State-community relations and deliberative politics within federal forest governance in Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-381
Author(s):  
K. Pokharel ◽  
R. Karki ◽  
H.R. Ojha ◽  
P. Gentle ◽  
D. Acharya ◽  
...  

Despite widespread participatory governance reforms in the forest sector in Nepal, how forest administration can be re-organised at multiple levels to enable community based forest management remains unexplored. Forest governance reforms in Nepal have involved numerous forms of collaboration and contestation between the state agencies and community-based forest stakeholders in the rapidly evolving federalist political context. Analysing an empirical case of community forestry in Nepal, this paper shows how state agencies and communities interact in the process of controlling and managing forest resources. It is argued in the paper that instituting deliberative processes in multi-level governance structure is a key to the functioning of a well-devolved forest governance. With the nation already adopting a new federal system of governance, it is crucial to clearly define the authorities of the federal, provincial and local level administrations. We also argue that the need for creating institutions and spaces for deliberative engagement between forest dependent community groups and the public administration is at an all-time high for achieving accountability and more effective forest governance. The future of Nepal's forestry and people living around forest resources depend to a large extent on how powers are shared by different levels of governments, and how these governments interact with one another, and with people and civil societies in their respective domains of governance.

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Imam Arifandy ◽  
Martua Sihaloho

Community Based Forest Management (CBFM) is a system of state forest management that conducted Perhutani joinly with community forestry forest villages. CBFM include: drafting plans, utilization of forest resources, and protection of forest resources. CBFM regulated the rights and obligations of all stakeholders involved. Conflict of interest in the management of forest resources can lead to conflicts beetwen any stakeholders. This research aim to determine (1) history and sources of forest resources conflict in the Kalimendong village, (2) conflict resolution mechanism that were implemented based on the CBFM, (3) effectiveness CBFM as conflict resolution in forest resources management. The result of this study found that the conflict in Kalimendong village occured since 1998 that comes from the differences in perception, interest, and ownership beetwen the public and Perhutani. CBFM then can be conflict resolution of forest resources management, but CBFM can then generate a new conflict when the interests of stakeholder can not be accomodated. The analysis shows that characteristic of number of dependents has negatively correlation related to the effectiveness of CBFM as conflict resolution.<br />Keywords: conflict, CBFM, conflict resolution, forest resources


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bishnu Hari Poudyal ◽  
Govinda Paudel ◽  
Harisharan Luintel

Since forests are both source and sink of carbon, scholars have suggested reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, including conservation and sustainable management of forest and enhancement of forest carbon stock (REDD+) to be part of climate negotiation. Studies have shown that forests can play a role in reducing emissions in a cheaper, quicker and effective way, while generating important co-benefits, including biodiversity conservation and watershed management. However, governance that shapes relations between different stakeholders at grassroots level has been shown to be a crucial issue in managing local forests in a way that sequester more carbon from, and emit less of it to, the atmosphere. The authors of this paper argue that the lessons gained at community forest user group (CFUG) level regarding forest governance could be useful in designing a REDD+ governance structure at grassroots level. For this, both positive lessons and challenges faced so far could be documented, analyzed, synthesized and shared at broader level. REDD+, being an external intervention to local communities, can bring a range of challenges that influence the governance dynamics. However, if the programme is managed carefully, CFUGs are capacitated adequately and governed collaboratively, REDD+ may bring synergistic outcomes with existing community forestry at grassroots level, particularly by bringing both environmental and livelihood benefits.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v11i2.8618 Journal of Forestry and Livelihood Vol.11(2) 2013 14-26


2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-52
Author(s):  
Murari Joshi ◽  
Lokendra Dhakal ◽  
Gopi Paudel ◽  
Raghu Shrestha ◽  
Arun Paudel ◽  
...  

Reducing poverty through equitable and sustainable community-based natural resource management, particularly through programmes that accord attention to the issue of social inclusion, is the major objective of development projects related to natural resource management. At the local level, many innovations have been developed and are being put in place to enhance the pro-poor approaches, which specifically focus on the issues of livelihoods and inclusion. Livelihood Improvement Process (LIP) is one of the innovations arising to address this end. This paper presents the concept, process of implementation, and impacts of the LIP, as well as the opportunities and challenges it faces based on the experiences gained in Kabhrepalanchok and Sindhupalchok districts of Nepal. It concludes that the LIP can be an appropriate tool for reaching the poor, as it helps to sensitise and inform all actors about the need of pro-poor and inclusive development process. Key Words: community forestry, livelihood improvement process, social inclusion, governance doi: 10.3126/jfl.v5i1.1980 Journal of Forest and Livelihood 5(1) February, 2006 pp.46-52


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 831-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Skutsch ◽  
Patrick E. Van Laake

A new policy, Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries, is currently being discussed under the UNFCCC. This policy will necessarily involve multi-level governance and involve international, national and local level bodies in both North and South. The paper considers a number of unresolved issues relating to Reducing Emissions from Deforestation in Developing Countries and how the interests of the different levels in this governance structure will be reflected in them. It demonstrates that on several issues there is more difference in interest between different South Parties than between South and North. It also shows that recognition of traditional and local level forest governance capacities by national Parties may be an essential step not only to control deforestation and degradation, but also to provide the data that the state will need to claim carbon credits.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-34
Author(s):  
Prabin Bhusal ◽  
Naya Sharma Paudel ◽  
Anukram Adhikary ◽  
Jisan Karki ◽  
Kamal Bhandari

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.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Mann ◽  
David Dallimore ◽  
Howard Davis ◽  
Graham Day ◽  
Maria Eichsteller

Epdf and ePUB available Open Access under CC-BY-NC licence. Drawing on place-based field investigations and new empirical analysis, this original book investigates civil society at local level. The concept of civil society is contested and multifaceted, and this text offers assessment and clarification of debates concerning the intertwining of civil society, the state and local community relations. Analysing two Welsh villages, the authors examine the importance of identity, connection with place and the impact of social and spatial boundaries on the everyday production of civil society. Bringing into focus questions of biography and temporality, the book provides an innovative account of continuities and changes within local civil society during social and economic transformation.


Author(s):  
Bahruzin Bahruzin ◽  
Aceng Hidayat ◽  
Eka Intan Kumala Putri

Community-based forest management (CBFM) was aimed to achieve the sustainability of forest functions and to omptimize its benefits. CBFM around the Forest Lap Area in North Bandung is a joint forest management between Perum Perhutani and forest villagers. The purposes of this study were; (1) to analyse the processes and stakeholders of CBFM, (2) to analyse the institution effectiveness of CBFM, (3) to analyse the result of the CBFM implementation The approach of this research was the stakeholder analysis and IPA (importance of Performance Analysis). The result of stakeholder mapping showed that Perum Perhutani and LMDH had the role in the implementation of CBFM system. The results of the economic impact of CBFM calculations indicated that the system could increase the income of MDH. This was indicated by the change in the average income of farmers by 63%. The result of IPA could be seen from the mapping of availability level of forest resources and forest resource need for the community included in B quadran in which it had a high level of availability and interest.


Author(s):  
Irina Zinoveva ◽  
Olga Pecherskaya

The paper considers the directions of development of the region of the forestry sector of low-forest use on the example of the Voronezh region, highlights the factors and conditions for sustainable development and regional forest policy, principles, principles of compatibility of the compatibility of the use of forest resources in one area. It is emphasized that for sparsely wooded regions it is advisable to conduct economic activities within the framework of public-private partnerships associated with ensuring the protection and protection of forests, afforestation and reforestation, that is, activities related to the creation of a resource region. It is noted that the non-resource use of forests due to the disclosure of the recreational potential of the territory contributes not only to the development of the regional economy, but also satisfies the population's need for recreation, allowing to restore the lost working capacity. Forest plots from the lands of the forest fund of the Voronezh region in 2018-2020 were provided for permanent (unlimited) use, rent, free fixed-term use. The analysis showed an increase in the number of contracts for the implementation of recreational activities, construction, reconstruction, operation of linear objects, as well as hunting. With the aim of a balanced use of forest resources, taking into account the impact on the development of the regional economy, the criteria for choosing a priority direction of forest use were determined.


2009 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
KBK Nirmal ◽  
Ravi K Shrestha ◽  
Sudil G Acharya ◽  
Abdul S Ansari

Violent conflicts are quite often perceived as a destructive and negative phenomenon, and there is little understanding of how they also offer opportunities for a positive change in the society. In particular, little is understood about how violent conflicts and development processes interact and create positive changes in local institutions and practices. This article focuses on such interactions observed amongst the Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) in the Koshi Hills of Nepal, as the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme (LFP) worked through the conflict period. It demonstrates that the Maoist conflict contributed in several ways to enhance the pro-poor outcomes of development actions. We show that the conflict helped empower the marginalised groups, improve their access to community resources, and bring about important changes within the local institutions and practices, contributing to equitable resource management. We suggest that there are positive sides of a violent conflict, where development interventions need to focus on. We also argue that development brings about equitable outcomes if it is complemented with local level advocacy in favour of the poor and marginalised groups. Full text is available at the ForestAction websiteDOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v8i2.2311 Journal of Forest and Livelihood 8(2) February 2009 pp.93-100


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Wimonmat Srichamroen

<p>The Thai government has included health promotion in its national policies and strategies to directly address the health of the elderly. Multiple government organisations at various levels are involved in this health promotion policy and its related efforts. With an emphasis on ensuring that the elderly in the community benefit from national health promotion policies, and have access to health promotion services, the policies directed government organisations to work together as a network to implement the health promotion policy for the elderly at the local level. The Local Administrative Organisations (LAOs), decentralised government organisations, acted as the centre of the networks in each sub-district across the country. Networks play a role as an essential mechanism in the health promotion policy implementation for the elderly and in reaching out to the smallest unit of the community: individual older people. However, there are known gaps in the functioning of the decentralised governance arrangements and in coordination between organisations to implement the health promotion policy. Policy implementation can be improved to ensure that key goals and objectives are met.   The objective of this research was to analyse the ways in which the LAOs and other government organisations together implement the health promotion policy for the elderly at the local level in Thailand. Using a network perspective, the governance structure and governance characteristics, including relationships and the functioning of the policy implementation network, are identified and analysed. How the observed network characteristics affect network collaboration, policy outcomes, and actors’ capacity in policy implementation are then explored.   Within an interpretivist perspective, the research employed multiple network analysis approaches and mixed methods data collection such as network mapping, non-participant observation, interviews, and questionnaire surveys, across two case study sites. A combination of thematic analysis and constant comparative methods were employed to analyse the data.  The networks in this study were found to have a hybrid governance form, being a combination of lead organisation-governed and shared governance. However, it is not possible to predict the likelihood of achieving good policy outcomes based on the form of network governance alone; other networks characteristics must also be studied. At the network level, influential factors indicative of policy outcomes were found to be the exchanges of political and cultural capitals between network actors, with the latter differentiating the policy outcomes across the two cases. To improve the network actors’ capacity in policy implementation, learning and resource exchanges between actors were found to be important. Based on the study findings, an intervention to improve policy outcomes should be encouraged through financial capital exchanges between network actors as this is when administrative authority is most dominant.   The research provides an empirical review to inform policymakers and practitioners that the most influential factors should be embedded during the funding process so that the policy implementation can better support health for the elderly and the aged society that Thailand is entering.</p>


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