Managing fire hotspots

The Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) is a network representing over 23,000 community forest user groups (CFUGs). Together, these groups manage 2.4 million hectares of forest land, serving 3.2 million households – roughly 14 million people, or 35% of Nepal’s population.

In places such as the Churia region, where the landscape is highly fire prone and climate change is making forest fires more frequent, CFUGs play a frontline role in early fire detection, management and prevention.

Forest and Farm Facility activities

Between 2019 and 2025, Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) support has assisted FECOFUN in spreading good practices on managing forest fire risk. For example, FECOFUN has assisted 14 CFUGs in Churia to develop sustainable forest management plans (SFMPs) that cover over 5,000 hectares of forest and has implemented 300 hectares of forest landscape restoration.

Within these SFMPs, one climate adaptation and mitigation measure includes forest fire management. This comprises elements such as mapping forest fire-risk hotspots, establishing and maintaining fire lines (gaps in vegetation and combustible materials), mobilising community fire patrol teams, conducting awareness campaigns on fire prevention and mobilising cross-sectoral actors in fire management.

SFMPs also promoted the removal of hazardous fuel loads (dry, burnable vegetation) and using dry leaf litter to produce green products such as biofuels and biofertiliser, supporting entrepreneurial livelihood activities.

FFF support enabled local chapters of FECOFUN to implement a series of targeted actions. The support allowed local-level multistakeholder discussions at provincial, district and municipal levels and technical support to prepare SFMPs with dedicated forest-fire management components.

FFF is also collaborating with FECOFUN and the Center for People and Forests to develop strategic and technical documentation on a structured forest fire resource mobilisation plan, in response to increasing wildfire risks. The focus is on strengthening preparedness, coordination and financing mechanisms across CFUGs.

FFF support has helped strengthen community awareness through training and communication campaigns, mobilised human and financial resources for fire line construction and maintenance, and convene and mobilise fire watch groups and community patrols during the dry season.

Significance of impact

The impact of this intervention is significant because the careful restoration and SFMP practices have reduced fuel loads and the occurrence of forest wildfires. These fire protection measures have also led to increased biodiversity protection, the conservation of wildlife corridors and the restoration of water recharge systems (which replenish aquifers).

Strengthened SFMPs have also enhanced carbon sequestration, contributing to Nepal’s climate commitments.

Conclusion

FFF support has enabled local CFUGs to work with municipal, provincial and federal chapters of FECOFUN to carry out advocacy and lobbying to integrate forest fire management into municipal climate and disaster plans. This has catalysed collaboration with local governments to secure budget allocation for fire management and climate-resilient forestry – giving much greater reach and spread to these impacts.

Managing fire hotspots

Forest and Farm Facility activities

Significance of impact

Conclusion

Further reading