scholarly journals Importance of Community Forestry Funds for Rural Development in Nepal

Resources ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Puspa K.C. Bhandari ◽  
Prabin Bhusal ◽  
Ganesh Paudel ◽  
Chiranjibi P. Upadhyaya ◽  
Bir Bahadur Khanal Chhetri
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Annual Income ◽  
Political Factors ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Market Infrastructure ◽  
Conservation Investment ◽  
Average Annual Income

Nepal’s Community Forestry (CF) process has implied the devolution of powers to collect, retain, and redistribute forest revenue from community forests products. This study contributes to our knowledge about these important aspects of CF by presenting an analysis of the dynamic pattern of income and expenditure of 43 randomly selected Community Forestry User Groups (CFUGs) from Kaski, Nepal. Results show that CFUG three-year average annual income accounts NRs 216,225 (1 US$ = NRs.114) and is highly skewed towards a few wells off CFUGs; the high-and-low average annual income of one-third of CFUGs in the sample ranges from NRs. 33,116 to NRs 502,363. Timber income and user’s contribution constitute the most important sources of income, comprising 40% and 25% respectively. The rural development investments of CFUG income are also highly variable and are shaped by income size of CF, and the other socio-political factors such as the number of households, distance to market, infrastructure status, and contextual factors. Overall, 44% of the CFUG income is invested in community development and 37% in forest conservation. Investment in community development increases with rising income. Accordingly, results presented here provide insights to promote community forests to generate more income which, indeed, could be a vehicle for community development as it appears in the mid-hills of Nepal.

scholarly journals Pro-poor Institutions: Creating Exclusive Rights to the Poor Groups in Community Forest Management

2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sushma Bhattarai ◽  
Prakash Kumar Jha ◽  
Niraj Chapagain
Keyword(s):  
Community Forestry ◽  
Community Forest Management ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Degraded Land ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
The Poor ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

In spite of the widely accepted success of Community Forestry in reviving degraded land, it is still seen as being unable to provide tangible benefits to the poor. This paper illustrates that through continuous sharing, deliberation and negotiation among the poor and non?poor members of Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), management of community forests can be made far more equitable than the usual scenario. Drawing from the experience on the processes and outcomes of Livelihoods and Forestry Programme (LFP), this paper brings empirical evidence of how facilitation support has enabled the poor to have more equitable access to community forests. Three key pro?poor institutional arrangements resulting from the facilitation process include: a) establishing special use rights arrangements within CFUGs for the poor, b) pro?poor silvicultural practices, and c) equitable forest product and benefit distribution mechanisms. The paper suggests some changes in policy and practice to institutionalise these outcomes. Full text is available at the ForestAction websiteDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v8i2.2304 Journal of Forest and Livelihood 8(2) February 2009 pp.1-15

Making operational plans relevant to forest user groups in the Mid-Hills of Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 182-196
Author(s):  
L. Puri ◽  
I. Nuberg ◽  
B. Ostendorf ◽  
E. Cedamon
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

Operational plans are a key element in community forestry in Nepal. However, the relevance of these plans to forest user groups (FUGs) is under scrutiny. This study investigates the usefulness of operational plans against the backdrop of knowledge, capacity and management practices of FUGs. Data were collected from 13 operational plans, 16 group discussions involving forestry professionals, and 218 household interviews in two villages of Lamjung district in Nepal. Whereas operational plans should specifically reflect site specific objectives and activities of forest management, the survey revealed identical objectives across the community forests. Current operational plans are technically complex, poorly linked to the place-based context of livelihood needs and less useful to the FUGs to inform and enhance forest management. This study proposes to differentiate community forests according to their production potentials, and revise the operational plans by shortening the elements that have little or no relevance to the FUGs.

The Contested Role of Management Plans in Improving Forest Conditions in Nepal's Community Forests

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Baral ◽  
H. Meilby ◽  
B.B. Khanal Chhetri
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest Legislation ◽  
Forest Conditions

Nepal's forest legislation requires community forest user groups to prepare inventory based management plans. Several studies have observed positive changes in forest cover after the establishment of community forestry; however, the role of management plans in bringing about such change is less examined. Based on a case study of nine community forests in the mid-hills of Nepal, this paper discusses the role of plans in changing the forest conditions. The study assessed changes in forest conditions, observed forest management activities, conducted household surveys, and interviewed forest bureaucrats. Image analysis showed improvement in forest conditions after the introduction of inventory based planning; however, improvements cannot be attributed to the plans, as the prescriptions in these were not used in practice. Instead, it emerged that a culture emphasizing forest conservation, changes in demography and increased remittance incomes together with increasing bureaucratic requirements contributed to the improved forest conditions. The role of the plan remains contested since it largely serves as a basis for controlling communities and, hence, preparation of such plans appears as an empty ritual with little connection with actual forest management.

Bureaucratic recentralisation of Nepal's community forestry sector

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-415 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Basnyat ◽  
T. Treue ◽  
R.K. Pokharel
Keyword(s):  
Community Forestry ◽  
Community Forest Management ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Forest Policies ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

This paper explores the forest bureaucracy's practices of implementing community forest policies in Nepal and how this shapes the realities of community forestry for forest user groups. To this end, we conducted a content analysis of community forest management plans; surveyed 74 community forest user groups; conducted intensive field observation in six community forests and interacted with executive committee members and forest bureaucrats from two western hill districts. Our results show that forest user groups were hardly aware of their formal rights, including the obligations of forest bureaucrats to deliver free-of-charge services and technical support. Nobody holds forest bureaucrats accountable for failing to fulfil this part of their official duties. Rather, the forest bureaucrats have established different legal and extralegal processes and mechanisms through which they regain and maintain control over community forest resources. We call this 'bureaucratic recentralisation', and it allows forest bureaucrats to reap personal benefits, including unofficial revenues for delivering statutorily no-cost services.

scholarly journals Generating Income from Nepal’s Community Forestry: Does Timber Matter?

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-20
Author(s):  
Ridish K Pokharel
Keyword(s):  
Community Forestry ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Valuable Product ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Timber Sale ◽  
Forest User

This paper argues that timber is the most valuable product of community forests and forms the largest share of the income for community forest user groups (CFUGs). This paper assesses the sources of CFUGs’ income in general and income through timber sale, in particular. Drawing information from one hundred CFUGs in three mid-hill districts of Nepal, shows that the contribution from timber is significantly higher compared to other sources such as non- timber forest products, membership fee, penalty, and renting meeting hall. Moreover, the CFUGs with timber sale collect a lesser amount of membership fee, which is one of the major incentives for the members. The research findings emphasize the need to put timber in CFUGs’ key forest management priority.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v9i1.8588 Journal of Forestry and Livelihood Vol.9(1) 2010 16-20

scholarly journals Generation and utilization of community fund in small-scale community forest management in the Terai region of Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 55-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maheshwar Dhakal ◽  
Misa Masuda
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Development Costs ◽  
Community Fund ◽  
Operation Cost

It has been widely recognized that constantly increasing community fund is one of the indicators of successful implementation of community forestry program in Nepal. However, a very few people know how the fund is collected under the program and it has been utilized so far. The paper is based on the generation and utilization of community fund of two-community forests in the Terai region. The community forests of the region have collected large amount of community fund annually from the sale of forest products and non-forestry sources as well. The study revealed that along with community fund increasing, office operation cost has been constantly increasing while utilizing the fund, whereas promotion of forest management and community development costs are essential for long-term sustainability of the program. Therefore, the study concluded that only the minimization of office operation cost could increase the forest management and community development costs based on the principle of trade-off, which is crucial to keep the people intact in community forestry program and its long-term sustainability. Keywords: community forestry, community fund, Terai, Nepal   doi: 10.3126/banko.v17i2.2156 Banko Janakari, Vol. 17, No. 2, 55-61

scholarly journals Namibia’s National Forest Policy on Rural Development – A Case Study of Uukolonkadhi Community Forest

2015 ◽  
Vol 48 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Nikodemus ◽  
Miroslav Hájek
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Forest Policy ◽  
Rural Poverty ◽  
Institutional Arrangement ◽  
Forest Resources ◽  
National Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
National Forest Policy

AbstractForest resources still play a major role in sustaining livelihoods in rural communities, most especially in developing countries. Namibia’s community forests have much potential to combat rural poverty and contribute to rural development. Keeping the balance between the two chief objectives of the national forest policy; conservation and socio-economic development is of vital importance in combating both deforestation and rural poverty. Thus, this study primarily aimed to investigate the influence of Namibia’s national forest policy on forest resources contribution in rural development from 2009-2013. Forestry and environmental experts and local residents were interviewed. The results show that the lack of full governmental involvement in the management of community forests resources, low, erratic and irregular rainfall are the main challenges community forestry economy is facing. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats analysis indicates that good institutional arrangement of community forestry and active community participatory are some of the pillar strengths of the community forestry programme. The study concludes that there are several research gaps such as statistical information of forest conditions and the degree of poverty within rural communities. Motivating and supporting rural community forests management in any possible manners to give a ground to alleviate rural poverty and combat deforestation is the essential next step.

Strategi Pembinaan dan Pemberdayaan Masyarakat dalam Pemanfaatan Hutan Kemasyarakatan

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-319
Author(s):  
Silya Putri Pratiwi ◽  
◽  
Dian Kagungan ◽  
Eko Budi Sulistio ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Regional Government ◽  
Illegal Logging ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Farmer Groups ◽  
Forestry Resources ◽  
Group Association

Forest management in terms of its production function is directed towards management that is oriented towards all potential forestry resources and is based on community empowerment. The Wana Tekat Mandiri Farmer Group Association manages community forests, namely state forests whose main use is aimed at empowering the community. The rampant illegal logging is carried out by irresponsible parties outside of the farmer group association. So that community groups that carry out illegal logging do not support the Regional Government in providing guidance to the Association of Farmer groups in the Sendang Agung District area. The type of research used in this research is descriptive type with a qualitative approach, data collection techniques, observation, interviews, documentation. The results of this study indicate that the strategy of community development and empowerment in community forest utilization has been running well and the implementation of the strategy has been deemed successful in implementation. The coaching strategy has a main objective in the framework of developing a coaching plan in carrying out activities or programs of Gapoktan Wana Tekad Mandiri, namely by how to develop skills, develop knowledge and develop attitudes. The existence of this coaching strategy is expected to have a good empowering impact on the community.

scholarly journals Effects of forest certification towards sustainable community forestry in Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pem N Kandel
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Forest Certification ◽  
Managed Forests ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Sustainable Community ◽  
Forest Stewardship ◽  
Forest Users

In early 2005, 10,045 ha Community Forests (CFs) were certified in Bajhang and Dolakha districts of Nepal by using the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification scheme. After two years of forest certification, subsequent questions are being asked such as: What benefits have certification brought for the Forest Users Groups (FUGs)? What tangible differences are there in forest management system because of forest certification? and What lessons have been learnt from the certified forests? In an attempt to answer these questions, a study was carried out in April 2007 in Dolakha district where 11 (2,182 ha) community managed forests were certified in 2005. On the basis of field study from two certified forests (Vitteripakha and Suspa) of the district, this paper analyzes the effects of forest certification and its implications for enhancing Sustainable Community Forestry (SCF) in Nepal. Key words: Sustainable forest management, forest certification, community forestry Banko Janakari: A journal of forestry information for Nepal Vol.17(1) 2007 pp.11-16

scholarly journals Conflict resilience among community forestry user groups: experiences in Nepal

Disasters ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 517-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Nightingale ◽  
Jeevan Raj Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Community Forestry ◽  
User Groups
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