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Renewable World

The CLASS Project

Supporting the pilot of clean energy approaches to improve livelihoods, conservation, safety and sustainability in western Nepal

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The challenge

Nestled below western Nepal’s Chure Hills, Banke National Park is home to rich biodiversity, and Baijnath Rural Municipality, within the park’s buffer zone, is also home to communities of Mughali and Tharu people, forcibly relocated here following waves of construction and the establishment of national parks. Loss of cultural heritage, traditional practices and livelihoods have marginalised this mixed population. Strict buffer zone rules determine the livelihoods of these communities, and they eke out a living by drawing on forest resources, whilst trying to grow crops and rear livestock in the face of wildlife attacks and crop raids. 

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The solution

The CLASS project will pilot clean energy approaches to improve livelihoods, conservation, safety and sustainability in the Buffer Zone of Banke National Park. Based on initial needs assessments, a range of potential interventions are outlined below:

Conservation and Education: Focus on the Lions Park educational facility with activities like reforestation, improved water management through a hybrid solar-electric water pump, and the establishment of a biogas plant to reduce reliance on polluting fuels.

Sustainable Income Generation: Initiatives for the homestay community, such as e-cooking as an alternative to traditional cooking methods, improved livestock management, and pilot projects for digesters to enhance agricultural productivity.

Human-Wildlife Conflict (HWC) Mitigation: Implementing educational programs in schools to raise awareness about HWC, promote the benefits of living near a national park, and reduce forest dependency. Solar-powered lampposts could also be tested in conflict-prone areas as wildlife deterrents.

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The impact

The project is designed to foster an interconnected approach to conservation, poverty alleviation, and clean energy solutions, setting the stage for sustainable growth and resilience in the region.

The partnership (2024/5) aims to:

- Enable 1,650 buffer zone community members to gain access to finance and technical support for clean energy solutions and training for sustainable income generation.

- Give 2,700 community members and students an enhanced understanding of conservation and human-wildlife conflict (HWC) mitigation, enabling positive interactions with their environment.

- Improve the quality of life for 1,650 community members through increased income, reduced expenses, a cleaner environment, and enhanced safety from wildlife.

- Foster a better future for both community members and wildlife by reducing competition for scarce resources.

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