This project strengthens equitable governance in Nepal’s protected and conserved areas by enabling Indigenous Peoples and local communities to participate actively and meaningfully in conservation management. Led by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), it uses the Site Level Assessment of Governance and Equity (SAGE) tool to support local governance bodies, including buffer zone user committees, conservation area management committees, and community forest user groups, to ensure that conservation efforts advance social justice and biodiversity objectives.

SAGE assessments are carried out across 16 protected areas to build local capacity, foster knowledge co-creation among stakeholders and promote decision-making that centers the rights, traditional knowledge and participation of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The project addresses ongoing challenges in Nepal’s conservation landscape, such as inequitable benefit-sharing, limited community involvement and human-wildlife conflict, while supporting Nepal’s commitment to the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30x30 target.

Collaborative action research and targeted capacity development are central to this project, demonstrating that inclusive and effective governance in conservation areas delivers tangible benefits for people and nature. This approach provides a practical model for rights-based, community-led conservation in Nepal, highlighting how strengthened governance can achieve social equity and biodiversity conservation outcomes.