Protests, Uprisings and the Future. What’s Happening in Nepal

We have been working in Nepal for many years and we are attentive observers of what is happening in the country. Protests that started among the younger segments of the Nepali population have quickly spread, becoming a true uprising that marks a turning point. This was inevitable for a country that had been trapped for too long between the immobility of its institutions and the pressing demand for change coming from various sectors of Nepali society. We continue to work to accompany, in our small way, a positive change, and this is a report to share with you notes, data, information and reflections.

Intro

In recent days, Nepal has been swept by one of the most significant waves of protest in its recent history. The immediate trigger was the government’s ban on the use of social media, perceived by many young people as an attempt at censorship. But that decision ignited a much deeper discontent: frustration with widespread corruption, nepotism, and the absence of economic opportunities. The demonstrations, led primarily by Generation Z, quickly escalated into violent clashes that caused dozens of casualties and led to the resignation of the Prime Minister. The revocation of the social media ban has not been enough to quell an anger rooted in concerns about governance quality and a lack of trust in institutions. This crisis reveals the structural fragility of Nepal’s political system and the growing gap between the expectations of a young and dynamic society and a ruling class perceived as distant and self-serving.

Treedom in Nepal

Treedom has been working in Nepal for years, collaborating with local communities to plant trees that not only contribute to reforestation but also generate income, food, and resilience for families. In a country where socioeconomic challenges are complex, our projects represent a tangible form of sustainable development, capable of integrating environmental and social benefits.

What is Nepal?

Nepal is a mountainous, landlocked country, nestled between India and China, two giants that inevitably shape its political and economic trajectories. Its population, now around 31 million, is young and dynamic, with a median age of just under 25. This demographic factor is crucial: a generation dreaming of a different future, pushing for change, yet often facing structural obstacles.

Nepal’s economy is fragile and vulnerable. Remittances from migrant workers account for over a quarter of GDP, making the country heavily dependent on labor abroad. Agriculture, which still employs about two-thirds of the active population, suffers from low productivity and growing exposure to the effects of climate change: extreme weather events, droughts, and floods threaten food security. The industrial sector is limited, while tourism remains a crucial source of revenue, but one that is highly sensitive to political, social, or natural shocks.

1 Treedom – Nepal – Photos from our archive, documenting our work, places and people.

2 Treedom – Nepal – Photos from our archive, documenting our work, places and people.

3 Treedom – Nepal – Photos from our archive, documenting our work, places and people.

4 Treedom – Nepal – Photos from our archive, documenting our work, places and people.

5 Treedom – Nepal – Photos from our archive, documenting our work, places and people.

Politically, Nepal is a federal parliamentary republic that has experienced radical transformations in recent decades: from absolute monarchy to a multiparty system, and finally the adoption of a new constitution in 2015. Yet chronic instability persists: governments fall frequently, coalitions fracture, and corruption undermines citizens’ trust. The gap between proclaimed principles and lived reality continues to be one of the country’s most painful issues.

Demographically, the potential is immense: a young country can be a driver of growth and innovation. But without a system capable of offering concrete prospects for work and participation, that same energy risks turning into disillusionment and conflict. It is precisely in this space of expectation and frustration that today’s protests find their roots.

The Watershed of the Earthquake 10 Years Ago

The year 2025 marks ten years since the devastating earthquake of April 25, 2015, which claimed nearly 9,000 lives and destroyed vital infrastructure—schools, hospitals, homes. It was a deep wound that still lingers in the country’s collective memory. That quake was not only a natural tragedy but also a lens that exposed all of Nepal’s structural weaknesses: the vulnerability of its cities, the slowness of emergency response, the absence of an effective reconstruction plan.

In the years that followed, the reconstruction process was slow and uneven, often hindered by bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption. Meanwhile, the political landscape remained unstable, with short-lived governments and a young democracy constantly under strain. The adoption of the new constitution in 2015 was welcomed as a step toward stability, but the gap between legal principles and everyday reality remains wide. Ethnic tensions, inequalities, and the aspirations of a generation increasingly connected to the outside world have fueled a ferment that has never truly subsided.

The protests of 2025 fit into this trajectory: they are not an isolated episode, but the expression of a political and social transition that remains incomplete. Ten years after the earthquake, Nepal continues to be a country in balance: between resilience and vulnerability, between hope and disappointment, between deep roots and a future still waiting to be built.

Treedom in Nepal

For us at Treedom, working in Nepal means engaging with a complex and ever-changing context. Our projects are embedded in a reality marked by structural difficulties, but also by extraordinary social vitality. Operating in countries undergoing transition has taught us that sustainability is never only environmental—it is also social and political. Being a B Corp active in many countries means facing diverse, often difficult challenges, but also nurturing the belief that small, concrete actions can contribute to positive change. In Nepal, as elsewhere, our choice is to continue planting trees, not only as environmental tools but also as symbols of resilience and hope for the communities that welcome them.