Policy brief on Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas: Relevance, Potentials and Initiatives in Nepal(in Nepali)
Policy brief on Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas: Relevance, Potentials and Initiatives in Nepal
Our Forest Resources: Special Issue on Federalism, Natural Resource and Community Rights
(In Nepali)
Journal of Forest and Livelihood: Special Issue on Livelihoods & Forestry Programme's Experiences
- 2008
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002
- 2000-2001
| Decentralization and Promotion of Women’s Rights in Nepal: Exploring Constraints, Opportunities and Intervention Avenues |
| Funded by IDRC, Delhi, this project was implemented by FA in collaboration with HIMAWANTI Nepal. This project aimed toexamine women’s participation in public decision-making within the context of state decentralization process in Nepal. It seeks to understand women’s role as social actors, as well as the gendered social relations that shape women’s agency in the governance of public resources and services. A total of five clusters representing all ecological and development regions have been identified for the field study: 1) Morang, 2) Kavrepalnachok and Lalitpur, 3) Dang, 4) Dadeldhura, and 5) Mustang. The focus of the research was on the gendered social relations that shape women’s agency in the governance of public resources and services. This study analyzes the depth and breadth of participation through which women exercise their agency in various policy and socio-cultural contexts of decentralization. The study has also identified some processes and strategies that enhance positive impact of decentralization on women in Nepal. This research examines the effectiveness of women’s participation in the context of state decentralisation process in Nepal. In particular, the study examines four different spheres of decentralisation, viz., community forestry (involving local groups in the management of national forests); irrigation management (involving farmer groups in the governance of irrigation systems); community school (involving local communities in the governance of school level education); and local governance (with locals at village level and elected political bodies at village and district levels). |
| Improved Wetlands Conservation of Chitwan Valley (II) |
Wetland conservation programme was implemented in the Chitwan to conserve the wetlands in the area. The bridging project implemented from April 2007 to January 2008 was funded by the IUCN Netherland under the Ecosystem Grants Programme. The objectives of this project were to strengthen the capacity of the local stakeholders, institutionalise wetland conservation strategies among local institutions and enhance the livelihoods of the local and indigenous communities. While two wetland areas, namely Shanischare and Lamichaur, are specifically targeted in this project, a wide range of stakeholders have been invited to reflect upon and support wetland management issues in Chitwan Valley. The major stakeholders were CFUG, Buffer Zone User Committees, Village Development Committees, the Chitwan National Park, local NGOs and People’s Organisations. Poor households have been identified and have been given priority in income generation activities. The major activities under the project included a participatory social analysis and resource appraisal, ecological assessment of wetland ecosystem, trainings and exposure visits for stakeholders, and planning and implementation of community based enterprises for income generation. The project also facilitated a dialogue on the issues of wetland management through creating platforms and organising periodic events, carried out social and ecological assessments, provided trainings on wetland conservation and organised workshops on wetland resource management. |
| Improving Livelihoods and Equity in Community Forestry in Nepal: The Role of Adaptive Collaborative Management |
This project was funded by International Development Research Center (IDRC), Canada; supplemented by Centre for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Indonesia and International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), the Philippines. ForestAction Nepal together with the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), NewERA, and the Environmental Resources Institute (ERI) carried out the research project in Nepal to address the pressing second and third generation issues within community forestry (CF) in Nepal such as enhancing livelihood benefits, ensuring equity, and managing forest resource sustainably. The general objective of the project was to enhance the livelihood security of rural people, especially the poorest and most marginalized ones, including women and dalits, through the enhancement of socially just, productive, and sustainable CF management and governance. ForestAction led the collaborative research in six community forest user groups (CFUGs) and five meso level institutions of five districts representing hills and Terai of Nepal from eastern, central and western development regions. It also facilitated and supported the national level component of the project that was managed on behalf of “national CF policy learning group”. |
| Adaptive Collaborative Management National Component |
This project was carried out with the financial support provided by IDRC, Canada. Beside ForestAction’s leading role on the ACM project, it took a secretarial, often coordinating, and final reflection and reporting role in the national component also. An informal CF National Policy Learning Group (NPLG) was formed that comprised individuals from the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, the Department of Forest, FECOFUN, NGOs, bilateral forestry projects, university and independent policy experts. This group under an agreed consensus identified modus operandi, identified key policy issues and designed several action points for multi-stakeholder deliberation and policy learning. The issues that the learning group focused its attention for collective inquiry and policy influence included addressing the stagnancy of Terai Forest Management; exploring the driving forces of Terai Forest Cover Change; and policy process analysis, including a literature review and reflection upon the practices of the policy makers. Separate groups of experts reviewed existing literature, conducted research including field surveys and case studies and reflected those in the meetings of the NPLG. |
| Promoting Intellectual Property Rights of Indigenous People |
Funded by ActionAid, Nepal, this project aimed to enhance the capacity of indigenous people by protecting their rights over local resources and their knowledge to manage and use those resources. The project specifically studied the importance of local people's knowledge on biogenetic resources so as to develop strategic measures to protect such knowledge. A comprehensive understanding has been developed among the indigenous communities and other stakeholders in the Chitwan valley on the issues of indigenous knowledge and intellectual property rights. A good reading material is available now on the issue contributing to the increased understanding of these issues among citizens particularly the indigenous communities. Different groups of indigenous people have increased their collaborative efforts to promote their traditional practices and protecting intellectual property rights. |
| Developing Methodology for Planning Sustainable Harvesting of Medicinal Plants in Nepal and India |
This project was implemented from July 2003 to March 2006 in collaboration with the Environmental Change Institute of the University of Oxford, UK and the Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Tradition, India with the financial support of the Forestry Research Programme of the Department for International Development, UK. The project was employed in two countries, viz. India and Nepal. In Nepal, it was conducted on Baishakheshwori and Sundari CFUGs of Dolakha and Nawalparasi districts respectively. For the purpose of the study, four species namly Harro (Terminelia chebula), Machhino (Gultheria fragmentissima), Kurilo (Asparagus recemosus) and Chiraito (Swertia chirata) were selected among various plant species. The project attempted to contribute to the management and sustainable use of medicinal plants for livelihoods generation, primary health care and building adaptive capacity of local communities, respecting their innovations, values and knowledge for resource management. In particular, the project aimed to develop widely applicable and specific methodologies for the sustainable harvesting of selected medicinal plants through the participatory in situ experimentation, so as to empower local communities to manage their resources in a sustainable way. |
| Linking People to Policy |
A participatory action research on linking people to policy was conducted in Nepal during May-December 2006. Supported by International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), the Philippines, the project was a collaborative initiative of ForestAction and CIFOR. In a growing concern of how grassroots communities are better connected with the national policy process as well as, the processes at different levels, this project aimed to document and synthesize lessons generated from the 'Multi Stakeholder Learning Fora’ particularly those applying adaptive and collaborative approach as strategies for catalyzing and enhancing pro-people and equity oriented policy-making processes. The project was implemented in three districts of Nepal and have shown promising potentials of transforming meso level governance of actors and institutions working on, related to, or have the stake on community based forest management and governance so that they become more responsive to the needs and aspirations of communities, providing linkages to the market and other opportunities, learn together with the communities and provide action verified lessons to the national level policy making process. |
| Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation |
| A Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation project was conducted by FA from May- December 2006. This project was supported by IIRR, the Philippines. The activities conducted in the project sought to begin a process to address the ‘gap’ in knowledge-based practice, and to explore potential directions for further field-based policy advocacy research. ForestAction facilitated the community forest user group (CFUG) level planning and self-monitoring process (six CFUGs of five districts) as a key aspect for inclusive and deliberative learning process in the communities (part of the ACM project stated above). This study documented the process of planning and monitoring in the CFUGs and insights generated from the experience. |
| Implementation of Social Analysis System Tools |
| Supported by Local Initiatives for Biodiversity, Research and Development (LI-BIRD), ForestAction applied some of the Social Analysis System (SAS) tools during the Participatory Action Research of Adaptive Collaborative Management Project. The SAS tools provided opportunity to analyze and reflect on the socio-economic status of the communities by the community members themselves. The tools were important to support decision-making and planning processes for the communities and other stakeholders. These tools were used for generating information, providing opportunity of reflection and finally to help plan and make decisions by the communities. A total of six CFUGs of five districts who applied ACM approach also applied these tools. |
| Improved Wetlands Conservation of Chitwan Valley |
In collaboration with CHANGE-Nepal, this program was implemented in Royal Chitwan Naitonal Park’s buffer zone in Nawalparasi District with the financial assistance of the Small Grants Programme of The Netherlands Committee for The World Conservation Union (NC-IUCN) within the wetland development scheme. Two wetland areas, namely Shanischare and Lamichaur, were specifically targeted in this project. A wide range of stakeholders had been invited to reflect upon and support wetland management issues in Chitwan Valley. The major stakeholders were Community Forestry User Groups, Buffer Zone User Committees, Village Development Committees, the Royal Chitwan National Park, local NGOs and People’s Organisations. The project had facilitated a dialogue on the issues of wetland conservation and utilisation through social and ecological assessments, trainings on wetland conservation and monitoring and workshops on resource management in buffer zone areas. Poor households had been identified and had been given priority for income generation activities. Comprehensive reports of Social Analysis and Ecological Assessment of both sites had been prepared and had served as important guides for planning and implementing conservation activities. |
| Desk review of the community and leasehold forestry programs in Nepal |
| Funded by the Centre for International Forest Research (CIFOR), the objective of the review was to compile and analyse the key literatures on LF and CF to distil evidences and insights on how the two programs facilitate creating pro-poor livelihood impact. A review report, policy brief, a manuscript for journal article based on review report and compilation of LF literatures with annotated bibliography were the main output of the project. |
| Management of Knowledge System in Natural Resources - Exploring Policy and Institutional Framework |
This project had been awarded to ForestAction by International Development Research Centre (IDRC) through Research on Knowledge Systems (RoKS) competition 2002-2003. The study had adopted case study approach and was undertaken in three different levels: community, sub-national and national levels. This research had contributed at two levels. First, it had added the value of discourses and, second, it had challenged the doxic positions and narratives of people from local to national level, the local elite to scientists of national institutions. At the local level, the research process had, at least in CFUGs, benefited the socially marginalized groups as a result of the Participatory Action Learning research process. For instance, such people had become better represented in decision-making forums of local organizations such as Forest User Group Committees and Water Users Associations. In most of the CFUGs, women and the Dalit have been able to hold positions in management committees. At the national level, the research had contributed at the level of discourse in knowledge and governance. The findings of this research had been disseminated through reports, journal article, university lectures, workshops, websites, local radio programmes and newspaper articles. |
| How Can Forests Better Serve the Poor? A Review of Documented Knowledge on Leasehold and Community Forestry in Nepal |
| This review was carried out to compile and analyze the key literature on community forestry and leasehold forestry to distil evidences and insights on how the two programs facilitate creating pro-poor livelihood impact and recommend measures to scale up the livelihood impacts of forest dependant poor in Nepal. The study was jointly conducted by ForestAction Nepal and the Centre for International Forestry Research with financial support from IFAD. The study was primarily based on a review of documented information and was complemented by information generated in key informants’ interviews, used to capture the impressions and insights of the programs that are often not available in documented form. The analysis has shown that ecological restoration has been widely achieved. Despite this achievement, the analysis shows that the poor and marginalized groups have yet to receive the full potential of benefits and resources from either of the programs. Nonetheless, both of the programs have a high potential to support the livelihoods of the forest-dependant poor. |
| A Survey of the Priority Problems of the Forest and Tree Dependednt Poor People in Nepal During a Time of Conflict |
This survey was an update of a previous survey carried out by ForestAction in 2003. The survey was conducted in four districts in Nepal incorporating the views of 52 poor people. Interviews with NGO/CBO representatives, both at district and national level, and high-level government officials in Kathmandu were also taken to understand their current views on what they see as the main causes of poverty and how they felt about the poor in the context of conflict. The survey identified the priority problems of poor people in the conflict situation. The study showed that all the respondents interviewed suffered from the unfavourable policies and support services relevant to their livelihoods. More severe than this, they have suffered badly as a result of the armed insurgency, which has hijacked their mental peace and social security. In addition to this, lack of peace and security, regular Bandha and strikes, declining basic health care, and lack of employment opportunities were some of the other priority problems mentioned during the interviews. |
| Economic Incentives and Poaching of One-horned Indian Rhinoceros in Nepal |
This project was funded by the Dutch Ministry of Development Cooperation (DGIS) through the Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management Programme (PREM) and in collaboration with Environmental Resources Institute, the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University, Canada, and the Institute of Environmental Studies of Vrije Universiteit, the Netherlands. This research was initiated to conduct an economic analysis of poaching of the one-horned rhinoceros in Nepal and to explore a multitude of management and policy alternatives to combat poaching and to provide economic incentives at the local level. This study adopted two different empirical strategies. The first approach was concentrated on determining who has stake in the rhino population of the Terai and defining the nature of these stakes. The second approach was concerned with the modelling of poaching behaviour to provide information about the effectiveness of current interventions and to simulate alternative control policies. An economic modelling exercise was carried out, drawing on primary and secondary data to analyse the historic level of poaching based on factors that were considered to be the determinants of poaching. Another element in this focal area of the study consisted of simulation modelling of various policy options. |
| Reforming Governance of Forest User Groups: Facilitating Self-Monitoring Process |
ForestAction jointly with Nepal Australia Community Resource Management and Livelihoods Project (NACRMLP) had facilitated the self-monitoring (it is also known as ‘action learning’) process at selected CFUGs of Kabhrepalanchowk district, Nepal and drawn lessons from these CFUGs to use them in other CFUGs as well as within partner organizations. The governance reform process was proposed based on the core principles of PAL in forest management planning and monitoring processes. The PAL process, which views monitoring as an integral part of community forest management planning activities, involves a continuous process of action and learning in a more systematic and organised manner. The project was able to sensitize local people towards more inclusive and learning focused processes and resulted into more democratic interaction and self-monitoring process within CFUGs. In two CFUGs such as Bhumesthan and Karmapunya of Kabhrepalanchowk district, this process helped the CFUGs develop tole (hamlet) based plans, reflection on the activities and processes and created livelihood opportunity to the users, particularly, poor and marginal groups. |
| Reforming Governance of Forest User Groups: Facilitating Self-Monitoring Process |
With the collaborative assistance of the Nepal Australia Community Resource Management and Livelihood Project (NACRMLP), the primary focus of this project was to facilitate planning, self-monitoring and learning processes to reform the existing governance of selected forest user groups located in Kabhrepalanchowk and Sindhupalchowk districts. The project has sensitized local people towards more inclusive and learning-focused processes, resulting in more democratic interactions and increased self-monitoring processes within CFUGs. This process had helped two CFUGs, to develop tole-based management plans, reflecting on the activities and processes and created livelihood opportunities of the users, particularly those of poor and marginalized groups. |
| Gender Mainstreaming in Tiger Rhino Conservation Project |
| Implemented with financial support from the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC), the objective of this project was to provide backstopping support to field staff so as to increase the participation of women through women’s empowerment and gender mainstreaming in all of the project components in the natural resource management sector of KMTNC. |
| Project on Strengthening Advocacy and Local Government Accountability |
| In collaboration with The Asia Foundation, Pro-Public and INSEC, ForestAction implemented this project in four Terai districts of the eastern and central regions of Nepal: Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha and Sarlahi. The aim of the project was to create good governance systems by strengthening people's advocacy actions and sensitizing the managing personnel to their accountability for the generation of better livelihood opportunities, particularly for the poor and marginalized groups in the project areas. |
| A Review of Forest Policies and Practices in Cambodia and Strategies for Promoting People Centered Management of Forests |
| Funded by ActionAid, China, the aim of this study was to understand the overall policy and institutional context of the forestry sector in Cambodia, with particular reference to the problems of and opportunities for the communal management of forest resources. An attempt was made to understand the linkages between policies and practices. The research also analyzed the opportunities to enhance the rights, access and institutions of local people, including the poor and marginalized. |
| Analyzing Participatory Trends in Nepal's Community Forestry |
| In collaboration with the Forest Conservation Project of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan, this project investigated the trends of Nepal’s forest policy through its historical background, legislative policy, and institutional and administrative policy. The study took into account changes in policy goals, planning and priorities, and analysis of the trends of local participation. |
| Action and Learning Processes for Common Property Forest Management |
| Funded through the Natural Resources Systems Programme (NRSP) by the Department for International Development (DFID), this project was a follow-up study on a previous project entitled 'Common Property Forest Resources in Nepal: Developing Monitoring Systems for Use at the Local Level' conducted in 2001. In the initial project, methods were developed for the facilitation of group level action and learning process initiation, focusing on self-monitoring as a crucial link within this. The processes consisted of sequential steps of negotiation and information analysis, which would be continued at the case study sites and possibly scaled out in the local area. This follow-up study therefore aimed to determine whether or not the processes, or steps within them, have been continued or adapted in these localities. |
| Promoting Community Action for Biodiversity Conservation |
Funded by the Whiteley Awards Foundation, UK, this project was based on the lessons learned in previous research with the University of Reading. This study, a pilot action research project, sought to ensure a follow-up on the former while simultaneously seeking to evaluate the links between biodiversity and livelihoods. The project’s outputs included improved biodiversity plans and practices of communities incorporating the values of economic and non-economic plants, the development of guidelines to assist field facilitators to incorporate biodiversity issues in forest management operating plans, and the identification of policy issues and options for the incorporation of biodiversity in community forestry. |
| A Survey of the Priority Problems Perceived by the Four FRP Focus Groups and Other Stakeholders of Research-Dependent Poor People in the Management of Forest and Tree Resources in Nepal |
| This study was implemented with financial assistance provided by the Forest Research Program of the Department for International Development (DFID) and in collaboration with Natural Resources International Limited. The study aimed to list the underlying causes of poverty, as perceived by the poor people who rely on forest and tree resources and by different institutions which seek to reduce poverty representing government, I/NGOs, bilateral agencies, research institutions, and the private sector. In achieving this goal, this research documented the existing problems and their underlying causes, supporting the development of meaningful and targeted action through both research and development projects. This has helped the Forest Research Program to define future research areas for the benefit of the poor, especially small-scale farmers, landless families, artisans, traders, small-scale entrepreneurs, and the urban and semi-urban poor. |
| Study on the Marketing Potentials of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) of Banke and Bardia Districts |
| The study was carried out by FA in collaboration with New ERA Limited. This study analyzed the prevailing situation of NTFP marketing within these two districts of the Terai region in Nepal and subsequently identified the marketing potential of nine NTFP species, previously identified as being viable for commercial production in the Terai. The research produced thorough documentation and analysis of marketing trends, both domestic and international, the legal procedures of NTFP marketing in the region, as well as the issues of quantity, quality and equity in benefit sharing and trade potential of the selected species. |
| Bibliography of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in Nepal |
| With financial assistance provided by the Department for International Development (DFID), Fa had conducted this study in collaboration with the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme (LFP). The bibliography consolidated the existing information and experiences of production management and marketing of NTFPs in a user-friendly bibliography/database. Published in both electronic and print formats, this database of NTFP management and marketing has been categorized into the following subheadings: resource management; institutional and policy aspects; enterprise, processing and product utilization; marketing and economics; and general NTFP issues and information. |
| Field Investigation and Analysis of Inventory Issues in Community Forestry |
| Funded by DFID, ForestAction Nepal and the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme assessed the problems and opportunities related to community forestry inventory issues in Nepal. The project was implemented successfully to assist policy makers, forestry projects researchers and advocacy NGOs who wish to pursue the agenda of improving the Forest Inventory Guideline (FIG) of Nepal’s Department of Forests. Furthermore, it quantified and assessed the field realities relating to the implementation of the FIG, identified the scope and avenues for policy decisions to resolve the issues, and generated qualitative and quantitative evidences from 40 districts of the country, representing all development regions and ecological zones of Nepal. |
| Common Pool Resource, Poverty and Equity: A Case Study of Leasehold Forestry Policy and Practices in Nepal |
| In collaboration with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), this study was carried out to understand how common property resources are governed in the prevailing policy and social contexts with the intention of understanding how governance can be improved for equitable outcomes. This study also investigated how micro and macro-level institutions interact to determine the access of the poorest groups to resources and innovated technical options for maximizing benefits to such households. |
| Training Package Design of Participatory Action and Learning in Forest Management |
| In collaboration with the International and Rural Development Department of the University of Reading and the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme, ForestAction developed training materials for the use of Community Forest User Groups on PAL in forest management, based on the findings of the Forest User Group Forest Management Project (FFMP). |
| Participatory Research on Adaptive Collaborative Management (ACM) of Forests |
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Funded by the Center for International Forest Research (CIFOR), this study wss part of the wider research on adaptation and collaboration in forest management, conducted by CIFOR in collaboration with institutions in 14 countries around the world. This part of the study was designed to complement the on-going CIFOR studies in Kaski and Sankhuwasabha districts to draw more general conclusions on adaptation and collaboration in Nepal’s forest management practices. Comparative case studies were used to expand the research base of the ACM project, increasing the number of sites and districts. Results of the study had been incorporated into the findings of CIFOR’s “ACM Main Case Studies (PAR)” to draw lessons on adaptive collaborative management in Nepal. |
| Participatory Action Research (PAR) on the Development of Monitoring Process and Indicators of Forest Management in Nepal |
| Funded by both the Department for International Development (DFID) and the University of Reading, both of the UK, and in collaboration with the Livelihoods and Forestry Programme of Nepal, this research project was implemented in Kushmisera, Baglung district. Engaged in a process of collaborative research, this project developed a monitoring process and appropriate indicators for forest management at the Forest User Group (FUG) level. These were developed in order to integrate aspects of forest resources, livelihoods, as well as society, policy and legislation. Local, district and national level workshops were held to share the findings and to generate critical feedback. |
| Community Forestry Monitoring System |
| Building on the lessons of the PAR project conducted in Baglung district and the insights gained through the ACM studies, ForestAction and CIFOR jointly explored the need for reviewing the monitoring systems at local, program and policy levels. Two studies were then undertaken focusing on (1) a review of local-level monitoring systems and (2) a review of the monitoring systems of community forestry as a means of two-way communication between local communities and various levels at the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation. |
