• An Assessment of Soil Erosion and Carbon Loss Using Geoinformatics Model and RUSLE in Pokhare Khola Sub-watershed, Dhading District, Nepal - B.M. Pradhan, K. D. Awasthi, and R. M. Bajracharya

• Microbiology - Mrs. Farida Begum

Main partner institution in the South (UiS)

Nepal - Tribhuvan University (TRIBH)

Institutional Responsible, Vice-Chancellor or University Director
Last name*
Sharma
First name*
Govind Prasad
Title
Vice-Chancellor

Central Coordinating Unit
Centre for International Relations


Contact person:
Dr. Chandra Lal Shrestha
Phone:977-1-4 330 840
Fax:
Email:tucir@ntc.net.np

Proposing department
UiS - Name of department
Institute of Forestry
Address:
P.O. Box 43
Hariyo Kharka
Pokhara, Nepal
Phone:
+977-61-430694
Fax:
+977-61-431563
Email:
iofballa@fewanet.com.np

Project administrator at the UiS department (first name/last name)
Last name:
Mallik
First name:
Ashok K
Position:
Dean
Phone:
00 977 61 430694
Fax:
00 977 61 431563
Email:
iofdean@fewanet.com.np

Proposing researcher (project coordinator)
Last name:
Balla
First name:
Mohan K.
Position:
Professor
Address:
Institute of Forestry
PO Box 43
Hariyokharka
Pokhara
Nepal
Phone:
00 977 61 430941
Fax:
00 977 61 430387
Email:
iofballa@fewanet.com.np

Proposing department
UiN - Name of department:
Noragric, Dept. of International Environment and Development Studies
Address:
P.O. 5003
N-1432, Aas,
Norway
Phone:
+47-64965200
Fax:
+47-64965201
Email:
noragric@umb.no

Project administrator at the UiN department
Last name:
Haug
First name:
Ruth
Position:
Head
Phone:
+47-64965200
Fax:
+47-64965201
Email:
ruth.haug@umb.no

Proposing researcher (project coordinator)
Lastname:
Sitaula
Firstname:
Bishal
Position:
Associate Professor
Address:
P.O. 5003
N-1432, Aas,
Norway
Phone:
+47-64965325
Fax:
+47-64965201
Email:
bishal.sitaula@umb.no

Partner 1:

Registered CVs:
Bajracharya, Roshan M. (Network partner)
Sharma, Subodh (Network partner)
Sitaula, Bishal (Coordinator UiN)
Mohan K., Balla (Coordinator UiS)
Samadi, Ghulam Rasoul (Network partner)
Sitaula, Bishal (Coordinator UiN)
Awasthi, Keshab D. (Network partner)
- Select person -
Begum, Farida (Network partner)

NUFU identification (PRO no):
P58/03
For new bilateral and network projects: Have any of the participating departments or researchers been involved in any former NUFU cooperation?

If yes, please indicate the NUFU identification and the period of former NUFU support.


Results and achievements from previous NUFU period (for ongoing projects only):

Goals and objectives for the first project period:
The main objective of the project is to develop and implement an integrated teaching and research program for management of natural resources with special focus on sustainable development of watersheds. The specific objectives are on MSc curriculum development, teaching, and capacity building, Ph. D. research and Integration of teaching and research.

Results achieved in the first project period:
1. Educational achievements:
Based on the review of existing M. Sc. Forestry curriculum and professional needs of country and experiences of IOF, nine new interdisciplinary and people oriented postgraduate (MSc) programmes including M. Sc. Watershed Management (WM) and Natural Resource Management and Rural Development (NRMRD) and their detailed course curricula were developed in a workshop participated by all relevant stakeholders (line ministries, NGO, user group, etc).

Implementing strategies of newly developed course curricula in WM and NRMRD were worked out. This involved preparation of a brochure for marketing, development of materials for teaching, search for case studies from Nepal to be included in the teaching material and identification of guest lecturers. The academic qualification required for admission in these programs was broadened to attract more candidates.

Two new M. Sc. programs in WM and NRMRD have been implemented with six students in each program in 2005. Resource persons from different GOs, NGOs and institutions were invited in most courses to provide quality teaching. Audio-visual equipments (one LCD projector, two OHPs, 1 printer and 5 computers) required to run M.Sc. programs were purchased.

2. Research achievements:

Mr. KR Tiwari, lecturer at IOF was selected and admitted at Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB) to pursue Ph. D as a part of NUFU research collaboration.
Keeping in view of adequate representation of the Middle mountain situations in Nepal, the Pokhare Klola watershed located near by Gajuri Bazar, Dhading district was selected for study.

Field office established by EU Himalayan Degradation Project was used to monitor the bio-physical data planned in the project and its scientific staff provided services to monitor and collect the data and process soil, water and plant samples in field level laboratory.

Twelve runoff plots on farmers’ fields and 8 runoff plots in forests at Khanal Danda were established. Continued monitoring and sampling of 12 runoff plots (located in farmer’s field at Rai Gaun), monitoring of meteorological data from 5 raingauges, 2 TDRs and 1 stream gauging station established in a joint collaboration with the recently completed EU Himalayan Degradation Project is being done. Measurements of soil losses, runoff losses, crop biomass and yield data were initiated. Soil and water samples were analyzed in Kathmandu.

A separate meteorological station was established at the research plot site and several equipments: an oven, Lysimeters (12 sets), a suction pump, a weighing balance, ice box (2), a refrigerator and other lab supplies were purchased to carry out the bio physical investigations.

The socio economic survey using a pre-tested questionnaire was completed. Data analysis is under way.

Announcement for 10 small research grants for conducting M. Sc. thesis research and five non-degree research (for IOF faculty and Ph. D. students) in WM and Rural Development related areas preferably in Pokhare Khola watershed, Dhading, has been made.

3. Other achievements:

The library improvement activities undertaken were as follows:
-Approximately 200 books were purchased and subscriptions to procure relevant journals were made. Four Pentium IV computers with UPS and one HP laser printer were procured, networking facility developed and Internet subscription paid.

-Training programs organized:
a. Basic computer skills training of 10 days was participated by three library and 11 other administrative staffs.
b. Training on CDS/ISIS for library database management of 10 days was participated by five library staff.

4. Publication and dissemination:

a. Preparation of four review papers: 1.Soil fertility management, 2. Community involvement in NTFP management in Mid-hill watersheds, 3. Impact of deforestation in livelihood of rural poor in mid-hills of Nepal, and 4. Application of GIS in watershed Management.

b. Contribution to the publication of special issue of IOF's scientific journal 'Forestry', No. 12.

c. Publication of ‘Forestry’ Journal of IOF, No. 13 in April 2005 with 12 papers including two review papers by three NUFU Project Executive members.

d. Presentation of a paper from other linked project at the International Nitrogen Conference in Nanjing.

e. A workshop titled ‘Managing Mountain Watersheds for Rural Development in Nepal: Integration of Research into Teaching’ was conducted during September 2005 in IOF with participants from IOF, different GOs, NGOs and academic institutions and M. Sc. students. Proceedings of the workshop with seven theme papers on subjects taught in M. Sc. WM and NRMRD, keynote speech by Prof. Ruth Haug, land degradation by Dr. BK Sitaula, Norway and a review paper has been published.

f. Publication of IOF Bulletin of MSc Programmes.

g. Three research and four review papers were prepared and published in scientific journals and proceedings.

Deviations from original objectives and project plan:
There were no major deviations from the original objectives and plans of the project. There was a delay in identifying the PhD candidate for the project. This implies that the outcome of research activities will be delayed.
Implementation plan of two new MSc programs were slightly delayed due to a number of local adjustment problems. This is not expected to have major implications for the expected outcomes of the project, however, the project termination date may need to be extended.

Rationale behind the proposal for continuation of the project:
There are a number of reasons supporting the continuation and expansion of the project for a subsequent phase. The first period of the on-going project was able to achieve the planned objectives, however, these are still in a preliminary stage and of limited coverage. Hence the next phase of the project will build upon and extend the scope of activities to include Ph.D. programs and networking of regional institutions. The main rationale for the proposed continuation as a network project are:

a. To give continuity and sustainability to the newly established MSc programs, which have been running for only two years. Also, the successfully implemented MSc programs at IOF may be transferred to the other network partner institutions.
b. There is a clear need for continued monitoring of existing on-going field research (PhD level) for a longer period in order for generalization and scaling up of findings to the region (Himalaya).
c. To realize the project goal of making IOF a regional centre of excellence, and there is a need of etablishing a functional network and collaborative activities (joint research, teaching, curriculum development, and academic exchange) with other mountain universities from the Region.
d. It is envisioned that exchange and sharing of knowledge and expertise among a number of institutions in the region through South-South collaboration will continue and lead to sustainability of the programs beyond the project period.

Synopsis
This proposal is intended as a continuation and expansion to the ongoing NUFU project between Intitute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University (IOF-TU) and Noragric, University of Life Sciences, Norway (UMB). This phase will be a network project involving mountain universities in Nepal and other parts of the Himalayan Region, in order to achieve IOF's vision and the aim of this project to develop into a regional center of excellence in sustainable natural resource/watershed management and work in and synergistic manner with other institutions to address mountain specific issues. The aim of this of project is to share and transfer MSc programs developed in the first phase with 3 other institutions, joint curriculum refinement, exchange visits, institutional strengthening and capacity building through collaborative research involving PhD students from each UiS institution. The research focus of this project is centered on restorative land management and agricultural diversification incorporating cultivation of Non-timber forest products/medicinal and aromatic plants (NTFPs/MAPs). These PhD candidates will address different aspects of this central theme: carbon sequestration potential and impact on global climate change; livelihood enhancement of NTFP/MAP cultivation; and gender/socio-cultural dimensions of adopting such practices. In addition, each partner institution will also benefit mutually through a number of planned activities such as development of research-based course curricula, upgrading of library and laboratory facilities, training of technical staff, and faculty and student exchanges.

Main discipline area:
COMBINATION OF TWO OR MORE OF THE OTHER MAIN DISCIPLINE AREAS

Sub-discipline(s):

Please fill in all items.

Background, reasons for the project, importance, originality
Use and management of natural resources such as soil, water, forests and biodiversity are inextricably linked to rural economy in the hills and mountains of the Himalayan region, where about 85 percent of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. In this regard, non-wood forest resources, such as medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs), integrated into hill farming systems offers potential for rural poor and disadvantaged sectors of society to improve livelihoods while simultaneously conserving or restoring degraded mountain ecosystems. Hence, the enhancement of a solidly research-based higher education dealing with poverty alleviation, rural development (RD), and sustainable management (SM) of these natural resources is expedient in light of the ever-increasing population pressures and impacts of human activities on the natural environment. There is an urgent need to augment both institutional and professional capacity in the region adopting an interdisciplinary approach for analyzing the relationship between the livelihood of poor people and available resources, embracing the concept of sustainable development. Such development depends on the interactions of biophysical, socio-economic, political and technological factors. This approach takes into account the importance and influence of institutions, socio-cultural and economic peculiarities, as well as, political opportunities and constraints.

IOF-TU is a key educational and research organization in Nepal, dealing with use and management of natural resources. The goals of IOF-TU are to provide higher education (Master's and PhD) and to carry out research within natural resource management, rural development, environmental management, and bio-diversity conservation issues at local, national, and regional levels. Realising the need for an integrated research and educational programme for developing rural areas, IOF-TU was initiated an interdisciplinary MSc programme in collaboration with Noragric, UMB though a bilateral NUFU supported project in 2003. The proposed project is designed to be an continuation and expansion to support the strategic goal of IOF-TU bringing in new partner institutions from within Nepal and other parts of the Himalayan Region.

Participatory soil & water conservation, management for restoration of degraded land, and agricultural and income diversification for the rural poor are highly relevant research priorities within the framework of sustainable watershed management and rural development in the Region. We propose to address these priorities through a variety of activities including planned PhD research, continuation and improvement of ongoing MSc programs (at IOF), transfer/adaptation of MSc programs to other institutions in the region, networking, and other institutional strengthening and capacity building efforts, such as, library improvement, training of technical staff, laboratory upgrading, etc. In addition, several MSc students enrolled at Noragric-UMB and other network partners from the region will undertake courses and research at IOF-TU in connection with Noragric’s ongoing educational and research program at IOF-TU.

IOF-TU has already established collaboration with UMB. UMB has a collaborative linkage with Kathmandu University, and other universities in the Himalayan Region. MOUs exist between UMB and TU, KU, Karakorum International University (UP) and Kabul University (UK). Collaborative research projects, focused upon the natural resource degradation, land use changes and carbon sequestration, and agricultural intensification are ongoing between IOF-TU, KU and UMB. One faculty of IOF-TU has already completed a Ph.D. from UMB and returned to IOF, while another two are in the process of completing their PhD work at UMB. Likewise, one faculty member form KU is also doing his PhD at UMB through a collaborative project funded by NORAD. Several MSc students from Noragric and other departments at UMB are attached to these projects for their theses work. The existing setup forms an ideal platform for the proposed project which will consolidate and strengthen the ongoing collaborative efforts between Nepal and Norway, as well as, establish new South-South collaborative linkages.

Objectives
The main objective of the project is to develop a regional network of universities/institutions in the Himalayan Region and implement an integrated teaching and research program for management of natural resources with special focus on sustainable development of watersheds.

The specific objectives are as follows:

1. Establish a network among 4 or 5 mountain universities in the Himalayan region and develop joint and/or parallel course programs and research:
-To develop a network among selected mountain university in the Central and western Himalayan region for knowledge/information sharing and joint course and research collaborative efforts.
-To foster academic exchange of both faculty and students at the M.Sc. and/or Ph.D. levels.
-To formulate and implement joint or parallel course programmes in common thematic areas of sustainable mountain resource use and management.


2. MSc curriculum development, teaching, and capacity building:

-To improve the newly developed interdisciplinary course curricula at IOF-TU, and give continuity to on-going MSc programs supported by NUFU.
-To share the experience of interdisciplinary MSc programs with other partner universities in the Region and help them adapt or create similar new programs.
-To enhance human and institutional capacity in interdisciplinary approaches in planning and sustainable management of natural resources at partner institutions.

3. Research

a. To continue existing PhD research having the following objectives:

-To explore factors determining the use and management of lands at watershed level, and examine the prospects of enhancing soil/water conservation and sustainable land management using an system approach.

-To determine soil and nutrient losses from agricultural land, as well as, most appropriate and effective erosion control methods, water conservation techniques,land and fertility management practices for improving people's livelihoods.

b. To initiate new PhD research (also involving candidates from partner institutions) in the following thematic areas:
-Restorative measures for carbon sequestration to mitigate global climate change and enhance productivity of agriculture and forest lands in the Himalaya.
-Non-timber forest products and agroforestry options for enhancing rural livelihood security in the hills and mountains of the Central and Western Himalaya.
-Gender and socio-economic dimensions of adopting sustainable land management practices incorporating cultivation of NTFPs & MAPs in the Himalaya.

4. Integration of teaching and research:

-To link students’ research with on-going research projects and to establish a feedback mechanism for improving both the research and teaching components of the programme at IOF-TU.

-To enable students to apply the interdisciplinary approach and techniques learned through the improved curricula in their field research under “real world” conditions.

-To enable professionals from NGOs and other organizations to take part in project activities to share their experiences.

Research description
The proposed project will give continuity to ongoing research activities at IOF-TU dealing with the analysis of biophysical and socio-economic factors affecting management of natural resources, soil losses, use and management of private lands, and prospects of enhancing soil and water conservation in watersheds of Nepal. The research activities are being conducted through PhD research by a faculty member of IOF-TU and some MSc students at IOF and UMB.

Three to four separate research topics will be addressed within the proposed new project over the period of five years. These will be carried out as a part of the PhD studies by candidates from each of the partner institutions. The thematic areas have been identified and listed in the objectives above. The full proposals and detailed methods for each of these sub-projects will be developed by the selected PhD candidates, however, a brief description is provided below.

Topic 1:
Mountain ecosystems of the Himalayan regions host hundreds of Non Timber Forest Product (NTFP) species, such as Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs) that could serve as potential alternative income sources for poor rural farmers (Paudel, 2001; CECI, 2002). NTFPs have been utilized for different purposes from ancient times (Dhyani, 2002) and are seen to be important in sustainable use of forests, the livelihood systems of very large numbers of people, and meeting commercial demands (Arnold and Perez, 1996). Due to inadequacy of traditional farming systems, and soil degradation resulting in declining in crop yields, the local people have begun to depend more on NFTPs to secure their livelihoods, but hitherto, this has mainly been from wild collection. CECI (2002) reveals that 35% of the people are involved in the collection of MAPs for their livelihood and there is no exact procedure of MAPs harvesting, frequency and season. Poudel (2001) emphasizes the protection, management or cultivation of endangered species whereas Dhyani (2002) argues for integration of NTFP and agroforestry together to meet the present challenges of shortage of fuelwood, fodder, fiber, timber, unemployment, environmental degradation, protection and improvement of wastelands and agriculture land.

Therefore, prospects of domestication of high value MAPs and particularly their integration into existing farming practices need to be investigated. Such integrated practices will have a dual benefit of ecological preservation/natural resource conservation as well as improved livelihoods for the poor farmers. Integration of NTFP with cereal crops will have positive contribution to soil fertility and farm income. Improved vegetative cover reduces soil erosion. A two-pronged strategy for the domestication of MAPs species is required, with focus on the interfacing of natural resource conservation and gainful involvement especially of disadvantaged segments of the local population, for the poverty reduction and overall improvement of socio-economic conditions. Such a holistic approach will ensure development of the most suitable systems and practices that will have a much greater probability of adoption by farmers with increased household income.

The objectives of the PhD work are:

• To critically analyze the available literature/databases, agroecosystems, available technology and market, rural livelihood potentials, conservation and mitigation potentials of selected MAPs.
• To evaluate the restorative and soil conservations benefits through cultivation of selected MAPs,
• To assess economic and socio-cultural viability and contribution to poverty reduction of incorporating MAPs into existing farming systems.
• To determine supportive practices required for successful MAP cultivation, such as, composting technology, fertility and pest management, and other economic and cultural measures.


Topic 2:
The biomass and organic carbon in forests and soils comprise the bulk of the terrestrial cabon pool and serve as a major sink and source for atmospheric C. Carbon sequestration in soil and biomass represents the most promising option for carbon dioxide mitigation. The strategy is based on the assumption that movement of carbon from the air to the soil could be increased while the release of carbon from the soil back to the atmosphere is decreased (McDowell, 2002). The management of vegetation and the supporting soil base, therefore, influences, to a large extent, global carbon dynamics and flux to the atmosphere. Global climate change is caused by atmospheric concentrations of CO2, and other radiatively active greenhouse gases, i.e., CH4, N2O and NOx, increased beyond natural levels due to human activities. Carbon sequestration could be appropriate from both socioeconomic and environmental perspectives. The environmental perspective includes the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere (Batjes and Sombroek, 1997),) and increase in the biodiversity. Social benefits can be reflected through increased yield (Sombroek et al., 1993) and monitory benefit from potential carbon trading schemes (McDowell, 2002). Carbon sequestration for carbon trading could enhance sustainable forest management practices (Tschakert, 2001).
Thus, there is a need for scientific inquiry towards determining viable sinks for atmospheric carbon under different cropping and land management options to mitigate the greenhouse effect and potential global warming. This includes agricultural diversification through incorporation of NTFPs, agroforestry and other permaculture practices. Comparatively few studies on carbon dynamics and C sequestration have been done in less developed countries, and there is a substantial gap in knowledge and data base on terrestrial C pools and stocks for the Himalayan Region in particular. The Himalaya offer a unique opportunity for studying carbon stocks and dynamics due to a wide diversity of climates and ecosystems concentrated in a relatively narrow geographical belt.

The main objectives of this PhD study will be:
• To characterise and quantify carbon stocks in soils and vegetative biomass (above and below ground) under forest, diversified agricultural systems (with cultivation of NTFPs), and agroforestry systems in the mid-hills of the Himalaya.
• To determine the effects of land use management (forest, agriculture and agroforestry) on fluxes of greenhouse gases (mainly CO2 and CH4).
• To investigate the effects of socio-economic factors on C-sequestration potential of soils and vegetative biomass under different land use management including cultivation of NTFPs.


Topic 3:
In the Himalayan context, a clear understanding of the processes and peculiarities concerning adoption of practices to minimize soil degradation and preserve ecological balance, while enhancing income potential, is lacking. More specifically, the factors influencing adoption of practices such as, cultivation of NTFPs including MAPs, land restorative measures and soil/water conservation options require in depth examination. Such examination calls for mapping of farmers' awareness, perceptions, interests and self-evaluation of the practices and measures. In the Himalaya, the adoption of such practices are significantly influenced by socio-cultural factors, like ethnicity and gender issues, that shape the perceptions, behavioural pattern and decision-making processes within rural communities. Increasingly, the roles and importance of women as resource managers and decision-makers have become evident as they are more dependent on nature by virtue of the sexual division of labour: women, it is said, are primarily responsible for gathering of fuel, fodder and wild foods, and growing of subsistence crops for survival (Leach and Green, 1995). Gender analysts have argued for revaluation of women’s involvement in environmental movements and women’s community managing works to recognize essentially conservative protects, male domination of leadership roles and the extension of unpaid work for women (Jackson, 1993; Leach and Green, 1995). Leach (1991) argues understanding women’s relationships with the environment need to recognize the relationships of power and authority, negotiation and bargaining and the wider social relations in which decisions about land and trees are embedded. Hence, there is the need to closely study gender roles in adoption of sustainable land management practices incorporating NTFPs and agroforestry for livelihood enhancement.

Objectives for this PhD study:
• To evaluate farmer perceptions and awareness regarding cultivation of NTFPs for potential income/livelihood enhancement and environmental conservation.

• To investigate the influence of gender, socio-cultural setting, household characteristics and economic condition on the adoption of crop diversification (with NTFP cultivation) and soil restorative practices in Himalaya.

Academic competence and capacity at UiS and UiN:
UiS-1. Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University

Institute of Forestry (IOF) is part of Tribhuvan University (TU), Nepal. Established in 1973, IOF-TU is an educational and research institute responsible for imparting education at BSc and MSc levels in Forestry and other related areas of natural resource management (NRM). It started MSc Forestry programme in 2001, MSc programmes in Watershed Management and Natural resource Management and Rural Development and research based Ph. D. in Forestry in 2005. It has strategic goal to become center of excellence for producing human resources competent in managing natural resource on sustainable basis using interdisciplinary approaches. The goals of IOF-TU are to:
- provide university education (bachelor, master and PhD degree) and non-degree programs in natural resources conservation and management.
- provide an interdisciplinary research facility on natural resource management, rural development, environmental management, and bio-diversity conservation issues in local, national and regional context.
- provide services to rural communities in the area of forestry, soil conservation, agroforestry, community forestry, leasehold forestry, and income generating activities through non-timber forest products management.
- provide the consultancy in the area of forestry, rural development, natural resources management and conservation.
- promote collaborative research and educational activities with other universities and institutions and share information and human resources with international affiliations.

The IOF-TU operates at two campuses, one in Pokhara and the other in Hetauda. A separate IOF- Dean’s office with two Assistant Deans (Planning and Administration/Examination) and supporting administrative staffs is located in Pokhara. The main campus in Pokhara is organized in six departments to carry out its teaching activities. It is having limited research activities in forestry, watershed management, soil conservation and other related areas of natural resources management, and needs to expand to cover the needs of the institute. The institute has few facilities including GIS and soil laboratories. It is currently involved in two ongoing collaborative projects with the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway and one with Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL), Denmark. The institute has also collaborated with other institutions in the Himalayan region engaged in research relevant to the proposed project and has involved resource persons from other campuses of TU, Kathmandu University and other organizations in teaching and research activities. Recent return of few qualified manpower at IOF (Dr. KD Awasthi from UMB, Norway and Dr. R Pokharel from MSU, USA; see attached CVs), experienced faculty like Prof. Dr. IC Dutta with teaching and research experience in NTFP, Mr. CP Upadhyaya with expertise in socio-economic aspects and resource economics and some other faculty of IOF completing Ph.Ds in near future serve as important assets to the project. In addition, resource persons from other institutions within TU (Dr. CL Shrestha, Dr. R Chhetri etc.) will have backstopping to various activities of the project.

UiS-2:. Kathmandu University, Nepal

Kathmandu University (KU) is a privately initiated, non-profit, public educational institution, which strives to achieve the highest levels of academic excellence. With a mandate of providing quality education in technical, professional and applied fields of science that are not available at other academic institutions in Nepal, KU has focused on specialized areas such as environmental science, pharmacy, management, information technology and engineering. Due to a growing realization of the precarious balance in which humans coexist with nature and the imminent danger that many people in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas face from air, water, and land pollution among other key environmental problems, KU established Environmental Science degree programmes at the Bachelors (1994) and Masters (2000) levels.

The collaborating department (Environmental Science and Engineering) at KU has particular expertise in land and water management, soil and water quality monitoring, agricultural impacts on environment, and sustainable rural development in relation to mountain environments. At present the department has four on-going collaborative research projects in this field of research, two funded by EU and two by NORAD. The key researchers from this department with relevant research and academic experience are Dr. Roshan M. Bajracharya and Dr. Subodh Sharma (see attached CVs).


UiN: Noragric – UMB

Noragric is the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB), Norway’s Department of Environment and Development Studies. Its contribution to international development lies mainly in the interface between research, education, and assignments. Noragric has, over the years, developed extensive collaboration with universities and research institutions in the South. It has many years experience in supporting institutional collaboration in developing countries both with regard to research and education. Areas for research include primary industries development and sustainable use of natural resources, biodiversity and genetic resources, rural poverty and right to resources and conflict and natural resources.

The NORAD funded MSc program offered by Noragric-UMB, Management of Natural Resources and Sustainable Agriculture (MNRSA) has been running for the last 15 years in Norway. The course aims at educating and training qualified persons not as mere individuals, but as actors within institutions concerned with the sustainable utilization of resources to meet human needs. The MNRSA programme had an interdisciplinary approach and is designed specifically for planners, managers, those working in NGOs, and educators concerned with integrated resource management. The experiences from MNRSA programme will be used in development/improvement of the course curricula in an integrated research and educational model. The key scientist involved in the project (Dr. B.K. Sitaula) with several years of research experience from Himalayan region (Nepal, India and Pakistan) serves as important human resources for execution of the project (See list of publication in CV). He is supervising three PhD and some MSc students from IOF-TU and KU. The other project participants from Noragric (Dr. Ingrid Nyborg) has an extensive research experiences from Mountain region of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Noragric is having existing research collaboration with KU through a NORAD funded project (2003-2006) and with Karakorum International University through a student research. Noragric is able to integrate these experiences to give regional dimensions through networking and by promoting South to South collaboration.

Administrative competence and capacity at UiS and UiN:
Noragric at UMB is already admistrating 3 NUFU supported projects at present. In addition, Noragric has a rich administrative experience in institutional collaborations with more than 25 countries in the South. The UiN project coordinator has substantial project management experience including the present NUFU project with TU and 5 other collaborative research project in the Region.


IOF-TU has been administrating several externally funded projects (NUFU, Research Council of Norway, USAID, DANIDA, JICA, and EU) over the past 5 years. Professor Balla has a rich experience in project management and coordination being the administrator for the EU funded Himalayan Degradation, NFR funded projects, and the present NUFU propect. IOF has adequate administrative and support staff for accounting and execution of such projects.

Kathmandu University presently has several externally grant-funded research projects on-going: a NORAD funded project on Himalayan Agricultural Intensification; an EU funded project on Bioassessment system for river quality in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya; an Asia-Europ Link project with Chinese partners on Soil Biophysics; and Teacher Education Project funded by SIU. It has a well established administration, accounts and financial management sections that has successfully managed these projects.

Reference to publications and research:
References:

Adhikari, J. 1992. Ethnicity, Off-farm Income and Resource Use in the Semi-subsistence Farming System of Kaski District, Nepal. Ph.D. Dissertation. Australian National University, Canberra.

Arnold, J.E.M. and Perez, M.R. 1996. Framing the issues relating to non-timber forest products research.

Batjes, N.H. and Sombroek, W.G. 1997. Possibilities of carbon sequestration in
tropical and sub tropical soils. Global Change Biology 3:161-173.

Bilsborrow, R.E. and Carr, D.L. 2001. Population, agricultural land use and the environment in developing countries. In Lee, D. and Barrett, C. (eds.) Tradeoffs or Synergies? Agricultural Intensification, Economic Development and the Environment, CAB International, Wallingford, UK. pp. 35-55.

Blaikie, P. and Brookfield, H. 1987. Land Degradation and Society. Methuen, London and New York.

Blaikie, P. 1987. Explanation and policy in land degradation and rehabilitation for developing countries. Land Degradation and Rehabilitation 1: 23-27.

Blaikie, P. 1988. The explanation of land degradation. In J. Ives and D.C. Pitt (eds.) Deforestation: Social Dynamics in Watersheds and Mountain Ecosystems, Routledge, New York.

Carson, B. 1992. The Land, the Farmer and the Future. ICIMOD Occasional Paper No.21, ICIMOD, Kathmandu.

Carter, A.S. and Gilmour, D.A. 1989. Increase in tree cover on private farm land in Central Nepal. Mountain Research and Development 9 (4): 381-391.

CECI. 2002. Developing methodologies of sustainable management of endangered and high value medicinal and aromatic plants in Jumla. CECI / IDRC, Kathmandu. pp 1-31.

Chambers, R. 1994a. The origin and practice of Participatory Rural Appraisal. World Development 22 (7): 953-969.

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1: Restorative measures for carbon sequestration to mitigate global climate change and enhance productivity of agriculture and forest lands in the Himalaya.
2: Non-timber forest products and agroforestry options for enhancing rural livelihood security in the hills and mountains of the Central and Western Himalaya.
3: Gender and socio-economic dimensions of sustainable natural resource use and management in the Himalaya.
4:
5:

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Activity	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	Sum
Research
Travel expenditures	200	200	200	200	200	1000
Field work	50	100	100	100	0	350
Scientific equipment	100	50	0	0	0	150
Other expenditures	50	50	50	50	50	250
SUM - research	400	400	350	350	250	1750
PhD activities
Fellowships	0	100	100	100	100	400
Development of new courses/programme	50	0	0	0	0	50
SUM - PhD activities	50	100	100	100	100	450
	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	Sum
Master's activities
Scholarships	0	60	60	60	60	240
Development of new courses/programme	50	30	0	0	0	80
SUM - Master's activities	50	90	60	60	60	320
Training of technical and administrative staff	50	50	0	0	0	100
Publication and dissemination	0	0	25	25	50	100
Other collaborative activities	220	220	200	200	240	1080
Project management
Compensation UiS department	60	60	60	60	60	300
Remuneration - UiS	70	70	70	70	70	350
Compensation UiN department	200	200	200	200	200	1000
SUM - Project management	330	330	330	330	330	1650
Sub-total project costs	1100	1190	1065	1065	1030	5450
Project adm. costs UiS	55	59	53	53	51	271
Project adm. costs UiN	55	59	53	53	51	271
SUM PROJECT APPL. TO NUFU	1210	1308	1171	1171	1132	5992

External financial contributors