengthen capacity for grassroots and participatory plant breeding to broaden the genetic base for secured food production; and develop improved measures for conservation-based ecological farming, including sustainable soil and nutrient management practices. The participation of civil society and of rural communities in national and international negotiations and decision-making is crucial.
#ClimateChange #Biodiversity #NAPA
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Publisher:
FAO, PAR
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(2010
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Type / Script:
Progress Report
in English
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Keywords:
CLIMATE CHANGE, GREENHOUSE GASES, AGROBIODIVERSITY, AGRICULTURE, BIODIVERSITY, ADAPTATION PROGRAMMES, FOOD SECURITY, AGRICULTURAL POLICY, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE, CAPACITY BUILDING, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
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Thematic Group:
FAO
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Food and Agriculture Organization
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Thesaurus:
04.01.01
- Agricultural Economics And Policy; Rural Sociology
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Reference Link:
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