Our Projects
Sunkoshi Basin Restoration Project
Project Overview
The Sunkoshi Basin Restoration Project represents a unique opportunity to enhance biodiversity and community resilience in Nepal’s regenerating forests. Unlike many restoration landscapes, this region has experienced net forest cover gain over the past 20 years. Now, we’re partnering with Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) to improve the quality and ecological function of these recovering forests.
Spanning three districts east of Kathmandu, the project connects critical buffer zones of Langtang National Park and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park. By focusing on biodiversity enhancement, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable livelihoods, we’re strengthening one of the world’s most successful community-based forest governance systems as it faces emerging challenges from rural outmigration and climate change.
Building on Eden’s presence in Nepal since 2015, this initiative will transform fragmented forest patches into a resilient mosaic landscape that supports wildlife movement, protects watersheds, and sustains almost one million people who call this region home.
Download the Sunkoshi Basin Restoration Project Brochure
Learn more about this restoration project and its impact on local communities and ecosystems. Our detailed project brochure provides key information about implementation strategies, current progress, and partnership opportunities.Ecosystem
The Sunkoshi Basin features a diverse mosaic of forest ecosystems critically positioned between major protected areas. Eastern Himalayan broadleaf forests dominate the landscape, providing habitat for migratory birds and wildlife, while higher elevations feature subalpine conifer forests rich in medicinal plants. Extensive pine plantations established decades ago now offer opportunities for biodiversity enhancement.
Despite net forest gain in recent decades, this landscape faces significant challenges. Forest patches average just 56 hectares, limiting connectivity and wildlife movement. Natural disasters—particularly landslides and forest fires—threaten both ecosystems and communities, while climate change intensifies these risks through shifting precipitation patterns and extreme weather events.
The landscape’s position as a buffer zone for two national parks makes it an essential ecological corridor, providing connectivity that allows species like the red panda and Himalayan black bear to move between protected areas.
| Stat Label | Stat Value |
|---|---|
| Project Area | 257,400 hectares |
| Community Partners | 1,100+ Forest User Groups |
| Implementation Timeline | 15+ years (2025-2040) |
| Target | 300,000 indigenous trees in first phase |
Community
At the heart of this project are Nepal’s renowned Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), an internationally recognized model of community-based governance that has successfully protected and regenerated forests for decades. Over 1,100 CFUGs manage 59,329 hectares of forest land across the project area, integrating traditional ecological knowledge with modern management approaches.
Today, these institutions face emerging challenges as changing demographics affect participation. Rural outmigration has left many communities with reduced capacity to maintain active forest stewardship, even as approximately 926,689 people across multiple ethnic groups maintain strong cultural connections to forest resources and sacred sites.
Our collaborative approach recognizes that community leadership is essential for long-term success. By strengthening CFUG capacity and fostering inclusive participation, we’re helping ensure that forest restoration brings tangible benefits through sustainable livelihoods, enhanced ecosystem services, and improved disaster resilience.
Technical Approach
Our approach in the Sunkoshi Basin focuses on enhancing forest quality and connectivity while strengthening community institutions. Rather than simply planting trees, we implement targeted interventions that improve ecological function:
Assisted Natural Regeneration accelerates forest recovery by removing barriers to natural processes, while Enrichment Planting introduces indigenous species to increase biodiversity in monoculture pine plantations. Invasive Species Management controls introduced plants that outcompete indigenous species, and Agroforestry integration reduces pressure on forests while supporting livelihoods.
Implementation follows a partner-based model where Eden provides technical support to CFUGs, enabling community-led restoration that builds on traditional knowledge while incorporating scientific approaches. This ensures that interventions are culturally appropriate and aligned with local priorities.
Monitoring focuses on forest quality indicators, biodiversity metrics, socioeconomic impacts, and natural disaster incidents, allowing for adaptive management as the project progresses over its 15+ year timeline.
Progress and Impact
The Sunkoshi Basin Restoration Project is currently entering the Vision + Design phase, where we’re building a holistic landscape restoration vision with stakeholders that will guide implementation over the next 15+ years. This foundational process ensures that restoration strategies reflect community priorities and ecological needs.
Initial engagement with Community Forest User Groups has begun, with two Vision + Design workshops planned for 2025-2026. These participatory sessions will refine implementation strategies and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
As the project advances, we anticipate establishing a network of demonstration sites showcasing improved forest management techniques. By 2026, we aim to plant 300,000 indigenous trees, bring 120 hectares under active restoration, and employ 100 seasonal restoration team members from local communities.
These early efforts will lay the groundwork for expanded implementation that improves forest connectivity, enhances biodiversity, and reduces disaster risk across the landscape.
