| Author | Dhital, Yadav Prasad |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no. NR-01-10 |
| Subject(s) | Community forests--Nepal
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of
Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-01-10 |
| Abstract | The potential of community forestry for deriving multiple benefits from forest
goods and services are being increasingly recognized, and the numbers of forest user
groups are also increasing in Nepal. His Majesty's Government of Nepal made a sta1i on
decentralizing forest management from the department of forest by handing over at to the
local people. It is extensively adopted and put into practices in village as well as
municipality area of the country. This is a comparative study of the physical condition and
organizational performance on such effect of community forest management in
municipality and village area.
The aim of the study was to explore Community forest management in village area and
municipality regarding the functioning including involvement of local users especially in
the protection, utilization, benefit sharing and process of institutionalization. The study was
carried out in four community forest user groups (FUGs), two from municipality area and
two from village areas of Makawanpur and Tanahun districts. Using random sampling
techniques, total 120 forest users were chosen and survey carried out. Observation of forest
condition, review of FUGs records, interview with forest user committee (FUC) and key
informants were also examined during the data collection process.
The findings of the study showed that there were significant differences in the socioeconomic characteristics of users in municipality and village area. These characteristics
affected the forest product needs, preferences as well as objective of the forest
management and also influenced compliance with silvicultural operation, utilization and
sharing of forest products and institutional capacity building of the FUGs. The forest
conditions of the study area were improved after take over by local community. The
village FUGs were focusing more on basic forest needs fulfillment purpose where as
greenery, recreational oriented purposes were also included in municipality FUGs' focus of
forest management. Besides, more extensive silvicultural practices were carried out in
municipality area CF. All the member of the FUGs were utilizing and sharing the forest
products such as timber, fuel wood and fodder and leaf litter, by means of several rules and
regulations formulated by the assembly. Rural users seemed to be more dependent as well
as more satisfied due to increased availability of the timber and fuel wood from the CF.
All FUGs are accountable and have developed recording systems and specified rules and
regulation to carry out the forest management activities. These FUGs have their own funds
raised from sales of forest products, membership fees, penalties imposed and grants and
funds were invested in both the forest development activities and community welfare. All
the FUGs in study area have been trying to involve all the users in the forest management
activities and exploring linkage with other organizations for the suppo1i. However, the
participation of users are found low in municipality FU Gs but have more opportunity for
linkage and extension of the area of support with many more organization than villages.
Finally, CF management practices have been operating in both areas, even though the
management functions are considerably different in municipality area. Therefore, this
study recommends for a suitable policy and programs covering the interest of urban settlers
also should be tailored towards the achievement of sustainable community forestry
development in Nepal.
|
| Year | 2001 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-01-10 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Webb, Edward L. ;Dale, Reidar ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Danish International Development Agency
(DANIDA) ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001 |