After the introduction of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, existing development institutions are being assessed for their roles in achieving SDGs. In this context, we aim to assess how and to what extent Nepal’s community forestry (CF) is contributing to achieve the SDGs. Using an institutional interaction perspective, we conducted policy analysis, literature review and expert consultation. The analysis was guided by six analytical questions covering policy provision, institutional practices, and actors’ perception. After four decades of successful implementation, CF has become a strong local institution in Nepal to deliver multiple social and environmental outcomes. The result shows that CF is contributing to 80 targets of the SDGs at various scales of institutional interface. Furthermore, CF is found to be interactive with a range of social, economic, and environmental aspects of the SDGs. We argue that CF has the potential to make significant contributions to SDGs, thus providing a solid institutional framework to efficiently translate SDGs into actions.

Deforestation and forest degradation mostly caused by human interventions affect the capacity of the forest ecosystem to provide ecosystem services and livelihood benefits. Forest and landscape restoration (FLR) is an emerging concept that focuses on the improvement of the ecosystem as well as the livelihood of the people at the landscape level. Nepal has successfully recovered degraded forest land mainly from the hilly region through forest restoration initiatives, especially community-based forestry. However, the Tarai region is still experiencing deforestation and forest degradation. This study navigated the gaps related to forest restoration in the existing policies and practices and revealed that the persistence of deforestation and forest degradation in Tarai is a result of a complex socioeconomic structure, the limitations of the government in implementing appropriate management modality, unplanned infrastructure, and urban development. We suggest that forest restoration should focus on ecological and social wellbeing pathways at the landscape level to reverse the trend of deforestation and forest degradation in the Tarai regions of Nepal. The study provides critical insight to the policymakers and practitioners of Nepal and other countries (with similar context) who are engaged in forest/ecosystem restoration enterprise.

Deforestation and forest degradation due to unsustainable forest products harvesting and encroachment has adverse socio-ecological impacts in the Southern part of Nepal, the Terai. Urbanization and migration from the hill region is increasing the demand for forest products. Despite the communities' involvement in forest management, the gap between demand and supply of forest products remains huge. In this context, growing trees outside the forests particularly in public and institutional land could be an appropriate strategy both to reduce the pressure on natural forests and bridge the demand and supply gap of forest products. This study assesses how and to what extent Trees Outside Forests addresses these issues. Data were collected through focus group discussion, key informant interview and household survey. The results suggest that Tree Outside Forests have provided access to forest products, improved institutional capacity and increased income of local communities. However, insecure land tenure and unclear legal provisions are drawbacks of growing trees in public lands.