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 />
records show that over the fi scal year 2009/10, a total <strong>of</strong> 893.5 kg essential oil<br />
was produced from these units. Ho<strong>we</strong>ver, there is one major concern <strong>in</strong> the whole<br />
essential oil value cha<strong>in</strong>, which is that whilst the wage rate has <strong>in</strong>creased (to be<br />
competitive with other wage labour opportunities), the price paid for the oil has<br />
barely altered. The result is that it is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly diffi cult to cover the cost <strong>of</strong><br />
production. Furthermore, one company has a near monopoly on oil purchases.<br />
It argues that prices on the <strong>in</strong>ternational market are low, due to competition with<br />
cheap Ch<strong>in</strong>ese oils, but the full situation is more complicated. It is known, for<br />
example, that the company has made some ventures <strong>in</strong>to the sale <strong>of</strong> certifi ed<br />
organic oil, but has not passed on the greater marg<strong>in</strong> made on such oil to the<br />
CFUGs (who <strong>have</strong> <strong>in</strong>curred costs from the certifi cation). NSCFP addressed such<br />
issues by attempt<strong>in</strong>g to br<strong>in</strong>g greater transparency and <strong>in</strong>formation to shareholders<br />
<strong>in</strong> the essential oil enterprises. It also <strong>in</strong>vestigated other market outlets, particularly<br />
with organic or “Fair Wild” labell<strong>in</strong>g, although these could not be secured with<strong>in</strong> the<br />
project lifetime.<br />
Res<strong>in</strong> is a natural<br />
product <strong>of</strong> the Chir p<strong>in</strong>e<br />
(P<strong>in</strong>us roxburghii), a<br />
tree species that occurs<br />
widely <strong>in</strong> the project<br />
area. Res<strong>in</strong> tapp<strong>in</strong>g is<br />
practiced to a limited<br />
extent <strong>in</strong> the project<br />
area, ma<strong>in</strong>ly <strong>in</strong><br />
Ramechhap district–<br />
where res<strong>in</strong>-tapp<strong>in</strong>g<br />
companies <strong>have</strong><br />
government permission<br />
to tap res<strong>in</strong>; <strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>community</strong> forests, they<br />
<strong>have</strong> to make an annual<br />
agreement with the<br />
CFUG concerned and<br />
Res<strong>in</strong> tapp<strong>in</strong>g from p<strong>in</strong>e trees is <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>community</strong> forest<br />
pay them the (government set) royalty. NSCFP played a support<strong>in</strong>g role <strong>in</strong> a policy<br />
campaign to <strong>in</strong>crease the revenue on res<strong>in</strong> – conducted through advocacy and<br />
refl ection meet<strong>in</strong>gs bet<strong>we</strong>en stakeholders and the M<strong>in</strong>istry. As a result, the price<br />
was recently <strong>in</strong>creased a signifi cant amount, from Rs. 3 to Rs.7 per kilogram.<br />
“The sharp <strong>in</strong>crement <strong>in</strong> the [government-controlled] revenue for res<strong>in</strong> has encouraged<br />
CFUGs and local people to participate <strong>in</strong> res<strong>in</strong> extraction <strong>in</strong> Ramechhap. Out <strong>of</strong> 404 CFUGs<br />
handed over so far <strong>in</strong> Ramechhap, 53 <strong>of</strong> them <strong>have</strong> potential for res<strong>in</strong> extraction.”<br />
Ratna B. Newar, the Secretary <strong>of</strong> the Tamakoshi Res<strong>in</strong> and Turpent<strong>in</strong>e Private Limited,<br />
Ramechhap<br />
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