National Adaptation Program of Actions to Climate Change and Agro-biodiversity Management in Nepal Hari Dahal Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Kathmandu, Nepal 7/17/2011 1
Geography of the Country 26 o 22'N to 30 o 27'N latitude and 80 o 40'E to 88 o 12'E longitude Total area 147,181 km 2 Physiographic regions- Himalayas, High-mountains, Hills, Siwaliks, and Terai Possesses high level of biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels More than 6000 river system Forest cover about 40% of the total area Total projected population 28.37 million. 7/17/2011 2
Physiographic Regions 7/17/2011 3
Physiographic Regions 7/17/2011 4
Ecological Diversity tans-himalaya China the himalaya high mountain middle mountain mahabharat siwalic inner terai terai India 7/17/2011 5
Climate of the Country 1 Four distinct seasons - pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon and winter. Annual mean temp. 15 0 C varying with altitude Average temp. rise by 0.06 0 C/year (1971-1994) which is higher than the global average. Nepal experienced twelve warmest years from 1987 to 2008. Mean max. temp. in Terai decreased during winter season coincided with cold wave and foggy weather. 7/17/2011 6
Climate of the Country 2 Major rainfall due to monsoon (1800mm) in summer, and Mediterranean wind in winter Variation from 300mm trans-himalaya to 5500mm in the central middle-mountain. Avg. increase in monsoon rain by 3mm/year (1976-2005), general increasing trend of monsoon rain except mid-western region (where is avg. decrease by 30mm/year). 7/17/2011 7
General Climate Change Impacts Warmer days and nights; retreating snow lines, Decreasing water discharge in streams and recharge in natural water stores; low water table Changing pattern of precipitation (form, season, intensity) Decreasing total number of rainy days Increasing drier days and receiving >100mm rain Precipitation, being erratic and ill timed 7/17/2011 8
Agriculture and Food Security Agri. contributes 33% to GDP and employs >65% workforce Paddy, maize, wheat, millet and barley share 75% of crop-area; paddy accounts for 50% of total grain production Cereal-foods availability (mt.) by eco-region (2010/2011) 7/17/2011 9
Agriculture and Food Security (contd..) It was food secured until 1980s, From 1990s population outstripped the food production, Out of 75 districts, 38 are food deficit (17 are food unsecured) in 2010-11, 20 year Agriculture Perspective Plan (1995) was under funded and agriculture lost priority in the periodic plans.
Agro Biodiversity Conservation Efforts in the Country 1 In situ management: identification/ replication of PGRFA conservation practices including surveys, diversity analysis, community biodiversity registration/management seed bank; participatory plant breeding market promotion; food festivals agro-ecotourism. 7/17/2011 11
Agro biodiversity conservation efforts in the country 2 Ex situ management: Int l gene bank - CGIAR centers and othersabout 7000 accessions of crop germplasms National Agriculture Genetic Resource Centre Nepal Agriculture Research Council has about 11,000 seed accessions of 90 crop species Independent community seed banks -about 6000 accessions of crop variety seeds Information system development,nism 7/17/2011 12
Impacts: Food Security and Agro-biodiversity 1 High impacts on agri.because of its being rain-fed, Agro-ecology impacts on crops and agro biodiversity are visualized as: declined food and forage production, poor availability/ efficiency of water use degraded pasture/agricultural land, crop diversity loss, diseases/pests epidemics Increased in climate related risks and disasters rising temp would worsen the situations further 7/17/2011 13
Impacts: Food Security and Agro-biodiversity 2 NAPA also visualizes vulnerability, climate induced water stresses, shifting agroecozones, prolonged dry spells and higher incidence of diseases/pests affecting agricultural productivity. NAPA on biodiversity raised little concerns of PGRFA. However, NAPA foresees changes posing a threat to food security due to loss of some local landraces and crops varieties. 7/17/2011 14
Policy Provisions to support Agrobiodiversity Nepal Biodiversity Strategy, 2002 National Agriculture Policy, 2004 Agro-biodiversity Policy 2007 Climate Change Policy 2011 National Adaptation Programs of Action (NAPA) to Climate Change 2010 7/17/2011 15
NAPA to Climate Change 2010 GON has already endorsed NAPA doc NAPA vision - enabling to respond strategically to the challenges and opportunities due to climate change. the objectives are- to assess/prioritize CC-vulnerabilities and identify adaptation measures to develop proposals for priority activities to prepare, review and finalize the NAPA document to develop/maintain a knowledge management and learning platform to develop a multi-stakeholder framework of action on climate change 7/17/2011 16
NAPA to Climate Change 2010 The project had three components and six TWGs A high level Climate Change Council stewarded by the PM and a Multi-stakeholder Climate Change Initiatives Coordination Committee (MCCICC) chaired by the secretary in the MOE instituted to coordinate climate change adaptation interventions with the MOE instrumental as focal ministry 7/17/2011 17
NAPA- Nine Profiled CC-Adaptation Priorities 7/17/2011 18
NAPA Identified Interventions in AB Sustainable soil/water management (including org. farming and CBM), sustainable forest and resource management, natural heritage conservation and food security programs (profile 1); Agro-forestry development and adaptation supports to forest user groups (profile 5); Supporting conservation/management focused plans such as local adaptation, documentation of indigenous knowledge (profile 7) 7/17/2011 19
Concluding Remarks 1 PGRFA are basis of food production, food security and livelihood Both in situ and ex situ conservation of PGRFA are important, Understanding/ assessing PGRFA diversity;, erosion and vulnerability; 7/17/2011 20
Concluding Remarks 2 Establishing database system and communication network; in/ex situ conservation, legislative arrangement and capacity development are priority needs of agrobiodiversity related interventions. The NAPA is conducive. However, biodiversity management and utilization part of it is confined to forest management and protection approach. 7/17/2011 21
Concluding Remarks Strengthening local, regional, and national information systems with agro biodiversity, Maintaining people s indigenous knowledge on agro diversity, Developing appropriate institutional set up in MOAC, Policy Review on agro biodiversity to accommodate CC, Farmer s access to financial resources, and helping develop civil society networks for agro biodiversity.
Thank You for Your Attention 7/17/2011 23
The NAPA Components and TWGs The three NAPA components: NAPA Thematic Working Groups Agriculture and food security (MoAC) Water resources and energy (MoEnergy) Forests and biodiversity (MoFSC) Public health (MoHP) Climate-induced disaster (MoHA) Urban settlements and infrastructure (Dept. of Urban Development and Building Construction) 7/17/2011 24
National Agriculture Genetic Centre 7/17/2011 25
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