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 />
entrepreneurial orientation, such as value cha<strong>in</strong> mapp<strong>in</strong>g and assessment <strong>of</strong><br />
market demand - thus identify<strong>in</strong>g new products with market<strong>in</strong>g potential. At the<br />
same time, the need to establish l<strong>in</strong>ks with actors further along <strong>in</strong> the value cha<strong>in</strong><br />
was stressed, and such <strong>in</strong>teractions facilitated. F<strong>in</strong>ally, policy and legal issues<br />
act<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st the <strong>in</strong>terests <strong>of</strong> forest users <strong>we</strong>re identifi ed and brought to the<br />
notice <strong>of</strong> policy makers through Project Steer<strong>in</strong>g Committee meet<strong>in</strong>gs, national<br />
level workshop, policy papers and briefs.<br />
The value cha<strong>in</strong>s <strong>in</strong>itially chosen for particular focus by NSCFP <strong>we</strong>re handmade<br />
paper from lokta (Daphne spp) and argeli (Edgeworthia garderi); essential oil from<br />
w<strong>in</strong>tergreen (Gaultheria spp); res<strong>in</strong> from p<strong>in</strong>e trees (notably P<strong>in</strong>us roxburghii);<br />
juice from the bel fruit (Aegle marmelos) or syrup produced from Rhododendron<br />
fl o<strong>we</strong>rs; fi bre from the Allo<br />
plant (nettle, Urtica spp);<br />
and briquettes manufactured<br />
from the biomass <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>community</strong> forests. These six<br />
value cha<strong>in</strong>s <strong>we</strong>re reduced<br />
to four <strong>in</strong> the last phase,<br />
with the decision that project<br />
engagement <strong>in</strong> the papermak<strong>in</strong>g,<br />
nettle fi bre and juice/<br />
syrup-mak<strong>in</strong>g value cha<strong>in</strong>s<br />
had achieved what was<br />
possible. A new value cha<strong>in</strong><br />
was, ho<strong>we</strong>ver, added to those<br />
<strong>of</strong> project focus – that <strong>of</strong><br />
timber. The project’s experience<br />
<strong>in</strong> four value cha<strong>in</strong>s is<br />
briefl y highlighted below.<br />
Traditional paper mak<strong>in</strong>g<br />
us<strong>in</strong>g the fi bre <strong>of</strong> the<br />
commonly occurr<strong>in</strong>g forest<br />
shrubs lokta and argeli is<br />
a <strong>we</strong>ll established small<br />
<strong>in</strong>dustry <strong>in</strong> the project area,<br />
but one <strong>in</strong> which <strong>in</strong>dividual<br />
enterprises <strong>have</strong> seen very<br />
different fortunes, as may be<br />
seen <strong>in</strong> box 9. Key issues <strong>have</strong><br />
proven to be the supply <strong>of</strong> raw<br />
material, labour availability<br />
for process<strong>in</strong>g, and product<br />
<strong>Nepal</strong>i handmade paper mak<strong>in</strong>g bus<strong>in</strong>ess is a source <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>come for forest users<br />
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