April 28, 2010
 Japan Extends Grant Assistance to Nepal for the
Forest Preservation Program
|
The Government of Japan has agreed to extend a grant assistance of six hundred million Yen (¥600,000,000), approximately four hundred and fifty one million, and eight hundred thousand Nepalese Rupees (NRs.451,800,000), or approximately six million, three hundred and eighty-five thousand US dollars (US$ 6,385,000), to the Government of Nepal for the Forest Preservation Program, in Japan's Fiscal Year 2009.
This grant assistance is to be provided with the objective of enabling the Government of Nepal to address climate change with special emphasis on adaptation to, and the mitigation of climate change as well as on improved access to clean energy.
On the occasion, a set of Notes was signed and exchanged today between His Excellency Mr. Tatsuo MIZUNO, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal, and Mr. Rameshore Prasad Khanal, Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, on behalf of their respective Governments.
H.E. Mr. MIZUNO mentioned with his pleasure that Nepal is very keen to take the initiative in trying to prevent serious global warming as well as prevent melting of Himalayan glaciers, the endeavor of which includes pollution control and natural resources management among South Asian countries. He quoted an international belief that no nation can escape the impact of global warming, accordingly working together is a must.
It is widely known that human activities such as the burning of petrol and fossil fuels inevitably cause the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), but also scientifically clear that green plants and forests fulfill a variety of functions of curbing a global warming. For example, forests absorb CO2 greatly and prevent soil erosion, provide natural resources, preserve the ecosystem, and maintain watersheds.
H.E. Mr. MIZUNO also expressed that deforestation is spreading quickly in Nepal - by 1.7% annually. Accordingly, we need make utmost efforts so as to restrain deforestation and expand the land area covered by forests. One nation alone can not tackle this sort of global problems. But Nepal, as one of the leading countries fighting against global warming, is expected to play a leading role in order to minimize the carbon dioxide emission in the country and encourage other regional countries to do the same.
In this context, H.E. Mr. MIZUNO expressed his sincere belief that Japan's ODA is to be provided with the principle aim of pursuing environmental preservation and national development in parallel. Both aims should not be conflicting but should be compatible with each other. In accordance with Japan's full commitments to the Kyoto Protocol, Japan's ODA has been also playing an important role in assisting developing countries to carry out their own measures against climate change in various areas such as appropriate forest management, including reforestation. The grant assistance provided today shows a good manifestation of Japan's assistance philosophy.
On the occasion, H.E. Mr. MIZUNO stated that the signing of the Notes for the Forest Preservation Program shows the wishes of the Government of Japan and its people for the further balanced national development and well-being of Nepalese people. It also symbolizes the long-lasting relation of friendship and cooperation between Japan and Nepal.
|
|
