Introduction

Afforestation, Reforestation, and Revegetation (ARR) projects are vital for climate mitigation and ecosystem restoration in Nepal. This study focuses on identifying degraded, deforested, and low-productivity lands across Nepal using remote sensing and cloud-based geospatial tools. The goal is to support carbon offset projects by mapping suitable areas for tree planting and land restoration.

The results help in prioritizing intervention zones, enhancing carbon sequestration potential, and supporting sustainable land management policies.

Study Scope and Objective

• Objective: To identify and map degraded, deforested, and low-productivity lands across Nepal.
• Focus Areas: Degraded lands, deforested areas since 2000, and regions with low soil organic carbon (SOC).
• Tools Used: Remote sensing data, cloud-based platforms (e.g., Google Earth Engine), and geospatial analysis tools.
• Output: Suitability maps for ARR project planning.

Data Sources and Indicators

• NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index): Areas with NDVI < 0.3 classified as likely degraded.
• NDWI (Normalized Difference Water Index): Used to assess surface water presence and moisture levels.
• Soil Organic Carbon (SOC): Areas with SOC < 2% considered poor for plant growth.
• Deforestation Data: Lands deforested since the year 2000, based on satellite-derived land cover change datasets.

Methodology Overview

1. Data Preprocessing

• Cloud-free composite generation for optical and SAR datasets.
• Masking of urban, water, and snow-covered areas.
• Harmonization of multi-temporal and multi-sensor data.

2. Suitability Analysis

Steps:

1. Extract NDVI values to identify vegetation-poor regions (NDVI < 0.3).
2. Use NDWI to exclude waterlogged or permanently wet areas.
3. Overlay SOC data to flag low-carbon soils (< 2% SOC).
4. Intersect with historical deforestation maps (since 2000).
5. Combine layers using weighted overlay to generate a final suitability score.

3. Suitability Classification

Lands are classified into:

• Highly Suitable
• Moderately Suitable
• Marginally Suitable
• Not Suitable

Results

The final output is a national-scale land suitability map for ARR projects, highlighting priority regions for reforestation and restoration. This map supports policymakers, project developers, and environmental organizations in targeting investments and interventions effectively.

"Restoring degraded lands is not just an environmental necessity—it is an opportunity for climate resilience and community well-being."

The analysis reveals significant areas across Nepal that are suitable for ARR activities, with Terai and mid-hill regions showing high potential for carbon sequestration projects.