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Journal
of Forest and Livelihood Vol. 6(1)
February 2007
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| Contents and Abstracts |
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How
are Forest Policy Decisions Made in
Nepal?
-Hemant
Ojha, Netra Timsina and Dilraj Khanal
(Page
: 1-17) |
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Abstract:
Taking
a deliberative democracy perspective,
we analyze the case of forest governance
in Nepal with a view to understanding
the extent and processes of citizen-state
deliberations in forest policy making
in relation to Nepal's specific
historical and social contexts.
We analyze 15 policy decisions which
range from parliament-endorsed laws
to executive decisions of the government
that were made over the period 1998-2004.
Our findings indicate that despite
the functioning of a multiparty
political system, most forest policy
decisions made during the studied
period involved limited democratic
deliberation. Two reasons for this
are identified as: a) continued
dominance of the role of forest
science and state forestry administration
in forest policy making; and b)
weak links between civil society
and elected political leaders in
the legislature and the government.
Finally, we draw lessons for approaches
to analyzing environmental governance.
Key words: deliberation,
environment, forestry, policy, governance
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Claiming
a Bird in Hand: Economic Potential
of Plantation in Nepal under Clean
Development Mechanism
-Sindhu
Prasad Dhungana, Bishwa Nath Oli and
Ram Asheswor Mandal
(Page
: 18-27) |
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Abstract:
The
paper explores the avenues for carbon
trading from existing and potential
afforestation and reforestation (A/R)
activities in Nepal. As the proposal
for A/R projects under Clean Development
Mechanism (CDM) is a relatively new
idea for Nepal, the paper revisits
some preliminary concepts of CDM under
this category. It reviews the relevant
literature on CDM in the context of
Nepal. Different categories of land
viz. private land, leasehold forests,
community forests, government-managed
forests, and community wastelands
have been identified potential while
claiming carbon dollars for A/R projects
under CDM. A preliminary estimation
of plantation areas shows that A/R
projects in Nepal have enormous potential
in claiming for carbon dollars under
CDM. Taking six metric tons per hectare
as the average annual carbon sequestration
and price of carbon as US $ 10-20
per ton into account, gross annual
income ranging from $0.4 million to
$0.8 million can be earned from plantation
after 2000. Pursuant to huge economic
potential of carbon sequestration
projects, significant efforts are
required to realize the potential
benefits. The paper recommends establishing
broker institutions to mediate carbon
trading in Nepal at global markets
in order to reduce transaction costs.
Effective advocacy is needed for the
inclusion of avoided deforestation
projects such as protected area systems
and community forests to maximize
benefits from carbon trading under
CDM.
Key
words: clean development
mechanism, afforestation and reforestation
activities, carbon, plantation
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How Can Timber Rents Better
Contribute to Poverty Reduction
through Community Forestry in the
Terai Region of Nepal?
-James
Bampton and Bruno Cammaert
(Page
: 28-47)
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Abstract:
The
paper explores the existing situation
of Community Forestry (CF) in Nepal’s
Terai in relation to timber rents.
The legislation behind CF in Nepal
is explained, and it is argued that
Nepal’s model of CF goes a long
way to mitigating the fundamental
‘anti-poor’ characteristics
of timber enterprise. Nevertheless,
the poor are still unable to benefit
sufficiently from timber rents. This
is because many poor, particularly
in the Terai, are not even members
of Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs),
and even within CFUGs, there are a
number of constraining factors preventing:
1) optimal productivity of CFs; 2)
minimisation of costs; 3) maximum
realisation of rents; 4) CFUG value
addition; and 5) equitable distribution
of benefits. Nevertheless, in comparison
with other existing forest management
modalities in Nepal’s Terai,
CF offers considerable potential for
contributing to poverty reduction
if a number of systematic reforms
are undertaken.
Key words: community
forestry, poverty reduction, Terai,
benefit-sharing, forest policy |
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Conceptualising Meso-Level
Governance in the Management of Commons:
Lessons from Nepal's Community Forestry
-Mani Ram
Banjade, Naya Sharma Paudel, Hemant
Ojha, Cynthya McDougall and Ravi Prabhu
(Page
: 48-58) |
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Abstract:
Most
of the literature on common property
resources is focused either on understanding
interaction among users or on the
macro-level policy issues that shape
the management of the commons. However
little is understood on the role played
by the meso-level actors, institutions
and processes in shaping the social
and environmental outcomes of the
commons. Based on the learning and
reflections from an ‘adaptive
collaborative management’ research
project implemented in community forestry
in five districts of Nepal, the paper:
a) conceptualises meso-level governance
as the level between micro (community
forest user groups- CFUGs) level management
and macro (national) level policy
processes which plays key roles in
policy interpretation and feedback,
material and technical support, including
help to develop linkage with the market
and other opportunities, conflicts
management, and introduction of new
idea and discourses; b) describes
how meso-level actors and processes
can better respond to the increased
demands of CFUGs for diversified expertise
and resources; and c) shares action
research insights on facilitating
reflexive learning processes among
meso-level stakeholders that could
enhance community forestry outcomes.
Key
words: community forestry,
meso-level, commons, governance, adaptive
collaborative management
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Advocacy
Campaign to Improve Governance in
Community Forestry: A Case from Western
Nepal
-Popular
Gentle, Krishna Prasad Acharya and
Ganga Ram Dahal
(Page
: 59-69)
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Abstract:
Nepal’s
community forestry (CF) programme
is regarded as a successful example
of decentralization in natural resource
management that fulfils people’s
forest product needs and enhances
environmental sustainability. However,
emerging evidence indicate that community
forest user groups (CFUGs) - key institutions
in managing community forests - are
institutionally weak in ensuring good
governance and equitable management
of resources. CFUGs have been facing
a major challenge of addressing issues
of accountability, transparency, predictability
and equity in CF. This paper is based
on the findings from five CFUGs which
are implementing governance strengthening
programme by increasing women’s
participation and capacitating civil
society organisations (CSOs) for advocacy.
It describes the processes and activities
in improving the CFUG governance.
It also highlights the changes observed
in those groups which include increased
accountability, funds for pro-poor
activities, improved transparency
in decision making and increased participation
of marginalised groups.
Key
words: community forestry,
governance, equity, poverty, Nepal |
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Challenges
to Participation: Lessons from Participatory
Action Research with Community Forest
User Groups in Nepal
-Krishna
Paudel, Kate Green, Hemant Ojha and
Richard Barnes
(Page
: 70-78) |
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Abstract:
Participatory
approach to development is being increasingly
tempered with criticisms that points
out failure to address deeper issues
of power relations. This article examines
the challenges of participatory approaches
to natural resource management drawing
lessons from a participatory action
research (PAR) with community forest
user groups (CFUGs) in Nepal. Evidences
show that the PAR process was effective
in addressing the socio-political
as well as institutional constraints
at the CFUG level. Several positive
livelihood impacts were also noted
as a result of applying the process,
although the exact nature of these
impacts varied between the research
sites. Some major steps of the PAR
process were found to be effective
and therefore were adapted by CFUGs
both in the research sites and beyond.
Key
words: participatory action
research, community forestry, participation,
adaptation, monitoring
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