Background 

The Nepal Pollination Project (NPP), officially titled “Upscaling Pollination to Enhance Biodiversity and Human Welfare in Nepal”, is a four-year collaborative effort supported by the UK Government’s Darwin Initiative. This project is led by the University of Bristol, UK and will be implemented in Nepal by the Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), HERD International, the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), and Tribhuvan University (TU), starting in October 2025. 

The initiative will be carried out in selected areas of Karnali, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces, working closely with the Department of Agriculture, the Provincial Ministries of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoLMAC), the Federation of Nepalese Beekeepers (FNBK), and ICIMOD.  Within the consortium, HERD International will take the lead on Outputs 1 and 2. LI-BIRD will oversee Outputs 3, 5, and 6, while AFU will focus on Output 5. 

The project aims to improve the conservation and management of pollinators across the Himalayas, ultimately contributing to healthier communities, stronger economies, and more resilient ecosystems. It seeks to drive a national level shift in pollinator awareness, management, research, and conservation policy, leading to enhanced pollinator biodiversity, increased crop yields, and improved livelihoods. To achieve this, the project will implement sustainable beekeeping initiatives that support, connect, and scale up beekeeping activities across Nepal, creating greater economic opportunities for marginalized farmers, women, and youth. It will also support the development of a National Pollinator Strategy to strengthen legislative protection and build pollination management capacity across all tiers of government. Additionally, the project will establish a Himalayan Pollinator Network to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote collaboration, and build a regional community of expertise in the sector of sustainable pollinator conservation and management.