Submitted by ncckmc on
Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) in collaboration with Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) successfully organized a half-day consultative workshop on Identifying Potential Research Areas for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in Urban Areas of Nepal on 25 February 2025 in Kathmandu. The consultative workshop was designed to provide platform to a wide range of stakeholders for discussing the priority research areas and finalizing the research grants manual and contribute to fostering a collaborative approach to addressing the pressing urban climate challenges in Nepal. The workshop presented and reviewed a preliminary list of research areas related to urban EbA in the context of climate change adaptation in urban areas of Nepal. Further, it gathered additional relevant research topics that should be prioritized to address urban climate challenges, especially in Kathmandu Valley and beyond by engaging the participants representing different universities, research institutions, government and non-government offices and media. The workshop is a part of Implementation of Urban EbA Research Activities Project being implemented by Nepal Climate Change Knowledge Management Center (NCCKMC)-Science and Technology Information System Centre (STISC), NAST.
The workshop was formally inaugurated by watering a plant by Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice Chancellor, NAST and Ms. Januka Dhakal, Development Commissioner, KVDA amidst a gathering of 80 participants. The workshop began with a welcome address by Dr. Rabindra Prasad Dhakal, Secretary of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST). In his remarks, Dr. Dhakal highlighted that the Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) approach is increasingly taking center stage in adaptation efforts and has already proven successful in various parts of the world. Prof. Dr. Pramod Kumar Jha, Academician, NAST and Chairman of the Research Grants Selection Committee illustrated the objectives of organizing the workshop and highlighted the critical importance of EbA strategies in urban areas to combat the growing challenges posed by climate change. Mr. Nava Raj Pyakurel, Deputy Development Commissioner of Kathmandu Valley Development Authority (KVDA) and National Director for the Urban EbA project expressed concern over the timely implementation of urban EbA project activities. Ms. Januka Dhakal, Development Commissioner, KVDA, echoed the urban climate change concerns and reiterated the urgent need of scientific findings for formulating urban policies in Nepal. Prof. Dr. Dilip Subba, Vice Chancellor of NAST, delivered the closing remarks, reiterating the importance of research in advancing EbA initiatives. His remarks underscored the need fo
r collaboration in research to develop and implement effective nature-based adaptation strategies. The technical and group discussions session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Rejina Maskey. Dr. Bimala Devkota, Chief Scientific Officer, and Mr. Pawan Kumar Neupane, Senior Scientific Officer, NAST, facilitated the discussions. Mr. Durga Prasad Upadhyaya, National Project Manager of the Urban EbA Project at KVDA, presented his findings on the Kathmandu Urban EbA Project and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for Climate Resilient Urban Development. His presentation focused on the progress and outcomes of the EbA projects in the Kathmandu Valley, outlining key challenges and successes. Dr. Bimala Devkota and Mr. Pawan Kumar Neupane also discussed the key research themes and areas under the Research Grants program. During the closing session, Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, Academician, NAST, Mr. Batu Krishna Upreti, Advisor, Technical Working Group, Urban EbA Project, KVDA and Dr. Deepak Kumar Khadka, Senior Research Fellow at the Policy Research Institute of the Government of Nepal shared their concluding remarks.
