Nepal’s Wildfire Crisis: A Climate Emergency in Slow Motion

By Daya Bandhu Ghimire | Sources: ICIMOD, MoFE, DRR Portal, ForestAction, REDD+ Nepal



 Nepal is known for its soaring peaks and deep green forests—but every year, during the dry season, that greenery turns to grey. From March to May, the risk of wildfire looms over the country like a thick haze, and when it strikes, it devastates more than just trees. Wildfires in Nepal are becoming an annual catastrophe, threatening communities, choking the air, and silently accelerating the climate crisis.

While the world watches the Himalayas melt, a more immediate fire is quietly burning through Nepal’s ecosystems.

The Numbers Are Stark—and Growing

According to data from Nepal’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Portal, the country recorded over 3,000 wildfire incidents in 2021 alone, with hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest destroyed every year (DRR Portal). And this isn’t an anomaly—wildfires have been steadily increasing since the early 2000s, with peak incidents reported during the pre-monsoon dry season.

Climate-induced droughts are playing a key role. A report by ICIMOD (2024) warns that shifting monsoon patterns and rising temperatures are leaving Nepal’s forests dry and vulnerable. As soil moisture declines and groundwater drops, even a small spark can lead to a wildfire that rages for days (ICIMOD, 2024).

It’s Not Just Nature—It’s Us

Unlike wildfires in some parts of the world that are triggered by lightning or volcanic activity, most fires in Nepal are human-induced. A detailed study by ForestAction Nepal found that nearly 90% of wildfires in the country are caused by human activities—whether it’s clearing land for farming, unattended campfires, or traditional slash-and-burn practices gone wrong (Bhujel et al., 2022).

In short, Nepal’s wildfire problem is more than mere natural disaster—it’s a deeply human one, rooted in both necessity and our negligence.

Breathing the Fire: Health and Climate Impacts

Wildfires are not just destroying forests—they’re also destroying air quality. A study commissioned by REDD+ Nepal found that emissions from forest fires during peak years can equal or even exceed emissions from the entire transportation sector of Nepal (REDD+ ToR Study, 2022).

This smoke contributes to respiratory illnesses, worsens pollution levels in urban centers like Kathmandu, and accelerates glacier melt by depositing black carbon on snow surfaces.

Forest Fires, Lost Homes

The environmental cost of wildfires goes far beyond scorched trees. Nepal’s forests are home to some of the world’s rarest species, including the red panda and Himalayan black bear. When fires reach protected areas and biodiversity corridors, they tear apart fragile habitats already under pressure from deforestation and development.

The National Framework on Loss and Damage (2021) from the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoFE) clearly outlines the far-reaching effects of forest fires, from economic losses and forced migration to increased conflict over resources (MoFE, 2021).

Are We Doing Enough?

Nepal has made some policy progress. The Disaster Risk Management Strategy (2021) outlines steps to empower local governments, strengthen forest fire surveillance, and train first responders (MoFE DRM Strategy, 2021).

However, these measures often fall short at the ground level. Limited funding, lack of coordination, and insufficient real-time data continue to delay responses.

The Way Forward: From Firefighting to Fire Prevention

It’s time Nepal moved from reacting to preparing. The solution of putting out firesis not going to work—we need to start preventing them. Here’s what that looks like:

Final Word: This Crisis Is All of Ours

Wildfires in Nepal are about homes lost, air poisoned, wildlife displaced, and futures endangered. They are a climate emergency unfolding in slow motion, right before our eyes.

To protect Nepal’s forests is to protect everything they sustain: water, air, wildlife, livelihoods, and ultimately, our shared home.


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