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 />
Inclusive participation was promoted by NSCFP <strong>in</strong> other sectors <strong>of</strong> society <strong>in</strong> various<br />
ways. It has already been noted that scholarships and tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g for DFO staff sought<br />
to <strong>in</strong>crease workforce diversity and participatory attitudes, and that the same was<br />
true for NGO service providers, and for project staff. With regard to the private sector,<br />
a particularly <strong>in</strong>novative idea was that <strong>of</strong> pro-poor enterprises (see section on<br />
forest-based enterprises). Whilst this proved diffi cult to implement <strong>in</strong> practice, the<br />
concept <strong>of</strong> workforce diversity and participation <strong>in</strong> decision mak<strong>in</strong>g (to the extent<br />
possible) has cont<strong>in</strong>ued <strong>in</strong> many forest-based enterprises.<br />
Efficiency and effectiveness<br />
An overview <strong>of</strong> the effi ciency and<br />
effectiveness <strong>of</strong> CFUGs can be<br />
ga<strong>in</strong>ed from their self-evaluation<br />
as <strong>we</strong>ll as through the monitor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>of</strong> achievements such as forest<br />
condition, establishment and<br />
runn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> forest enterprises, <strong>in</strong>come<br />
generation, and ability to resolve<br />
<strong>in</strong>ternal confl icts themselves,<br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able management and<br />
harvest<strong>in</strong>g and benefi t distribution.<br />
The overall project aim was for<br />
CFUGs to become fully susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
entities – and those <strong>in</strong> the cluster<br />
areas broadly consider themselves<br />
to <strong>have</strong> achieved this.<br />
Degraded forest condition <strong>in</strong> Khorthali, Dolakha <strong>in</strong> 1989 before <strong>community</strong> Forestry<br />
Another important aspect <strong>of</strong><br />
effectiveness is the degree to<br />
which CFUGs are l<strong>in</strong>ked with<br />
each other, and with other relevant<br />
programmes and <strong>in</strong>stitutions.<br />
Modalities <strong>of</strong> l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g CFUGs<br />
with each other (lead CFUGs,<br />
FECOFUN) are discussed<br />
elsewhere. An important hub for<br />
l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g CFUGs to other programmes<br />
will be the VDC, once it is fully<br />
operational (see below). In the<br />
meanwhile, <strong>in</strong>dividual CFUGs <strong>have</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong> many cases developed successful<br />
l<strong>in</strong>ks with service providers, banks,<br />
private entrepreneurs, and other actors. In the last phase, locally based social<br />
mobilisers and facilitators played an important role <strong>in</strong> facilitat<strong>in</strong>g such l<strong>in</strong>kages.<br />
Better forest condition <strong>in</strong> Khorthali, Dolakha <strong>in</strong> 2010 as <strong>community</strong> forest<br />
Good governance and democracy<br />
Good governance coach<strong>in</strong>g and other capacity build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the CFUGs <strong>in</strong> the project<br />
area succeeded <strong>in</strong> rais<strong>in</strong>g awareness and chang<strong>in</strong>g practices <strong>in</strong> a democratic<br />
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