Two decades of community forestry in Nepal: What have we learned?
Two decades of community forestry in Nepal: What have we learned?
Two decades of community forestry in Nepal: What have we learned?
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<strong>Two</strong> <strong>decades</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Nepal</strong>: <strong>What</strong> <strong>have</strong> <strong>we</strong> <strong>learned</strong>?<br />
cohesion. For example, SDC is actively <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> guid<strong>in</strong>g staff recruitment<br />
processes - usually a matter left to the implement<strong>in</strong>g agency. Similarly, <strong>in</strong> tak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
any sensitive decisions on the ground, project personnel are expected to check fi rst<br />
with security <strong>of</strong>fi cer <strong>of</strong> SDC <strong>in</strong> Kathmandu and Liaison Offi cer <strong>of</strong> SDC responsible<br />
for the respective districts. Thus there is a fi ne balance bet<strong>we</strong>en <strong>in</strong>dependence and<br />
coord<strong>in</strong>ation, and a constant need for excellent communication.<br />
In plann<strong>in</strong>g the last phase <strong>of</strong> NSCFP 5 , it was recognised that despite project<br />
efforts, there was considerable variation <strong>in</strong> the degree <strong>of</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>ability <strong>of</strong> the<br />
(then) 919 CFUGs <strong>in</strong> the project area, with some be<strong>in</strong>g much more advanced <strong>in</strong><br />
others with regard to the quality <strong>of</strong> their forest and its management, their ability to<br />
generate <strong>in</strong>come, and their <strong>in</strong>stitutional maturity. The decision was made to place<br />
emphasis on term<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g the project with a critical mass <strong>of</strong> CFUGs that could be<br />
considered fully susta<strong>in</strong>able <strong>in</strong> ecological, economic and <strong>in</strong>stitutional terms, and<br />
would thus serve as role models for others. This fi tted <strong>we</strong>ll with SDC’s cluster<br />
approach – which not only entails district level coord<strong>in</strong>ation bet<strong>we</strong>en different<br />
projects, but also the focus<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> all activities <strong>in</strong> particular geographical areas<br />
(clusters) with<strong>in</strong> the district. The CFUG database <strong>of</strong> project districts clearly<br />
<strong>in</strong>dicates that cluster CFUGs do show overall better performance, as can be seen <strong>in</strong><br />
subsequent sections <strong>of</strong> this document and NSCFP (2011). Ho<strong>we</strong>ver, many project<br />
staff and stakeholders <strong>have</strong> not been conv<strong>in</strong>ced by the concept <strong>of</strong> selective support.<br />
They consider that CFUGs outside the cluster areas <strong>have</strong> been unfairly treated.<br />
Certa<strong>in</strong>ly it was not always easy to expla<strong>in</strong> to non-cluster CFUGs the reasons for<br />
the “two tier” approach.<br />
“There is now discrim<strong>in</strong>ation bet<strong>we</strong>en clusters and non-clusters: Non-cluster CFUGs feel<br />
discrim<strong>in</strong>ated as they do not get any resources from the project. I <strong>have</strong> realised that for the<br />
same k<strong>in</strong>d <strong>of</strong> work <strong>we</strong> <strong>have</strong> to adopt a different approach <strong>in</strong> the two types <strong>of</strong> CFUGs…”<br />
Shankar Katuwal, Chairperson, FECOFUN Okhaldunga<br />
“As <strong>in</strong> the cluster approach, NSCFP could focus on CFUGs to work for the poor and<br />
Disadvantaged Groups (DAGs) 6 more <strong>in</strong>tensively by mobilis<strong>in</strong>g local social mobilisers.<br />
Ho<strong>we</strong>ver, work<strong>in</strong>g for the poor and DAGs <strong>in</strong> such <strong>in</strong>tensity <strong>in</strong> non-cluster areas is next to<br />
impossible. Non-cluster CFUGS <strong>have</strong> been constantly pressuris<strong>in</strong>g NSCFP staff for more<br />
programmes.”<br />
Anita Shrestha, NSCFP<br />
In seek<strong>in</strong>g to support CFUGs to become fi nancially <strong>in</strong>dependent, another<br />
change <strong>in</strong>troduced <strong>in</strong> the last phase <strong>of</strong> NSCFP was the channell<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> fund<strong>in</strong>g<br />
directly to them, rather than via NGO service providers (who <strong>we</strong>re previously<br />
contracted to undertake work on behalf <strong>of</strong> the CFUGs). Most <strong>of</strong> the CFUGs <strong>have</strong> an<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istrative and fi nancial management system <strong>in</strong> place, although at a small<br />
5 For plann<strong>in</strong>g a new phase <strong>of</strong> an on-go<strong>in</strong>g project such as NSCFP, the ma<strong>in</strong> goal and objectives <strong>of</strong> the project are<br />
discussed and agreed at a “plann<strong>in</strong>g platform” attended by representatives <strong>of</strong> key stakeholders. The details are<br />
then worked out <strong>in</strong> discussions bet<strong>we</strong>en SDC and NSCFP staff.<br />
6 For plann<strong>in</strong>g a new phase <strong>of</strong> an on-go<strong>in</strong>g project such as NSCFP, the ma<strong>in</strong> goal and objectives <strong>of</strong> the project are<br />
discussed and agreed at a “plann<strong>in</strong>g platform” attended by representatives <strong>of</strong> key stakeholders. The details are<br />
then worked out <strong>in</strong> discussions bet<strong>we</strong>en SDC and NSCFP staff.<br />
8