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

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.

Analysis of Forest Governance in Far-Western Terai Region of Nepal

To explore the status of governance in Community Forestry (CF) user groups (CFUGs) in Far- Western Terai region of Nepal, six community forest user groups were selected from Kailali and Kanchanpur districts considering ethnicity, gender, size of households and accessibility. UNESCAP’s eight criteria of good governance and their respective local indicators were employed to explore the governance status of CF. Direct observation; key informant’s survey, focus group discussion and household interview with questionnaire format were used to collect the primary data where secondary data were collected from operational plan of CFUGs and other published literatures. Simple mathematical procedures were used to analyze the data. The study findings show that overall governance level is very good in women managed CFs then mixed managed CFs as well as the relationships of governance with economic activities and ethnic composition of community. This study also shows that women managed CFs is more transparent and responsive to users. Which shows that the fairness in responsibility in woman managed CF is very good and their executive committee was more responsive to their users and disadvantaged groups.

Value Chain Analysis of Rattan in Nepal

This study highlights the existing situations of production, value addition, marketing and uses of rattan cane in Nepal. Rattan enterprises exist as a small and medium enterprise (SME) within and outside the community forest user groups. The study was designed based on the exploratory research and was carried out in Kailali and Bardiya districts. The main objective was to assess the constraints and opportunities of rattan cane enterprise as well as design business solutions. Systematic random sampling method was followed to take the sampling of CFUGs, households and small and medium enterprises. Primary data was collected through focus group discussions, key informants interview, direct observations, open-ended questionnaires, and inventory of growing stock. Similarly, secondary data was collected from progress reports, Forest Operational Plans, audit reports and records of community forest user groups and Division Forest Offices. Sampling design was ascertained representing sampling units of rattan managed Community Forest User Groups and processing industries. The questionnaire survey was conducted to executive committee members of 8 Community Forest User Groups, 526 households and 12 rattan processing industries/ enterprises. Direct observation and interaction with CFUG and entrepreneurs were another major source of information. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS 20 and Microsoft Excel software tools. The identified major constraints concerning the selected value chains were: absence of detailed resource inventory in the approved Forest Operational Plans; inadequate knowledge about resource management, poor capacity to incorporate environmental policy concerns, weak business competitiveness, insufficient information about market and poor marketing knowledge. The study also identified a number of opportunities both in the community as well as enterprise perspective. For example, resource potential and monetary benefits to the community people; contribution in community development, involvement of service providers in forest resource management; employment generation and leveraging ecosystem services. The findings suggested technical and business solutions for the effective value chain of rattan cane.

Assessing Governance Status: Learning from Community Forest User Groups, Nepal

Community forestry practices have proven to be successful in forest resource conservation and utilization in Nepal. Nevertheless, inclusive decision-making processes and equitable benefit-sharing among each household pose significant challenges to the Community Forestry Users Groups (CFUGs). The four key elements of good governance: Participation, Transparency, Accountability, and Predictability, each with their four own local indicators, were employed to measure the governance status in two CFUGs: Bosan and Hattiban Mahila in Kathmandu district. We collected data through a questionnaire survey (n=95), focus group discussions, and key informant surveys. The results showed that the general status of governance in Bosan CFUG was 'Good' (43 out of a total attainable score of 64), whereas that of Hattiban Mahila CFUG was 'Medium'(32 out of a total attainable score of 64). Scores for Transparency, Accountability, and Predictability in Bosan CFUG managed by men and women alike were found to be higher than those of Hattiban Mahila CFUG, which was managed mostly by women. Both the CFUGs received the same score for good governance element: Participation. This study helps policymakers to formulate effective programs for CFUGs members to improve the governance system in such forestry user groups.

Women leadership for sustainability of community forest User Groups: a Gender Perspectives

Community forest user groups are considered as prominent institutions in Nepal for the sustainable forest management through the active involvement of local people. Community forestry has mandatory provision of at least half number of women representation in executive committee however there is no restriction for all women representation in such committee. This study was conducted in two community forest user groups namely Mahila Srijana Community Forest User Group ( only women leadership) and Betkholshi Community Forest User Group ( mixed Leadership by both men and women) in Hetauda Sub-metropolitan city of Makwanpur district to identify whether the women leadership has significant contribution on sustainability of community forests. Different 4 criteria, 26 indicators and 60 verifiers were used to measure the sustainability through household survey (n=58), focus group discussion (n=4) and meeting minutes analysis. Present study reveals that overall sustainability index (OSI) of all women leaded community forest user group (OSI=0.502) was insignificantly lesser than the CFUG with the leadership of both men and women (OSI=0.512) however forest management practices was found better in women lead community forest.

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

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

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.