Chitwan - is located 160km south from Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, bordering India. The Chitwan district is mostly know due the Chitwan National Park, one of the largest national parks in Nepal, the home of a large number of wildlife, like the Indian Rhino, Leopard and the Bengal Tiger. The landscape is mostly flat and covered with many Sal forests. 

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The Project is implemented in the Thangkhola Community Forest, located in the buffer zone of the Chitwan National Park. Community forest are area's owned by the Nepali government and managed by the local communities. A buffer zone is the area in between a national park and human settlements. Parts of the Thangkhola community forest are overgrown by exotic invasive bushes (up to 3m high), these bushes restrict new trees to grow (natural regeneration) and are toxic for animals in the area. The Project in Thangkhola community forest focuses on productive (food) tree growth in the forest to increase land productivity, biodiversity and accessibility. 

 

The following interventions are made by the Green Intelligence and partners: 

• Selection of trees species with community and forest department

• Removal of invasive bushes 

• Plantation training 

• Large size pitting and addition of fertilizer (cow dung)

• Planting mix of productive tree species

• Fencing for animal protection

• Hiring local forest guard (3yrs)

• Education local youth (smart productive forestry solutions)

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The Productive Food Forest

The project focusses on re-greening, land resilience, biodiversity and productivity. Due to the plantation wildlife is expected to increase in the community forest, like Tiger, Rhino and leopards. The productivity will grow due to the plantation of productive species, like Cashew (nut), Chuiri (butter nut) and Moringa (medicinal) amongst others. These species will generate additional food and income for the community members living nearby the forest. For most recent updates check our Facebook page. 

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This project is executed in partnership with SUNWay Research and Innovation Center (www.sric.network); the Community Forest User Groups (CFUG) and the Nepal Forest Department.

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In 2022 two hectares has been implemented. In 2023 the project is extended with an additional 5 hectares.