Call for nature‑based solutions as climate change deepens the wildfire threat

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Forest fires have risen sharply over the past decade. In the first half of 2024 alone, more than 5,000 incidents were recorded across 74 districts, with fires becoming more frequent, intense and difficult to control.

Provincial officials from Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim—regions that recorded over 40,000 fires between 2001 and 2023—emphasised expanding NbS. They noted that most fires are human-induced and cannot be controlled without greater public awareness and community engagement.

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Held under the PunarUtthan Programme (2025–2029), the initiative combines community knowledge with technologies such as GIS mapping, remote sensing and early warning systems. Planned efforts include restoring degraded land, promoting fire-resistant species and strengthening livelihoods.

Experts warn that without wider adoption of NbS, Nepal risks deeper ecological and economic losses as wildfires increasingly become a year-round threat.

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