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 />
check that all the necessary <strong>in</strong>formation is given clearly, and is consistent <strong>in</strong><br />
content. Even though these processes are national norms, they are follo<strong>we</strong>d to a<br />
very varied extent around the country.<br />
Accountability<br />
Accountability may be seen as a two-way mechanism. Hav<strong>in</strong>g formed a CFUG and<br />
decided the rules for forest management and benefi t distribution, the <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
members <strong>of</strong> the group are expected to abide by what they <strong>have</strong> agreed. They are<br />
accountable to each other, to their committee, to the DFO who has authorised their<br />
Operational Plan, and ultimately to the State that formulated <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong><br />
policy and law. This upward accountability is <strong>of</strong>ten stressed by <strong>of</strong>fi cials, but like<br />
any decentralised system, <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong> also conta<strong>in</strong>s an important element<br />
<strong>of</strong> downward accountability – requir<strong>in</strong>g the State and its representatives as <strong>we</strong>ll<br />
as service providers to be accountable to the CFUGs. Here the role <strong>of</strong> FECOFUN<br />
as a grassroots federation <strong>of</strong> CFUGs demand<strong>in</strong>g government accountability and<br />
react<strong>in</strong>g if any regressive rules or regulations are proposed is particularly important.<br />
The project has been careful to encourage FECOFUN <strong>in</strong> its legitimate efforts<br />
<strong>in</strong> this regard, without support<strong>in</strong>g any divisive activities (such as violence and<br />
prevent<strong>in</strong>g staff Forest Department from undertak<strong>in</strong>g their normal duties). Overall,<br />
project self-monitor<strong>in</strong>g records show an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g accountability <strong>of</strong> Forest<br />
Department <strong>of</strong>fi cials over time; for example, frequent staff transfers <strong>we</strong>re common<br />
<strong>in</strong> the early 1990s but are no longer an issue because the government made a<br />
provision for civil servants to serve a mandatory m<strong>in</strong>imum two years <strong>in</strong> post. More<br />
importantly, accusations <strong>of</strong> corruption are at least taken seriously and <strong>in</strong>vestigated<br />
through parliamentary committees, legal commissions and the <strong>of</strong>fi ce for monitor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
abuse <strong>of</strong> authority bureau. Many <strong>forestry</strong> <strong>of</strong>fi cials are suspended and cases are<br />
fi led; the recent removal <strong>of</strong> the M<strong>in</strong>ister <strong>of</strong> Forests on grounds <strong>of</strong> corruption is<br />
a case <strong>in</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t. While this latter<br />
illustration goes beyond project<br />
<strong>in</strong>fl uence, it is an example <strong>of</strong><br />
chang<strong>in</strong>g attitudes to which NSCFP<br />
has contributed.<br />
Women take account keep<strong>in</strong>g and fi nancial transparency particularly seriously<br />
Accountability at CFUG level may<br />
be assessed <strong>in</strong> numerous ways,<br />
although one <strong>of</strong> the most obvious is<br />
with regard to fi nancial management.<br />
Draw<strong>in</strong>g on service providers, the<br />
project rout<strong>in</strong>ely tra<strong>in</strong>ed all CFUGs<br />
<strong>in</strong> book-keep<strong>in</strong>g skills. The yearly<br />
accounts must be presented and<br />
discussed at the annual general<br />
15 Chhetry analysed the sample <strong>of</strong> 116 cluster CFUGs, and quoted the total sums <strong>in</strong>volved. His fi gures <strong>have</strong> been<br />
corrected to average per CFUG.<br />
38