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 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.

scholarly journals Local people’s perception and awareness of climate change: a case study from community forests in Lamjung District, Western Nepal

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 60-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Dhungana ◽  
N. Silwal ◽  
S. Upadhaya ◽  
S. K. Regmi ◽  
S. Adhikari
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Computer Software ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Climatic Data ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Perceived Change

Climate change has negatively impacted the underdeveloped and developing countries including Nepal due to low adaptive capacity and higher dependency in agriculture. Forests are important component of the lives and livelihoods of the community in Nepal, which can offer an important source of climate-resilient livelihood. It is crucial to know the fact that climate change was in the past, which will continue to change in the future. It is essential to understand how communities perceive and adapt to climate change. A study was carried out in Kirepani, Jagreni and Kalika Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) in Lamjung District with an objective of assessing their perceptions on impacts of climate change. The survey was carried out in 62 households along with participatory appraisal to understand the perception of local people on climate change and its impacts. Focus group discussion was held in each CFUG. Climatic data of 29 years (1987–2015) acquired from Khudi, Kuncha and Gharedgunga metereological stations and analysed to supplement the results. Data were analysed using MS-Excel as major computer software and presented as table, trend lines and graphs. The study showed that the locals correctly perceived change in temperature, unpredictable occurrence of rainfall and increased incidence of change in crops phenology, an increase in drought. Based on the perceptions of the community forest users, climate change has affected the biodiversity and societal system differentially. Drought has higher impact to the people affecting their lives and livelihoods. They perceived that the increase in drought, floods, landslide have affected their lives and livelihoods. The results revealed that minimum temperature was increased at the rate of 0.01º C per year whereas the maximum temperature was increased by 0.056° C per year. From the rainfall data of Khudi meteorological station, it was found that annual rainfall was highly decreased at the rate of 25.8 mm per year, which alarms for more disaster such as drought and fire in the area. Our findings suggest that for the innovative climate change adaptation planning and policy it is crucial to incorporate and acknowledge the role of community forest in climate change adaptation.

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.

Ecosystem-based Adaptation to Climate Change: Experience from Smallholder Floodplain Forest Management

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (0) ◽  
pp. 6
Author(s):  
Shikhasmita Nath ◽  
Arun Jyoti Nath ◽  
Rattan Lal ◽  
Ashesh Kumar Das
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Management ◽  
Floodplain Forest ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change

Changes in vegetation characteristics following a decade of community forest management in mid-western Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-338 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Mawa ◽  
F. Babweteera ◽  
J.R.S. Tabuti ◽  
D.M. Tumusiime
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
Forest Sector ◽  
Community Forest Management ◽  
Community Forest ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Community Forests ◽  
Forest Condition ◽  
Vegetation Characteristics ◽  
Using Data

The last three decades have witnessed shifts in forest governance in favour of more inclusive approaches. In Uganda, two main approaches have been embraced in the forest sector: collaborative forest management and community forest management. However, there is scanty empirical evidence on how the latter has affected the forest condition over time. Using data from two bio-physical surveys (2006 and 2016) and Key Informant Interviews, this study examined changes in vegetation characteristics in two de facto community forests (Ongo and Alimugonza) over a 10-year period. The basal area and stem densities of tree species locally preferred for poles and charcoal declined in both forests due to extractive uses, some of which were illegal. The densities of those preferred for timber increased as a result of their heightened protection by the community members. However, the community members still faced challenges of apprehending rulebreakers due to the high costs involved and their informal recognition as responsible bodies since the two forests have not yet been declared "community forests" as required by law. The gains made by the approach amidst these challenges demonstrate its potential to achieve conservation goals.

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