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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FOREWORD<br />
Over 20 years ago, the Swiss Agency for<br />
Development and Cooperation (SDC)<br />
made a commitment to provide long term<br />
support to implement the Master Plan<br />
for the Forestry Sector <strong>in</strong> <strong>Nepal</strong>. This<br />
commitment is fulfi lled through <strong>Nepal</strong><br />
Swiss Community Forestry Project<br />
(NSCFP). Despite many issues, <strong>we</strong> are so<br />
privileged to <strong>have</strong> directly contributed to<br />
the visible impacts <strong>of</strong> <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong><br />
as <strong>in</strong>dicated <strong>in</strong> this publication. The project<br />
has been a trend-setter <strong>in</strong> <strong>community</strong><br />
<strong>forestry</strong> <strong>in</strong> address<strong>in</strong>g the structural issues<br />
<strong>of</strong> resource governance, poverty, gender<br />
<strong>in</strong>equality, social discrim<strong>in</strong>ation and<br />
<strong>in</strong>equity. The advancement <strong>of</strong> <strong>community</strong><br />
<strong>forestry</strong> through better forest governance,<br />
a multi-partnership approach, target<strong>in</strong>g the<br />
poor and discrim<strong>in</strong>ated at the household<br />
level, the implementation <strong>of</strong> a partnership<br />
model for the promotion <strong>of</strong> forest based<br />
enterprises, and the strengthen<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong><br />
bottom-up plann<strong>in</strong>g and feedback systems<br />
from the grass roots to the national level<br />
are some <strong>of</strong> the key contributions that the<br />
project has made. The ecological, social and<br />
economic outcomes thus achieved <strong>have</strong><br />
clearly improved the livelihoods <strong>of</strong> poor and<br />
discrim<strong>in</strong>ated women and men.<br />
I am glad to share that SDC has decided<br />
to extend its support for such activities<br />
through a new Multi-Stakeholder Forestry<br />
Programme (MSFP) which builds on the<br />
learn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> NSCFP, the DFID-funded LFP<br />
and other programmes. I believe that <strong>in</strong><br />
many respects it sets the basel<strong>in</strong>e for the<br />
new <strong>forestry</strong> programme.<br />
Elisabeth Von Capeller<br />
Head <strong>of</strong> Cooperation<br />
Counsellor (Development)<br />
Swiss Agency for Development and<br />
Cooperation SDC<br />
Embassy <strong>of</strong> Switzerland <strong>in</strong> <strong>Nepal</strong><br />
Ekantakuna, Jawalakhel<br />
The Department <strong>of</strong> Forests has had<br />
the privilege to partner with Switzerland<br />
together with other development partners <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong>, which is now proven<br />
to be the one <strong>of</strong> the best mechanisms to<br />
reverse the rate <strong>of</strong> deforestation and to<br />
contribute to the livelihoods <strong>of</strong> the rural<br />
people. I spent productive time dur<strong>in</strong>g my<br />
carreer <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Nepal</strong> Forest Service as a<br />
District Forest Offi cer (DFO) <strong>in</strong> one <strong>of</strong> the<br />
hilly districts supported by <strong>Nepal</strong> Swiss<br />
Community Forestry Project (NSCFP). I am<br />
very impressed with the commitment and<br />
cooperation <strong>of</strong> the Swiss <strong>in</strong> be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>novative<br />
and consistent <strong>in</strong> their long term vision and<br />
support, which the <strong>forestry</strong> sector needed.<br />
I remember NSCFP’s work <strong>in</strong> the 1990s was<br />
more on the establishment <strong>of</strong> plantations,<br />
private tree cultivation, forest nurseries and<br />
regeneration <strong>of</strong> natural forest. Then it shifted<br />
its focus by develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ventory guidel<strong>in</strong>es,<br />
practic<strong>in</strong>g susta<strong>in</strong>able management and<br />
utilisation <strong>of</strong> forests, support<strong>in</strong>g to establish<br />
pro-poor enterprises and livelihood model.<br />
By so do<strong>in</strong>g, the project has provided benifi ts<br />
not only the people <strong>of</strong> four districts, but also<br />
set the trend for others to learn about how<br />
to implement <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong> to ensure<br />
both ecological and economic susta<strong>in</strong>ability<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>community</strong> forest user groups. Further,<br />
NSCFP’s contribution to human resource<br />
development not only enabled <strong>forestry</strong><br />
pr<strong>of</strong>essionals and <strong>community</strong> leaders to<br />
serve at the <strong>community</strong> level, but also<br />
people supported by NSCFP <strong>have</strong> been<br />
able to serve nationally and <strong>in</strong>ternationally.<br />
Gopal Kumar Shrestha<br />
Director General<br />
Department <strong>of</strong> Forests<br />
M<strong>in</strong>istry <strong>of</strong> Forests and Soil Conservation<br />
Babar Mahal, Kathmandu, <strong>Nepal</strong><br />
I