Community forests are the parts of national forests that are managed and used by local users organized into community forest user groups, legitimatized as independent and self governing institutions by the government.

The objective of the community forestry program is to produce collective benefits to the local communities of forest users from the development, conservation and use of forests.

Total control by state, forest officers given special rights, but still massive deforestation

Need for people’s participation in forest management realized.

Forest Act 1961 amended in 1977 made provisions to handover parts of government forest to Panchayats.

Panchayat forest and Panchayat Protected forest rules initiated implementation of community forestry program in Nepal.

First project-Hill Community Forestry Project operated in 38 hill district, supported by World Bank.

• 13,600 Forest User Groups (FUGs) with nearly 1.4 million household members,(~20,000 CFUG in 2017)

• manage about 1.1 million ha forest areas, nearly 25% of the existing national forest of the country.(~1.7 million ha or 35% in 2017)

• average of two FUGs are being formed every day

• achievements can be seen in terms of better forest condition, good governance, social mobilization, income generation for rural development and institution building at grass root level.

Sustainable forest management Denuded forest have regenerated and the

condition of forests has improved. the net forest area has been increased by 794

ha and the number of patches has been reduced from 395 to 175.

Shrub land and grassland has been converted into productive forest.

biggest source for the forest products such as timber and NTFPs (grasses, fodder, firewood) which are consumed locally as well as sold by the user group.

Protection of wild life and indigenous plants and trees.

Livelihood Promotion fulfilling subsistence need of local

communities. Supporting income generation activities for the poor (loans, training on forest based skill development, access to forest) Conduct social activities and maintain harmony among people in the society. local level capacity building through trainings on silviculture, gender equity,

record keeping etc

Good Governance the CFUGs operate as independent, autonomous

and self governing entity. 25% of the income has to be spent on the

protection and management of forest and 75% on community development

The practice of disadvantaged group participation, election for selecting the User committee, transparent legislation and accountable user group, makes the system more strong and democratic.

Generating social capital 42% of total labour is spent for community forest

protection, 19% for meetings and assemblies and 19% for forest product harvesting

By: Manish D. DhakalDate: 1st March 2010

So making these institutions more accountable and responsible to poor and disadvantaged groups & women is challenge.

Unsolved discourse In revenue sharing Issue among local users, local bodies &

State.Hunting & wildlife farming in CF

Wildlife-high income generating but…no legislation.

Issue of inclusion Should distant users be deprived of the

forest benefit? Inclusiveness of participation Transparency Forest Management Forest Product flow Accountability of executive community

Responsiveness Linking and Tapping Diverse funds for poverty reduction

Issue of Equitability & Benefit Distribution

Conflict between different theories

Forest taken as a thing for acquisition of social power and rapid upward mobility.

Conflicting Data

Hausler unravels the complexity of community forestry by viewing it through the lens of history, politics and power relations. She claims that it is imperative to look at how power relations (and therefore the socio-political context of our country and in a larger context the world) dictate decisions that are made environmentally.

the causes for environmental degradation that policies tackle are aimed at

and NOT at

- overpopulation- overgrazing- cultivation of steep slopes- farmers' ignorance- overuse of scarce forest resources

- rapid industrialization- export oriented growth policies- deteriorating terms of trade for South- unfavourable exchange rates (foreign currency)- foreign debt- transnational timber corporations- corruption- national and local power structures

because these policies are aimed at changing patterns of lifestyle of rural population dependent on forest resources.

nothing that disrupts current hegemony of the West and western political, economic structures on the South. also perpetuates existing power relations within the country.

Why is forestry chosen as a profession? Because of power relations.

A single forester has the authority of: an army commander, a magistrate, a revenue officer and a businessman thus, places him high on the social order.

• What is the importance of indigenous knowledge systems?

• could this signal the possible redistribution of power relations?

• or does this perpetuate northern heirarchies?

Such discourse is crucial because it extends beyond the bounderies of forest management and environmental conservation to other aspects of live in the South.