I am Rabin Neupane, an 11th Cohort Fellow at the Samaanta Foundation from Parbat district. I am passionate about social activities and eagerly seek opportunities to contribute to social change. For that matter, being a Samaanta Fellow, has been a wonderful opportunity because it focuses on paying forward to society. During my Fellowship, I secured another Fellowship with Aakar Nepal. Aakar Nepal is a non-profit organization that empowers youth to take action in their communities and address local problems to the best of their abilities. The organization encourages young people to become active problem-solvers and also aims to instill a strong sense of responsibility and commitment toward building a better society. My Fellowship with Aakar Nepal lasted from June to September 2023 during which I was provided with resources and mentorship for managing social projects. Through this Fellowship, I implemented an afforestation project, “From Root to Canopy: Building Forests for Tomorrow,” at the local level.
In Duda, Parbat, I observed that soil erosion severely affected cultivable land and as a result, agriculture. My project aimed to address this by strategically planting trees in ecologically sensitive, barren areas in Duda. The goal was to mitigate soil erosion to some extent, promote agriculture, raise local awareness, and address climate change issues. In Nepal, 45.5% of land is affected by soil erosion, and globally, about 10 million hectares of forest are lost every year. Between 2001 and 2022, Nepal lost 67 hectares of tree cover. In Duda, Parbat, approximately 2.25 hectares of agricultural land is lost annually to soil erosion, resulting in a yearly loss of $1,000 for farmers, compared to the annual per capita income of $1,300. This project seeked to address this problem to some extent.
Most participants in the program were young people, fostering a long-term positive impact. Involving the community in such efforts helps develop a conservation mindset toward trees, benefits the environment, and ultimately, reduces soil erosion. We planted 180 saplings in Duda, Parbat, with the help of 35 local people, 43% of whom were female, and a range of ages from 10 to 80. Additionally, 12 saplings were planted by the Yakata Bal Club with participation from 25 children. Although building retaining walls could address the issue, planting trees is a more sustainable solution.
I faced several challenges during the project, including transporting and storing saplings, engaging locals in the program, and dealing with officials to obtain saplings and for documentation. The most significant difficulties were with transportation and involving the local community. Transporting saplings was particularly challenging because saplings are fragile and can easily break or die. However, inviting local people to participate was even more difficult than transportation. Convincing them and gaining their trust in my project proved to be quite a challenge. Despite these obstacles, effective coordination with stakeholders and clear communication helped me overcome these issues.
My participation in this project has provided me with practical knowledge and skills, including communication, leadership, problem-solving, decision-making, and network-building. Engaging formally with stakeholders and interacting with local residents enhanced my communication abilities. Sharing afforestation ideas with more experienced individuals and involving people of various age groups in the planting process improved my leadership skills. Handling various unforeseen issues strengthened my problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
In summary, participating in this project has been an impactful experience, providing me with essential skills and a strong sense of community and environmental responsibility. By tackling important issues such as soil erosion and climate change, we have created a lasting positive impact in Duda and motivated future generations to focus on conservation.