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 />
quality. Although the shrubs from which traditional paper is made are quite common,<br />
and susta<strong>in</strong>able harvest<strong>in</strong>g techniques exist and are known, it is still possible to<br />
deplete the resource if harvest<strong>in</strong>g levels are not fi xed and respected. This has<br />
sometimes occurred (albeit not to a grave extent), despite the fact that NSCFP<br />
developed susta<strong>in</strong>able harvest<strong>in</strong>g guidel<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> the late 1990s. It was found that<br />
every CFUG <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> lokta and argeli harvest<strong>in</strong>g needed coach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>able<br />
methods; once this need was identifi ed, NSCFP took steps to address it. Process<strong>in</strong>g<br />
fi bre to make traditional paper is quite labour <strong>in</strong>tensive, and does not always <strong>of</strong>fer<br />
attractive pay unless a good price for the product can be obta<strong>in</strong>ed. It is for this reason<br />
that quality assurance is crucial. There is plenty <strong>of</strong> poor quality paper available<br />
on the market, but manufactures <strong>of</strong> “value added” paper products <strong>in</strong> Kathmandu<br />
will pay a premium for good<br />
quality paper. NSCFP was able to<br />
facilitate this crucial l<strong>in</strong>k bet<strong>we</strong>en<br />
the producer and a Kathmandu<br />
based buyer, result<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> quality<br />
issues be<strong>in</strong>g addressed, <strong>in</strong> the<br />
case <strong>of</strong> Everest Enterprises.<br />
Other paper produc<strong>in</strong>g enterprises<br />
could, ho<strong>we</strong>ver, not reach similar<br />
standards.<br />
“Challenges <strong>of</strong> forest based enterprises<br />
<strong>have</strong> not been <strong>we</strong>ll addressed.<br />
As a result <strong>of</strong> this approach, paper<br />
factories <strong>in</strong> Ramechhap are now on<br />
the verge <strong>of</strong> collapse.”<br />
Gov<strong>in</strong>da Man Shrestha, FECOFUN<br />
Forest users mak<strong>in</strong>g essential oil from w<strong>in</strong>ter green plants<br />
Essential oil extraction, most<br />
notably <strong>of</strong> w<strong>in</strong>tergreen, is another<br />
small scale forest-based <strong>in</strong>dustry<br />
draw<strong>in</strong>g on a quite plentiful supply<br />
<strong>of</strong> raw materials – although<br />
aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> this case it was found<br />
necessary to revisit the harvest<strong>in</strong>g<br />
guidel<strong>in</strong>es prepared by NSCFP<br />
<strong>in</strong> the late 1990s and ensure that<br />
CFUGs <strong>we</strong>re properly coached <strong>in</strong><br />
susta<strong>in</strong>able practices. By 2010,<br />
some 16 small distillation units<br />
produc<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>tergreen oil existed<br />
<strong>in</strong> Dolakha district, whilst <strong>in</strong><br />
Ramechhap, two enterprises <strong>we</strong>re<br />
produc<strong>in</strong>g a variety <strong>of</strong> oils. Project<br />
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