| Author | Chand, Ramesh Bahadur |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-03-07 |
| Subject(s) | Community forests--Nepal
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-03-07 |
| Abstract | The study examines the implementation status of community forest Operational Plan in the Kailali district, Terai region of Far western development region of Nepal. Based on the analysis of primary and secondary data, the study looks whether the stated approved Operational Plan are being in actual practice or ignored by forest user group and to identify variation factors related it and to recommend OP implementation in the region. Both the qualitative and quantitative data were used to find out the result. Primary data were collected from household survey and secondary data were collected from CFUG operational plans, FUGC records and key informants. Three FUGs were selected for case study and at least 31 households were selected for household interview. Findings of the study expected to help the FUGs, DFOs and other concerned stakeholders to plan and implement the CF program in the Terai district of Nepal. The study shows that there is difference between approved Operational Plan and its implementation and is influenced by the socioeconomic, biophysical and institutional factors. Also the level of Operational Plan implementation depends upon the users education, participation, knowledge about rules and regulation, functioning of forest user group committee, sharing and communication about mandatory rules on the guidelines and actual practice, quality of service of field staff during the preparation and implementation of Operational Plan, follow-up activities, awareness and support program. Similarly, effective Operational Plan implementation is affected by the income status, landholding and alternative source of energy. Analysis of primary data collected from plots reflected that there is a variation in Operational Plan implementation of forest user groups between the stated prescription and in actual practice in the formation phase. Community forestry is equally feasible and has an equally important role in the Terai as in the hills of Nepal. However, in the Terai, the conditions are different due to the population density and composition, rapid population growth and the presence of natural forests of high value. Due to the population density and rapid population growth, demand of forest resources increasing highly. Consequently forestland degraded through high extraction of forest products from community forest in compared to the approved Operational Plan. Secondly the size of forest handed over to forest user groups is too small in comparison of population is directly related to the degradation of community forest. So, there is utmost need to refine the Operational Plan to focus about the sustainable harvesting of forest resources from the community forests. The study indicates that there is not adequate skill, technology and awareness among the users. Forest user groups are not using their income to develop their skill and consequently they are compelled to make clapping on agendas without any agenda for sustainable forest management. Though, users are positive towards their role in the better forest management under community forest user group, but they need some external assistance to develop their capability to improve the Operational Plan. |
| Year | 2003 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-03-07 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Schmidt-Vogt, Dietrich; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh Prasad;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Government of Denmark (DANIDA); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2003 |