Author: Sandesh Chaudhary
Organization: Mahuwa Mission Nepal (Mahuwa Wine & Beverages Pvt. Ltd.)
Established: 2024
Publication Type: Semi-Academic Report / Policy Brief
Executive Summary
Mahuwa (Madhuca longifolia)—a native, multipurpose tree of South Asia—offers a unique synergy between climate mitigation and rural livelihoods. Initiated in 2024, the Mahuwa Mission Nepal aims to restore degraded lands and empower communities through Mahuwa-based agroforestry.
In its first two years:
- 2024: Over 1,000 Mahuwa saplings were planted across community and private lands.
- 2025: The program expanded to over 4,000 additional plantations across multiple Terai districts, engaging local cooperatives and forest user groups.
Mahuwa’s high biomass, long lifespan, and deep root system make it a significant carbon-sequestering species, capable of locking away carbon for generations. Research-based estimates suggest that each mature Mahuwa tree can store between 300–1,000 kg of carbon—equivalent to several tons of CO₂.
With thousands of trees already established, the Mahuwa Mission represents a community-driven natural climate solution that links ecological restoration, livelihood generation, and carbon finance.
- Introduction
Climate change has amplified the urgency to identify native, resilient, and community-friendly tree species that support both ecosystem recovery and livelihood security.
The Mahuwa Mission Nepal, launched in 2024, integrates ecological restoration with local economic incentives. The Mission promotes large-scale plantation and protection of Madhuca longifolia—a culturally valued and economically important species across South Asia.
Mahuwa’s role extends beyond local benefits: it represents a natural carbon sink, capable of absorbing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide through both biomass accumulation and soil carbon enhancement.
- Ecological Significance and Carbon Storage Potential
2.1 Growth and Biomass Characteristics
A mature Mahuwa tree typically grows 15–20 meters in height with a broad canopy and a trunk diameter exceeding one meter (World Agroforestry, 2019). Its dense wood and longevity make it one of the region’s top native biomass accumulators.
| Tree Parameter | Carbon Stored | Reference |
| Average mature Mahuwa | ~300 kg C | IJ Plant & Environment, 2021 |
| Large/old Mahuwa | Up to 1,000 kg C | ResearchGate, 2022 |
| Biomass carbon per hectare (Mahuwa forest) | ~50 t C/ha | ScienceDirect, 2020 |
These data indicate Mahuwa’s high carbon sequestration efficiency relative to other native dry deciduous species such as Sal (Shorea robusta) and Terminalia spp.
2.2 Annual Carbon Sequestration
A growing Mahuwa can sequester 3–5 kg of carbon annually, equivalent to 10–20 kg of CO₂. At scale, this translates into considerable cumulative benefits.
Example:
Mahuwa Mission’s 2024–2025 plantations (~5,000 trees) could collectively store 25,000 tons of CO₂ equivalent over their lifetime, assuming favorable growth and survival conditions.
2.3 Soil Carbon and Belowground Benefits
Beyond aboveground biomass, Mahuwa contributes significantly to soil organic carbon. Its deep root system promotes:
- Continuous carbon deposition from root turnover,
- Slow decomposition of tannin-rich leaf litter, and
- Organic enrichment through annual flower and fruit fall.
These processes stabilize humus and improve soil fertility, creating long-term carbon reservoirs below ground (World Agroforestry, 2019).
- Socio-Economic Relevance
3.1 Livelihood Linkages
Mahuwa is a multi-functional tree—its flowers, fruits, and seeds are used for oil, food, and local trade. This ensures communities have direct economic incentives to protect and nurture it, reducing deforestation risks.
“A tree that feeds you every year is rarely cut down.”
— Mahuwa Mission Nepal, 2024
This principle underpins the Mission’s success: conservation through value creation.
3.2 Integration in Agroforestry and Restoration Programs
Mahuwa thrives in semi-arid and degraded soils, making it ideal for Nepal’s community forest restoration and agroforestry systems.
It enhances ecosystem resilience while providing food and income security—key priorities in Nepal’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Forest Policy.
- Carbon Credits and Financial Opportunities
Under voluntary and compliance carbon markets, communities can earn revenue by quantifying and verifying the carbon stored in trees.
If one mature Mahuwa tree holds ~5 tons of CO₂ equivalent, then:
- 5,000 trees (2024–2025) = 25,000 tons CO₂ stored
- At USD 10 per ton, this equals approximately USD 250,000 in potential long-term carbon value
(ARCC Journals, 2022; ResearchGate, 2023)
Mahuwa Mission Nepal aims to develop a community carbon registry framework aligned with REDD+ and Voluntary Carbon Standards, ensuring that local stakeholders—especially women and indigenous groups—benefit equitably from carbon finance.
- Climate Resilience and Co-Benefits
Mahuwa exhibits high resilience to fire, drought, and pests, making it a low-risk, long-term carbon sink in a changing climate.
Additional co-benefits include:
- Enhanced microclimate regulation and local cooling
- Improved water retention and soil fertility
- Increased pollinator populations
- Strengthened food and livelihood security
Thus, Mahuwa is not just a carbon solution—it is a nature-based adaptation strategy that sustains both people and ecosystems.
- Conclusion
The Mahuwa Mission Nepal (2024–present) demonstrates how a native species can serve as a cornerstone for climate-smart livelihoods.
Each Mahuwa planted represents a living investment—absorbing carbon, restoring soils, supporting biodiversity, and empowering rural communities.
“Each Mahuwa planted today is a promise—of carbon locked, biodiversity restored, and livelihoods renewed.”
By merging scientific knowledge with local stewardship, the Mission aligns Nepal’s community forestry heritage with global climate goals, advancing both carbon neutrality and rural prosperity.
References
- World Agroforestry (ICRAF), 2019. Madhuca longifolia Tree Database
- Indian Journal of Plant and Environment, 2021. Carbon Storage Potential of Native Deciduous Trees
- ScienceDirect, 2020. Biomass and Carbon Estimation of Indian Dry Deciduous Forests
- ARCC Journals, 2022. Tree Carbon Biomass Assessment under Miyawaki Model
- ResearchGate, 2022–2023. Carbon Sequestration Rates of Agroforestry Tree Species