Community Forest Management in Nepalby | 01-01-2013 16:13 |
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There are so many programs launched in forestry sector of Nepal among which community forestry has given the highest priority and accordingly gaining the momentum by CF handover process because of its multiple dimensions and benefits. With an !--object--ive of reducing the poverty( as a global issue) of local people by promoting the traditional forest users to make right decision for the protection, conservation and maintenance of forest cover and sustainable and equitable distribution of forest resources, concept of CF has been embraced in Nepal. In the present Nepal where everyone talks about decentralization in administration level of nation, CF is a good example of decentralization in the resource management and distribution which has been practicing for more than 30 years in the country promoting people?s participation in the forest resource development. As a benefit, local people fulfill their daily need from the CF and develop policies for the forest protection as well. The people obtains timber, herbs, forage, fodder, litter leaf for making compost fertilizer and also helps to reduce the pressure on government managed forest. It is said that after the inception of CF in Nepal increased supply of forest product is noticed. In Nepal so many positive changes has also been seen for the restoration of degraded land into the greenery and in the present context it is helpful for the development of green corridor(greenbelt) for the movement of wildlife, which is a hot issue in the environment and wildlife sector. So we can easily say that CF is important for biodiversity conservation, maintenance of landscape value, satisfaction of people?s needs from forest, environment improvement in rural as well as mid hill areas of country. Finally we can also conclude that this CF program is able to check brain drain and to reduce the poverty of fragile nations like Nepal where most of the population is heavily dependent on agriculture and forest resource. Since the inception, it is also supporting the income generation activities of people by promoting forest based enterprises and cottage industries. 61% of forest area is potential for CF and till now the above mentioned land cover represents about 35% of forest area of the country. Thus, CF in Nepal was initiated in 1978 to promote community based forest management system to fulfill the fundamental need of forest products thus reducing environmental degradation. |