scholarly journals Earthquake Impacts on the Livelihoods of Community Forest Users in Sindhupalchok District, Nepal, and Their Perceptions towards Forest Conservation

Conservation ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 327-341
Author(s):  
Sudha Adhikari ◽  
Kazuhiro Harada ◽  
Nabin Kumar Dahal ◽  
Saroj Kandel
Keyword(s):  
Forest Conservation ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Sustainable Livelihood ◽  
Nontimber Forest Products ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

Community forests are a crucial component of farming systems and people’s livelihoods in the rural middle hills of Nepal, where the population depends upon the forest for fuelwood, fodder, and leaf litter for their daily needs. This study aims to assess the perception of community forest user groups towards their postearthquake situations by using the five forms of capital from the sustainable livelihood framework. It further analyzes whether forest user’s attitudes towards forest conservation have changed or not. In addition to household interviews with 68 earthquake-affected households and extensive visits to the study area, key informant interviews and focus group discussions were conducted. This study confirms that the community forest user groups perceived negative effects on the natural, physical, human, and financial capitals, whereas they perceived a positive effect on social capital after the earthquake. Controlled access to forest products, such as timber collection during the recovery phase, restricted their resilience, although nontimber forest products supported it. Low agricultural production because of the scarcity of water for irrigation, as well as the soil infertility because of the landslides, caused local people to shift towards nonagricultural activities for income generation. Further, out-migration for job opportunities resulted in an inflow of remittances and, thus, manpower shortages were observed. Our results show that, despite facing the postdisaster impact on their livelihoods, 92% of the respondents were found to be positive towards forest conservation. This was because of their emotional attachment to the forest and the benefits received from the forest in the past. Local institutional policies and mechanisms must be strengthened to provide communities with the knowledge, skills, and practices for effective postdisaster recovery or for upcoming disasters, as well as the benefits of promoting sustainable forest conservation.

scholarly journals Value chain analysis of non-timber forest products in Baglung district, Nepal

1970 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 33-41
Author(s):  
A Paudel ◽  
BP Subedi ◽  
S Gyawali ◽  
GK Thapa ◽  
MB Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Resource Management ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Forest Products ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Non Timber Forest Products ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

This study was carried out in five Village Development Committees of Baglung district, Nepal. The main objective was to assess the constraints and opportunities to run the non-timber forest products based enterprises, and to design business solutions to make their value chains more efficient and competitive with the best utilization of the available resources. Primary data were collected through group discussions, key informants interview, informal meetings and direct observations, using open-ended questionnaires and checklists. Similarly, secondary data were gathered from reports and records of community forest user groups, District Forest Office and other organizations. The data were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative tools. The identified major constraints concerning the selected value chains are: absence of detailed resource inventory; inadequate knowledge and skills with local people about modern technology and product quality parameters, local resource management policy and sustainable resource harvesting; insufficient finance with local processors; lack of sufficient information about market; and poor infrastructure development. In addition, the study also identified a number of opportunities such as the resource potential and monetary benefits to the local people; financial access through community forest user groups' fund and financial institutions; growing market demand for quality products; involvement of service providers in forest resource management; and supportive policy for employment generation from locally available natural resources. This paper has suggested some business solutions for the effective value chain of selected products. Key words: Business solution; constraints; non-timber forest products; opportunities; value chain DOI: 10.3126/banko.v19i2.2983 Banko Janakari, Vol. 19, No.2 2009 pp.33-41

scholarly journals Growth Performances and Growing Stock of Rattan in the Community Managed Forests of Nepal

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-82
Author(s):  
Chhote Lal Chowdhary ◽  
I.C. Dutta
Keyword(s):  
Dry Weight ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Managed Forests ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Growing Stock ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

Calamus tenuis Roxb, the economically potential rattan species, has been increasing in the community managed forests. Quantitative and qualitative information was collected in 2016 and 2017.  The research was carried out in 20 Community Forest User Groups of Kailali and Bardiya district. Growing stock was measured using stratified random sampling in the community forests, followed by socio-economic information through semi-structured questionnaire to 526 respondentsincluding focus group discussions with executive member of community forest user groups. The study found that average growth of Calamus tenuis in the community forests was 0.85 cms per year, the maximum growth attained up to 2.5 meter per year if they get associated trees to climb on. It’ is a clumpy palm, producing 3-7 rhizomes in one year and reaches up to 25 rhizomes in 3-4 years period. There are 15 to 25percent immature culms in a clump with estimate the number of clumps per hectare in managed rattan forest are 200 to 500.  Growing stock is estimated from 38,860 to 39,560 per hectare in the community forest comprising about 57 percent large size, 19 percent medium size and 24percent regeneration. The mean length was measured 5.80 meter and mean diameter 9.29 mm. Weight difference of rattan with and without leaf sheath is 25 percent, reduction in oven dry weight is 75.9 percent, and air dry weight is 32 percent. More than 20 CFUGs have produced natural rattan in the community forests of Kailali and Bardiya districts. By the number of CFUGs, Bardiya district has more than 19 CFUGs and Kailali district has one CFUG managing natural rattan.  Total estimated production of rattan in both districts is over 250 metric ton. Harvesting is restricted due to limitation of provision of Initial Environment Examination (IEE). According to these conditions, CFUGs should have get approval the detail IEE. None of the CFUGS have prepared the IEE. In such a condition, CFUGs can only harvest less than five quintal (5000 kg) rattan as per approved FOP. The study concludes that despite site quality remains constant, the associated tree species to climb them are encouraging factor. Detail growing stock needs to be incorporated in the rattan management plan / forest operational plan to mainstream in the process.

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 Maoist People’s War and Community Adaptation: A Case of Community Forest User Groups Nepal

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-61
Author(s):  
Nirmal Kumar BK
Keyword(s):  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Rural Institutions ◽  
Conflict Period ◽  
Forest User

The ten year long armed conflict between the state and the Maoists in Nepal had tremendous impact on all sectors and communities in the rural area. However, based on the study of three Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) of Eastern Nepal, it is argued that CFUGs were less vulnerable than other rural institutions. The paper further discusses how CFUGs adapted their coping strategies and functioned more effectively than other village level institutions during the conflict period. It was observed that due to adjustments of the Maoists agendas for CFUGs planning, such as issues surrounding poverty reduction, social inclusion and caste/ethnic/gender-based discrimination, the Maoists did not adversely affect the CFUGs. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v9i1.8594 Journal of Forestry and Livelihood Vol.9(1) 2010 57-61

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

Investments in different taxonomies of goods: What should Nepal's community forest user groups prioritize?

2019 ◽  
Vol 100 ◽  
pp. 24-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sony Baral ◽  
Bir Bahadur Khanal Chhetri ◽  
Himlal Baral ◽  
Harald Vacik
Keyword(s):  
Community Forest ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

scholarly journals Implications of fiscal policy instruments in community forest management of Nepal: Issues and challenges

1970 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Paudel ◽  
G Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Fiscal Policy ◽  
Policy Instruments ◽  
Forest Resources ◽  
Benefit Sharing ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Legal Provisions ◽  
User Groups ◽  
Forest User Groups ◽  
Community Forest User Groups ◽  
Forest User

Nepalese Community Forestry has unclear and inconsistent legal provisions related to fiscal policy instruments. Based on the review of forest policy documents, and semistructured interviews and group discussions with individuals from government units, community forest user groups and traders from Parbat, Baglung and Dolakha districts of Nepal, this paper demonstrates that there are a number of issues and challenges related to fiscal policy instruments that have affected the promotion of sustainable and market-oriented management of forest resources, co-ordination between local and central government authorities, benefit sharing of forest resources, and the overall financial situation of community forest user groups. As a result, local communities do not fully benefit from their forest resources. We argue that a good co-ordination among government units, CFUGs and non-governmental organizations, and their active participation in policy making process can help to make the fiscal policy consistent and unambiguous to mitigate the existing issues and challenges. Key words: Economic policy instrument; revenue sharing; multiple taxation; forest certification; income generation activities DOI: 10.3126/banko.v20i2.4802 Banko Janakari Vol.20(2) 2010 pp.41-47

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