Signed by 141 countries, a statement issued at the Conference of Parties (COP26), Glasgow states: "We therefore commit to working collectively to halt and reverse forest loss and land degradation by 2030 while delivering sustainable development and promoting an inclusive rural transformation." Though many critics hold that COP26 could not deliver concrete plans as anticipated, this statement reflects the realisation by countries of the vital role forests play in fighting against the adverse impacts of climate change.

In spite of the rapid loss of forests worldwide, forest area in Nepal has increased in the past two decades, covering around 45 per cent of the country's total area. Even in the midst of Nepal's political instability and rapid urbanisation, the success achieved in forest conservation is commendable.

Conversely, rapid population increase, development demands and haphazard urbanisation pose significant challenges for sustainable forest management (SFM). It is necessary to ensure that development infrastructures are environment-friendly to reduce forest and biodiversity loss and enhance sustainability.

Similarly, increasing forest productivity and ecosystem services while mitigating the adverse effects of climate change through SFM is important to improve local livelihoods, employment, environment and the economy in general.

Participatory forest management is considered a practical and effective strategy for SFM. As an illustration, the involvement of local communities in the management and conservation of forests through community forestry in Nepal has signalled new thinking in the forestry sector.

The term 'community forest' in Nepal means a state-owned forest handed over to a users' group for development, conservation and use in pursuit of the collective interest of the local households.

Moreover, community forestry has been exemplary in improving the livelihoods of communities living adjacent to the forests, reducing forest degradation and promoting sustainable forest practices.

Nepal now stands as one of the leaders across the divide in community-based forest management as it has made direct progress in halting environmental degradation through carbon sequestration and regenerating forests on barren lands.

Although community forestry in Nepal has shown myriads of benefits, ranging from enhancing people's livelihoods to environment conservation, it needs to sustain in the long run by overcoming the challenges. Issues of inclusion and good governance can affect the sustainability of forests. Some studies suggest that net benefits of the programme were greater for the rich households than poor forest user households across a 50- year period. Thus, the successful functioning of community forestry is directly linked with SFM, and ultimately mitigating climate change effects.

While gauging the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets in South Asian countries, a mixed scenario can be found. While Bhutan is very much on the way to fulfilling its NDC targets and Nepal has made significant progress, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh face serious roadblocks. Some common roadblocks in these countries include loss of forest land under Forest Rights Acts for setting tribal people, extreme limitations on forest harvesting, including thinning, increasing insect and pest attacks, increasing forest fires and damaging interpretations of social safeguards.

Climate is shaped by forests.

Changes in the temperature have been associated with increasing concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere.

Forests help to prevent GHG emissions and ultimately mitigate climate change effects in many ways. First, substituting wood for fossil fuel-intensive products addresses climate change, providing a dependable supply of both trees and wood products while supporting other ecological services, such as clean water, clean air, wildlife habitat, and recreation.

Second, the use of biomass fuels and bio-based products can reduce oil and gas imports and improve environmental quality.

Third, modification in wildfire behaviour reduces wild land fires, which are a major source of GHG emissions, and helps prevent the release of carbon stored in the forest. According to the Ministry of Forest and Environment, 480 wildfires were reported across Nepal in 2021. Because of these raging wildfires as well as vehicle emissions, air pollution reached dangerous levels, forcing the closure of educational institutions for four days, from March 29-April 3, 2021.

Fourth, since more carbon is stored in forests in comparison to agricultural or developed land, preventing land-use change from forests to non-forest uses can be another way to reduce GHGs.

In addition to preventing GHS emissions, forests can also reduce GHG concentrations by sequestering atmospheric carbon in biomass and the soil. Forests of all ages and types have a remarkable capacity to sequester and store carbon helping to mitigate climate change impacts.

Mitigation and adaptation are two active forest management approaches to addressing climate change. Mitigation, in which forests and forest products are used to sequester carbon, provides renewable energy through biomass and avoids carbon losses, while adaptation involves positioning forests to make them healthier.

Some adaptive strategies include increasing resistance to insects, diseases and wildfires.

The challenges are clear, the situation is urgent, and opportunities for the future are countless. The past has repeatedly demonstrated that the health and welfare of humanity are primarily dependent on the health and welfare of forests and the environment as a whole.

Issues of inclusion and good governance can affect the sustainability of forests.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 31, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.