Tenure and forest conditions: community forestry in the Nepal Terai

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 530-539 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harini Nagendra
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Current Trend ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
National Forests ◽  
Initial Condition ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Forest Conditions

There is a current trend towards decentralization of forest management, particularly among developing nations. Nepal has taken a lead in initiating innovative policies of community forestry. Although these initiatives have been largely deemed successful in the mountains, within the Terai lowlands, there is considerable debate about their outcomes. This research evaluates forest condition within recently declared community forests, national forests and protected areas in the Nepal Terai, using plot mensuration techniques and interviews with local users. The initial condition of forests that were handed over to local communities for use was significantly poorer than those retained as national forests. Protected areas had the highest levels of plant abundance, biomass and biodiversity, which is not surprising, given the level of funds and manpower input to managing these limited areas. In the context of current controversy about the outcome of community forestry in the Nepal Terai, the poor initial condition of forests handed over to local communities is highly significant, and needs to be factored into evaluations of community forest management. This research underscores the need for benchmark studies for evaluating the future outcomes of forest policies in the Terai, provides a valuable addition to the limited information on forest conditions under different management regimes in Nepal, and indicates some of the difficulties that local communities face while dealing with community forestry in practice.

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.

Halting Forest Encroachment in Terai: What Role for Community Forestry?

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-34
Author(s):  
Prabin Bhusal ◽  
Naya Sharma Paudel ◽  
Anukram Adhikary ◽  
Jisan Karki ◽  
Kamal Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Environmental History ◽  
Adaptive Learning ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Local Livelihoods

This paper highlights the lessons of using adaptive learning in community forestry that effectively help to resolve forest based conflicts in Terai region of Nepal. The paper is based on a three-year action research carried out in Terai. Qualitative methods including participatory rural appraisal tools and documentation of engaged action and reflections were used. Methods and tools that largely fall under adaptive learning were deployed. The field data was complemented by review of secondary data and literature on environmental history of Terai. We found that policies on land and forest in Terai for the last fifty years have induced and aggravated conflicts over access and control between state and communities and also within diverse groups of local communities. These conflicts have had serious negative impacts on sustainable management of forests and on local people’s livelihoods, particularly resource poor and landless people. Centralised and bureaucratic approaches to control forest and encroachment have largely failed. Despite investing millions of Rupees in maintaining law and order in forestlands, the problem continues to worsen often at the cost of forests and local communities. We found that transferring management rights to local communities like landless and land poor in the form of community forestry (CF) has induced strong local level collective action in forest management and supported local livelihoods. Moreover, adding adaptive learning, as a methodological tool to improve governance and enhance local level collective action significantly improves the benefit of CF. It implies that a major rethinking is needed in the current policies that have often led to hostile relationships with the local inhabitants- particularly the illegal settlers. Instead, transferring forest rights to local communities and supporting them through technical aspects of forest management will strengthen local initiatives towards sustainable management of forests.

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

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.

scholarly journals Community forestry, Italian style: The Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme

1998 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter N. Duinker ◽  
Reino E. Pulkki
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Forest Stewardship Council ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Wood Processing ◽  
History Of ◽  
Forest Stewardship

In June 1997, we visited the Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme (MCF), a community forest in the Alps of northern Italy. We have prepared this article to help broaden the perspectives of Forestry Chronicle readers on community forests and what they mean in various parts of the world. We first describe the area and its forests, and then give a brief history of the MCF. Then we review the forest-management strategies used in this Norway spruce forest, and summarize the logging and wood-processing activities of the enterprise. We continue with a comparison of this community forest with three community forests in Canada, concluding that generalization on what makes a community forest successful is dangerous — each situation is unique. Finally, given that the MCF recently won permission to use the eco-label of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), we discuss our perceptions of how the MCF operation does and does not meet the FSC's Principles and Criteria of Forest Stewardship. Despite several shortcomings, we believe that the MCF is in most respects a sound example of sustainable forest management.

The impact of community forest formalisation on tenure security and co-management in Thailand

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40
Author(s):  
M. Jenke ◽  
J. Pretzsch
Keyword(s):  
Community Forestry ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Financial Resources ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Tenure Security ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Forest Encroachment ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Forest Institutions ◽  
Management Organisation

The formalisation of community forestry through legal registration could enhance the tenure security of local communities, although its effectiveness remains unclear. The issue of whether Thailand's registration programme strengthened the tenure security of community forests and altered their customary forest institutions was investigated. The tenure security and forest management of registered community forests with varying levels of tenure disputes were compared across five different localities. The formalisation process and its effects on tenure security were discussed with representatives from communal forest committees and forest officials. Findings indicated that neither management organisation nor forest rules were altered following registration but remained adapted to local forest uses. Moreover, forest communities were confident in the assurance of their use and management rights. The registration generally enabled communities to prevent further forest encroachment and resolve conflicts if forest officials and police provided support. However, limited financial resources hindered communities to manage and monitor forests effectively.

scholarly journals Community forests in Canada: An overview

1994 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 711-720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter N. Duinker ◽  
Patrick W. Matakala ◽  
Florence Chege ◽  
Luc Bouthillier
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
The United States ◽  
Community Empowerment ◽  
Forest Community ◽  
Social Forestry ◽  
Research Projects ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Community Values

A great deal of attention is being given in Canada at present to the idea of community forest. This is occurring at a time of unprecedented attention to forest management on one hand, and to community empowerment on the other. We conceive of a community forest as a tree-dominated ecosystem managed for multiple community values and benefits by the community.We review the literature and present examples of community forests in Europe and the United States. For Canada, we present an overview of community forest initiatives, policy developments, and research projects. For communities contemplating the concept of community forest, we present a series of considerations that need to be made early on: (a) landbase; (b) range of resources involved; (c) property rights and tenure options; (d) models of administration; (e) decision-making; (f) public participation; and (g) financing.The apparent growing interest in community forests in Canada has opened an exciting and challenging frontier for forest interests. We are convinced that Canada's future will be characterized by increases in people's demands for community forests, and by more experiments and trials to test a variety of manifestations of the concept. Learning from both successes and failures is vital. Key words: community, forest, community forest, community forestry, social forestry, Canada, forest management

scholarly journals Community forest organizations and adaptation to climate change in British Columbia

2012 ◽  
Vol 88 (05) ◽  
pp. 519-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ella Furness ◽  
Harry Nelson
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
First Nations ◽  
Detrimental Effect ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Community Forests

The effects of climate change in many regions are expected to be significant, and likely to have a detrimental effect on the health of forests and the communities that often depend on those forests. At the same time climate change presents a challenge as it requires changes in both forest management, and the institutions and policies developed that govern forest management. In this paper, we report on a study assessing how Community Forests Organizations (CFOs) in British Columbia (BC), which were developed to manage forests according to the needs and desires of local communities and First Nations, are approaching climate change and whether or not they are responding to, or preparing for, its impacts. There are practical steps that CFOs can take to improve their ability to cope with future conditions such as planting a wider variety of species, practising different silvicultural techniques and increasing monitoring and observation of the forest. This paper gives an overview of what current capabilities exist in CFOs and suggests potential areas for targeted development.

scholarly journals Does gender-based leadership affect good governance in community forest management ? A case study from Bhaktapur district

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 59-70
Author(s):  
S. Thapa ◽  
R. Prasai ◽  
R. Pahadi
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Good Governance ◽  
Female Leadership ◽  
Forest Governance ◽  
Community Forest Management ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
The Individual ◽  
High Level

In spite of policy programs in place, good forest governance does not still persist in community forestry sector of Nepal. This study aims to understand how genderbased leadership affects good forest governance in the two community forest user groups, viz. the Bandeshwori CFUG and the Suryamod Perunge CFUG of Bhaktapur district, Nepal from gender perspective. Both the primary and secondary methods were employed for data collection. The collected data were screened, and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. The study compares the individual elements (transparency, accountability and participation) of the governance with the overall governance scenarios between the two community forests. As per the findings of this study, the female leadership was found to be better in forest management by maintaining all aspects of governance as compared to the male. This was because of the higher participation of all the users, regular audit of income and expenditure, accountability of executive committee towards user group, high-level of transparency and predictability. The study concludes that decentralization of power to female, and their active participation in leadership position are needed for maintaining good governance and proper management of community forest.

scholarly journals Halting Forest Encroachment in Terai: What Role for Community Forestry?

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-34
Author(s):  
Prabin Bhusal ◽  
Naya Sharma Paudel ◽  
Anukram Adhikary ◽  
Jisan Karki ◽  
Kamal Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Collective Action ◽  
Environmental History ◽  
Adaptive Learning ◽  
Sustainable Management ◽  
Community Forestry ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Local Communities ◽  
Local Livelihoods

This paper highlights the lessons of using adaptive learning in community forestry that effectively help to resolve forest based conflicts in Terai region of Nepal. The paper is based on a three-year action research carried out in Terai. Qualitative methods including participatory rural appraisal tools and documentation of engaged action and reflections were used. Methods and tools that largely fall under adaptive learning were deployed. The field data was complemented by review of secondary data and literature on environmental history of Terai. We found that policies on land and forest in Terai for the last fifty years have induced and aggravated conflicts over access and control between state and communities and also within diverse groups of local communities. These conflicts have had serious negative impacts on sustainable management of forests and on local people’s livelihoods, particularly resource poor and landless people. Centralised and bureaucratic approaches to control forest and encroachment have largely failed. Despite investing millions of Rupees in maintaining law and order in forestlands, the problem continues to worsen often at the cost of forests and local communities. We found that transferring management rights to local communities like landless and land poor in the form of community forestry (CF) has induced strong local level collective action in forest management and supported local livelihoods. Moreover, adding adaptive learning, as a methodological tool to improve governance and enhance local level collective action significantly improves the benefit of CF. It implies that a major rethinking is needed in the current policies that have often led to hostile relationships with the local inhabitants- particularly the illegal settlers. Instead, transferring forest rights to local communities and supporting them through technical aspects of forest management will strengthen local initiatives towards sustainable management of forests. 

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