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Provincial forest profile

Karnali
Living landscapes.

A place-specific foundation for forest partnerships, evidence and long-term stewardship.

Published geographic context
27.93%Forest cover, 2022 · excluding other wooded land
1,680,088Population, 2021 Census
10Districts

Districts: Dailekh · Dolpa · Humla · Jajarkot · Jumla · Kalikot · Mugu · Rukum West · Salyan · Surkhet

Pine forest beneath Himalayan peaks in Lete, Mustang, Nepal
Lete, Mustang · pine forest beneath Himalayan peaks.

The forest record, researched.

Published background

Geography & identity

Karnali Province is Nepal's largest province by area and one of the least densely populated. It stretches from the southern Siwalik-Churia hills through the mid-hills to the high Himalaya and Tibet border. The Karnali River, Nepal's longest river, runs through the province and gives it its name. The provincial capital is Birendranagar in Surkhet District.

The province has 10 districts and 79 local levels. It is characterised by extreme topography, limited road density, high dependence on subsistence agriculture and remittances, and significant hydropower, forest, and tourism potential.

Forests, carbon & biodiversity

  • Karnali contains extensive sub-tropical Sal forests in the south, mixed pine-oak-conifer forests in the mid-hills, and sub-alpine/alpine forests and rangelands in the north.
  • Key protected areas: Rara National Park (Mugu) and Shey Phoksundo National Park (Dolpa).
  • Community forestry is widespread in accessible mid-hill and southern districts.
  • Carbon sequestration potential is high in the densely forested southern and mid-hill areas, but data on actual stocks and REDD+ projects are limited.
  • Biodiversity highlights: snow leopard, red panda, musk deer, blue sheep, Himalayan black bear, and numerous high-altitude flora.

Agriculture, for context

  • Agro-climate zones: Sub-tropical (southern Surkhet/Salyan/Western Rukum), warm-temperate (mid-hill Dailekh/Jajarkot/Jumla/Kalikot), cool-temperate/alpine (Dolpa/Humla/Mugu/high Jumla).
  • Main crops: Rice, maize, wheat, millet, barley, buckwheat, potato, oilseeds, pulses, ginger, turmeric, citrus, apples, walnuts.
  • Livestock: Cattle, buffalo, goats, sheep, yaks/chauri, poultry.
  • Challenges: Limited irrigation, poor road access, climate extremes, low commercialisation, post-harvest losses, and food deficits in high mountain districts.

District by district

Open a district to read its landscape and forestry background.

Western Rukum

Rukumkot (Kamala Daha), Shyarpu Tal, Deurali cave, Musikot bazaar, Dhaulagiri views, road corridor to Jajarkot/Salyan, Magar cultural heartland.

Mixed broadleaf and pine forests on mid-hills; community forestry widespread; moderate carbon sequestration; watershed for Bheri basin.

Salyan

Salyan Palace/kot, Sharada (Sharada) municipality, sal forests, Shuklaphanta wildlife corridor links, ginger and vegetable production.

Sub-tropical Sal and mixed deciduous forests; significant biomass carbon; community forestry and possible REDD+; corridor to Churia conservation.

Dolpa

Shey Phoksundo Lake (Nepal's deepest), Phoksundo waterfall, Upper Dolpo trekking, yak/caravan culture, Tibetan Buddhism and Bon religion.

Sparse high-altitude forests and alpine meadows; limited commercial carbon sequestration but important biodiversity (snow leopard, blue sheep); protected area carbon value.

Humla

Limithang / Limi Valley, Mount Kailash pilgrimage route, ancient monasteries, Tibet border trade at Hilsa/Nara La.

High-altitude coniferous forests and rangelands; low population pressure; important watersheds for Karnali/Ganges; very limited carbon project activity due to remoteness.

Jumla

Sinja Valley (Malla-era inscriptions, origin of Khas language), Jumli marshi rice, Chandannath Temple, Rara Lake access route, apple orchards.

Temperate conifer and mixed forests; significant community forestry coverage; carbon stock potential; biodiversity corridor linking Rara-Shey Phoksundo.

Kalikot

Karnali River (rafting and hydropower), ancient Kotbada, Pachal Jharana waterfall, high-grade mineral deposits, remote trekking routes.

Mixed pine-oak and conifer forests; high watershed value for Karnali; community forests present; carbon data limited.

Mugu

Rara Lake (biggest lake in Nepal), Rara National Park, Talcha airport, coniferous forests, Thakuri heritage, trans-Himalayan trade routes.

Dense sub-alpine and temperate forests around Rara; significant carbon stock; protected area and community forestry; biodiversity (red panda, musk deer).

Surkhet

Birendranagar (provincial capital), Karnali Highway hub, Kakrebihar (ancient Buddhist site), Bulbule/Bheri irrigation, Deuti Bajai Temple, higher education and health services.

Deciduous Sal and riverine forests on plains and Churia; moderate carbon stock; community and leasehold forestry; urban pressure on fringe forests.

Dailekh

Kalika Bhagawati Temple, Dullu stone inscriptions (medieval Malla history), oil-bearing crops (til), ginger production.

Sub-tropical to temperate community forests on mid-hills; moderate carbon sequestration potential; watershed role for Bheri tributaries.

Jajarkot

Historic Khalanga palace area, Bheri River, limestone caves, iron ore deposits, diverse Thakuri/Chhetri/Magar culture.

Sub-tropical Sal and pine forests on south-facing slopes; community forestry active; moderate carbon stock; erosion control on steep terrain.

The project record, in detail.

Awaiting project data

Each participating forest will have its own record, distinct from the background research above. The following information needs to be established before a project can be assessed.

To be assessed

Forest identity & boundaries

Forest name, mapped management boundary, forest type, ecological zone and area.

To be assessed

Stewardship & rights

Management institution, community forest user group, tenure, operational plan and benefit-sharing arrangements.

To be assessed

Ecology & condition

Species composition, age structure, canopy, growing stock, biodiversity and disturbance history.

To be assessed

Carbon baseline & monitoring

Inventory plots, baseline management, biomass and soil pools, methodology, uncertainty and monitoring schedule.

To be assessed

Safeguards & community

Consent, livelihoods, inclusion, grievance mechanism, fire risk, leakage and permanence planning.

To be assessed

Delivery & evidence

Proposed activities, budget, implementing partners, agreements, field photographs and verification documents.

Nepal, place by place

Every forest has its own story.

Choose a province to explore its forest context and the evidence needed for project development.

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Provincial forest context

Karnali

27.93% forest cover · 2022 land-cover baseline

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Bring local knowledge
into the picture.

Share maps, available records and local priorities with the team. Data will need review before it can become a published project record; these pages do not imply eligibility, verified carbon volumes or an existing agreement.

Discuss Karnali