Together with the Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), a project has been formulated to receive funding from the International Climate Initiative (ICI) of the Federal Environment Ministry of Germany for a regional REDD+ program. Its purpose is to prepare selected national partners in the Himalaya region in applying results-based REDD+ approaches and to support them in the ecological restoration and sustainable use of forest ecosystems. ICIMOD has had initial local pilot experience with REDD+ in Nepal and has been approached by the Himalayan states for more extensive support. The challenge is to further develop these initial experiences and to test them in forest-rich areas in the eastern Himalaya.

• Preparation of the technical project document.
• Discussions with ICIMOD, GIZ Nepal and the four regional program partners:
• Nepal: Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation - REDD Cell.
• Bhutan: Ministry for Agriculture and Forests.
• Myanmar: Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry.
• India: Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE).
• Drawing up the detailed budget for each of the involved partners.