Forest Area

5.5 million ha (37.4% of the total area of the country)

Country Nodal Agency

Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), Ministry of Forests and Environment

Representative Name

Representative Designation

Country Focal Point

Nepal

Nepal, nestled in the heart of the Himalayas, is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity. As a partner member of our forest fire knowledge network, Nepal brings significant expertise and experience in managing its diverse ecosystems, which range from the lush lowland jungles of the Terai to the towering peaks of the Himalayas. The country faces unique challenges in forest fire management due to its varied topography and climatic conditions. Nepalese authorities and organizations have implemented strategies combining traditional knowledge with modern technology to monitor, prevent, and combat forest fires effectively. By sharing Nepal's practices and insights on our portal, we aim to foster collaborative efforts in mitigating the impact of forest fires not only in Nepal but globally.

Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring System in Nepal

Using fire data from MODIS sensors, ICIMOD’s SERVIR Hindu Kush Himalaya (SERVIR-HKH) Initiative developed the Forest Fire Detection and Monitoring System in Nepal in close collaboration with the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), Ministry of Forests and Environment, Government of Nepal.

The system provides information on historical forest fires and near real-time forest fires in Nepal. It performs automated data acquisition, processing, and reporting on fire locations and includes location information at 1 × 1 km resolution on active fires during the satellite’s twice-daily overpasses. The system assimilates active fire data thrice a day from NASA’s website. It automatically adds important information to these data, such as administrative unit (i.e. district, VDC, and ward number), protected area identification, land cover type, elevation, and slope.

The system emails forest fire incident reports to relevant stakeholders. Users can register to receive email updates on forest fire incidences in Nepal.

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