On August 26, 2025, Sandakpur Rural Municipality in Ilam district marked a major milestone for Indigenous rights in Nepal by officially recognizing the customary forest governance system of the Thebe Limbu Indigenous Peoples. The local law was passed on January 23, 2025, and officially published on August 24, 2025.
Adopted by the 16th Village Assembly, the law legally affirms the Thebe Limbu Indigenous Peoples' ancestral stewardship over their Kipat forests, biodiversity, land, and sacred sites. For generations, the community has safeguarded these territories through cultural, spiritual, and ecological practices rooted in Mundhum—the Limbu spiritual philosophy—now officially enshrined in law.
The legislation recognizes the Tumyahhang Council — the customary self-governing institution of the Limbu Peoples — and grants it legal authority to manage and protect nearly 980 hectares of forests and biodiversity, including the right to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) for any decisions affecting their territory.
The law reflects Nepal’s Constitution, key international instruments such as ILO Convention No. 169 and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), as well as a Supreme Court ruling that mandates all levels of government to uphold these standards, Including Kunming-Montreal Blobal Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). It represents a major advancement in decolonizing conservation and strengthening Indigenous sovereignty.
LAHURNIP provided legal and technical support in drafting the law, ensuring it is firmly based on human rights, Nepal’s Constitution, relevant legal frameworks, and indigenous legal principles.
