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 />
different management regimes, it was found that the rate <strong>of</strong> conversion <strong>of</strong><br />
non-forest areas <strong>in</strong>to forests was signifi cantly higher <strong>in</strong> the <strong>community</strong> managed<br />
forests compared aga<strong>in</strong>st government and private forests.<br />
In addition to these demonstrable <strong>in</strong>creases <strong>in</strong> forest density, data from the project’s<br />
sample 116 CFUGs shows that whilst <strong>in</strong> year 2000, only a little more than half (68)<br />
<strong>of</strong> the sampled CFUGs <strong>we</strong>re actively manag<strong>in</strong>g their <strong>community</strong> forest, by 2008<br />
this had risen to over 95% <strong>of</strong> them (113) (Chhetry, 2010).<br />
“NSCFP has not been able to address high altitude forest management to the extent that<br />
it could <strong>have</strong> done.”<br />
Arun Sharma Paudel, Department <strong>of</strong> Forests; also Kumbha Raj Lama, Former DFO<br />
Okhaldhunga<br />
“Despite its strengths, the project has placed little focus on the l<strong>in</strong>kage bet<strong>we</strong>en forest and<br />
climate change.”<br />
Peter Branney, Project Adviser, LFP<br />
“Attention is required <strong>in</strong> identifi cation, protection and management <strong>of</strong> biodiversity,<br />
especially the endangered species. Community <strong>forestry</strong> has an important, but not <strong>we</strong>ll<br />
recognised role <strong>in</strong> biodiversity conservation, this is a largely unfulfi lled role <strong>of</strong> <strong>community</strong><br />
<strong>forestry</strong>.”<br />
Khil Bahadur Tamang, Forest Ranger. Ramechhap<br />
Key issues for the future<br />
• Despite the availability <strong>of</strong> sound technical methods to calculate susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
levels <strong>of</strong> timber harvest<strong>in</strong>g, and the existence <strong>of</strong> data from most <strong>community</strong><br />
forests <strong>in</strong> the project area to allow such calculations, timber harvest<strong>in</strong>g rema<strong>in</strong>s<br />
far below optimal levels. This represents a waste <strong>of</strong> the resource – s<strong>in</strong>ce<br />
harvest<strong>in</strong>g is necessary to optimise forest productivity - and a major loss <strong>of</strong><br />
CFUG revenue. Increas<strong>in</strong>g timber harvest<strong>in</strong>g from CFUGs and ensur<strong>in</strong>g that<br />
the benefi ts are distributed equitably rema<strong>in</strong>s a major challenge for the future.<br />
• The work conducted by NSCFP on susta<strong>in</strong>able NTFP harvest<strong>in</strong>g could usefully<br />
be revived and dissem<strong>in</strong>ated <strong>in</strong> CFUGs currently conduct<strong>in</strong>g – or plann<strong>in</strong>g to<br />
conduct – commercial NTFP operations. Further refi nement <strong>of</strong> such methods<br />
could also be considered.<br />
• Ideally, the boundaries <strong>of</strong> all newly created CFs should be digitalised, with<br />
these digitalised maps form<strong>in</strong>g part <strong>of</strong> OPs and be<strong>in</strong>g kept <strong>in</strong> a national<br />
database. Similarly, a gradual digitalisation <strong>of</strong> all CF boundaries should be<br />
conducted to ensure that they cannot be contested, and that national CF<br />
records are accurate. This will be especially important <strong>in</strong> the case <strong>of</strong> future<br />
carbon markets.<br />
• In the event <strong>of</strong> payment for environmental services becom<strong>in</strong>g a widely<br />
implemented reality, there is huge potential to elaborate, test and <strong>in</strong>troduce<br />
simple methods for the participatory monitor<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> forest biodiversity and<br />
condition. Methods for <strong>community</strong>-based carbon assessment and monitor<strong>in</strong>g<br />
could also be widely tested and <strong>in</strong>troduced.<br />
• The challenges, opportunities and mechanisms for <strong>community</strong> <strong>forestry</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
high altitude forests (where users are <strong>of</strong>ten seasonal and from a variety <strong>of</strong><br />
locations) are worth further <strong>in</strong>vestigation and support.<br />
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