Tony Burdon, deputy head of DFID Nepal, on Friday announced 50 million pounds aid to help Nepal fight the adverse impacts of environmental problems caused by climate change and deforestation. “We do not think it is sufficient but it is a start,” Burdon told a press meet in Kathmandu.
Out of the total amount, 40 million pounds will be spent on protecting forests by helping local people to eke out a living. Nepal´s forests that contribute 70 per cent of green house gas emission are at a great risk because of squatters encroaching woodlands for livelihoods.
“We would like to ensure participation of maximum local people in our reforestation program,” Simon Lucas, Climate Change Officer at DFID Nepal, said. DFID claims to have contributed towards reforestation in Nepal by at least 10 per cent through its various programs in the past.
The rest of the money will be spent on helping local people to enhance their resilience power to the impacts of climate change. This program consists of improving emergency warning systems, guarding vulnerable people from natural disasters and supporting community water schemes.
Earlier this year, the UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown had called for an international financial initiative worth $100 billion to support developing countries to combat climate change. In response to his call, the European Union (EU) agreed to increase the figure to $135 billion.
The support from DFID, which has already announced 172 million pounds to Nepal over the next three years, comes as a part of the international initiative.
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