A Study of Nature-Based Enterprise Opportunities

The activity builds on past successes in Nepal's forestry and freshwater sectors to empower environmental practitioners, strengthen local governments, and catalyze new resources for climate adaptation. The program's primary objective is to conserve nature, enhance human well-being, and safeguard the future. The activity is divided into several components, with a focus on strengthening community-based private sector-led enterprises that reduce threats to biodiversity. Under Task 1.4.2, USAID Biodiversity will support Micro Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs) to achieve market potential and other business opportunities. A needs assessment of MSMEs in each target geography will be conducted to inform USAID Biodiversity investment. The study area for this activity includes several landscapes in Nepal, including the Tarai Arc Landscape, Kailash Sacred Landscape, Karnali Conservation Landscape, and Chitwan Annapurna Landscape. The program will focus on identifying and prioritizing nature-based enterprise opportunities in these landscapes, with a focus on enterprises that support the organized trade and processing of medicinal plants, crafts and souvenirs, fiber and paper products, essential oils, ecotourism, cultivation, gums and resins, and fisheries and aquaculture. A literature review was conducted to identify site-specific interventions, and consultation meetings were held with stakeholders to gather information and suggestions. Field visits were also conducted to verify and enrich the study. The program will work with a vast network in the natural product industry and with district-level stakeholders to embed important information in the study. The study identified several potential enterprises that support the organized trade and processing of medicinal plants, crafts and souvenirs, fiber and paper products, essential oils, ecotourism, cultivation, gums and resins, and fisheries and aquaculture. The program will prioritize these enterprises based on their potential to reduce threats to biodiversity and enhance human well-being. The USAID Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) activity will support MSMEs to achieve market potential and other business opportunities, with a focus on reducing threats to biodiversity and enhancing human well-being. The program will work with local governments, environmental practitioners, and other stakeholders to catalyze new resources for climate adaptation and conserve nature. The program's geographic focus is on several landscapes in Nepal, including the Tarai Arc Landscape, Kailash Sacred Landscape, Karnali Conservation Landscape, and Chitwan Annapurna Landscape. The program will work with local communities, governments, and other stakeholders to identify and prioritize nature-based enterprise opportunities in these landscapes. The program's implementation will be carried out in several phases, with a focus on identifying and prioritizing nature-based enterprise opportunities, supporting MSMEs to achieve market potential and other business opportunities, and working with local governments, environmental practitioners, and other stakeholders to catalyze new resources for climate adaptation and conserve nature.