Kathmandu, March 6
The Ministry of Forest and Environment/Department of Forest and Soil Conservation and JICA Nepal recently organised an orientation seminar on SABIHAA (Samudayik Bikas Tatha Hariyali Ayojana) in Pokhara, Butuwal and Kathmandu.
The primary objective of the seminar was to orient local and provincial governments about SABIHAA model and its learning and experiences, regarding its implementation at the local level and to strengthen collaboration among the stakeholders including three tiers of governments and JICA. Officials from central, provincial and local levels participated in the seminar.
The orientation seminars in all three cities successfully concluded with active participation and lively interactions amongst the participants who discussed the way forward for sustainable implementation of SABHIAA at the local level.
SABIHAA model was introduced in Nepal as an output of Community Development and Forest/Watershed Conservation Project (1999 to 2004) jointly implemented by the Government of Nepal and JICA.
The plan through the model was to mobilize local people in the participatory watershed management such as planning, implementing and evaluation of activities.
Since then the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management had expanded the implementation areas of SABIHAA Model, as successful model of watershed management from 8 districts (Kaski, Syangja, Tanahun, Parbat, Myagdi, Baglung, kavre and Sindhupalchowk) to 11 districts (plus Palpa, Gulmi and Arghakhanchi) which has now increased up to 21.
