Community Based Forestry Promoting Social Solidarity Economy in Nepal Bhola Bhattarai Chairman, National Forum for Advocacy, Nepal (NAFAN) Founder Member, Social Solidarity Economy Network (SSEN), Nepal nafannepal8@gmail.com October 16, 2013 Manila, Phillipines
Contents Forest Management in Nepal CBFMs status, prac6ces and approaches Features of FUGs CBFMs towards Social Enterprises Pro poor enterprise in CBFMs Major achievements of FUGs Contribu6on of NTFPs Issues and Challenges Recommenda6ons
Status of CBFM (Community forestry, Collaborative forest, Leasehold forest etc.) Total Area of Nepal 14.7 million ha Total Forest Area 29% (5.5 million ha) Potential Community Based Forest Area Total Area of Community based Forestry handed over 61% 33% (1.8 m ha) Total No of FUGs Coverage HH 20,000 40%
CBFM POLICY AND PRACTICE CBFM for local basic need supply and biodiversity conservation CBFM for employment generation and livelihood development CBFM- a Journey to SSE leading to Green Economy
Major Achievements of CBFMs Regenerated forest the condi6on of forests have improved to the large extent Increased produc6on of forest products 10.9 mill.cl of 6mber, 338 mill.kg of firewood and 379 mill.kg of grasses annually produced from CF Fulfilled subsistence need of users - 8 mill.cl of 6mber, 335 mill.kg of firewood and 370 mill.kg of grasses from CF used by users
Contd Supported livelihood promo6on of the poor - Rs.12.6 mill. from FUG fund spent for pro- poor community based forestry Increased access to forest for the poor Forest land allocated for the poor for income genera6on Community development Rs. 165 mill. from FUG fund spent on community development works
Contd Increased par6cipa6on - 2.5 mill.person day voluntary labor contribu6on of users in various community development ac6vi6es. Established networks - Network of user groups established at range post level, district level and na6onal level, which also work as pressure group in order to promote good governance Increased par6cipa6on of women, poor and other minority groups - women par6cipa6on is 25 percent and 1100+ CFUGs are operated by only women Strengthened capacity at local level- user groups and commiyee have received many kind of training including forest management, gender equity, record keeping
Terai forest No of CFM- 19 District = 12 Area Handed over 54072 ha HH coverage 476732 (0.47 m.) Popula6on 3321738 (3.3 M) Es6mated Revenue Nrs. (per year) 91,65,33,850 (9.5 m. USD) Es6mated cost (per year) 15,99,91,649 (1.7 m. USD) Employment genera6on (per Year) 482712 (man days) Source; DOF 2013
NTFPs contribu6on/poten6ality More than 700 medicinal plants available in Nepal Mostly occurred in remote rural village where the poverty is severe 165 NTFPs are used to collect for commercial purpose Different studies shows that 10-20 thousands metric tons collected and sold mostly in India without processing Government collect nearly 4.5 crores Nepalese rupees as revenue per annum.
FederaJons and their strictures National Federation Sub Com Sub Com Secretariat Sub Com Sub Com District Federations Periodic Assemblies Range Post Federation Village / Municipality Federation FUG FUG FUG FUG FUG FUG
Issues and Challenges Ownership and Management right of the resources Resource Assessment Legal and technical shortcomings Lack of financial resources Technology Transforma6on Market access and Transparent informa6on system Quality Control
RECOMMENDATION It seems that additional capacity enhancement is required to attract forest groups in cooperatives based business. Broad social mobilization is essential to create a business environment at group level. Planning is indispensable to set up enterprise and to supply raw materials amending management plans of the groups in forest management. It also seems necessary to create an atmosphere for the groups to use their own investment extending the relation with various cooperatives and business sector. Goods and services should be sold, with the expansion of the relationship of forest groups with other socially accountable business. It also seems essential to make a network for community friendly policies and programs and to make an initiative for policy advocacy.
Glimpse of photos monitoring Government manage,1978 Mude, Dolakha People manage after 22 years(2000)
photo Forests in Nepal's hills : Landscape before and after community forestry in 1978] Namdu, Nepal in 2005
People manage after 19 years, 2000 Government manage, 1985 Namdu Dolakha
Community forestry brought green back: Nepal s hills in 1970s Message people can protect and manage forest better way
Thank You! nafannepal8@gmail.com