ABSTRACT
This chapter assess the possibilities of environmental peacebuilding interventions for facilitating the building of peace in Nepal. It focuses on studying the socioeconomic impacts of micro-hydropower development for rural communities and the political effects, specifically how the provision of renewable energy sources has affected the political legitimacy of the post-war state. The micro level analysis of Kharbang and henceforth Rishmi localities in Nepal highlights important dynamics between state and society actors that are an important contribution to a broader understanding of environmental peacebuilding interventions. The chapter shows an interesting dynamic that offers valuable insight for the design and implementation of environmental peacebuilding interventions as it points to the interlinkage of intended and unintended consequences of the intervention. There is certainly a need to acknowledge the long-term interplay of social, political, and ecological processes in post-war countries and to understand the potential and dynamics of natural resources and environmental issues.
