As Nepal enters the peak wildfire season, officials, researchers and community forest leaders have called for locally led nature-based solutions (NbS) to tackle rising fire risks.

The urgency was highlighted during three provincial consultations last week, where participants stressed that combining traditional ecological practices with modern technology offers the most effective defence against increasingly destructive wildfires.

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.

The consultations, organised by Lutheran World Relief Nepal, brought together over 150 stakeholders, including Community Forest User Groups and government agencies. Discussions focused on preparedness, integrating NbS into forest and disaster management, and addressing local capacity gaps.

In the meantime, Francesca Booker and Benedicte Piton of REDAA, which supports the PunarUtthan initiative, visited programme sites and interacted with Community Forest User Groups applying NbS to reduce fire hazards and restore the farm–forest–water nexus.

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.