An Assessment of Good Governance in Community Forest User Group's (A Case Study of Gorkha District Nepal)

Abstract

Nepal’s Community Forestry is among the most widely known initiative in common pool resources management. During its 25 years of implementation, over one million hectares of forest land has been handed over to 14500 forest user groups for management till mid-May, 2008. Community forestry is considered one of the most successful development programs in Nepal and enjoys international recognition. The main reason for this success is its people-centered approach. Community Forestry User Groups (CFUGs) are the locally authorized institution to lead community forestry into success.

As with other institutions, good governance is crucial in CFUGs to fight with the governance-related issues like elite domination, low transparency, and accountability, low participation especially of the women, dalits and poor users. These issues eventually affect sound forest management and livelihood prospects of forest users. So, with a view to find out the status of good governance in CFUGs of Gorkha District of Nepal, this study has focused on good governance within CFUGs in four major dimensions: transparency, participation, accountability and predictability.

The empirical data for this study was collected from seven CFUGs of Jaubari VDC, Shreenathkot VDC, Gankhu VDC, Prithivi Narayan Municipality, Dhuwakot VDC, Palungtar VDC and Warpak VDC of Gorkha district. The CFUGs were selected according to stratified random sampling method. Focus group discussion, key informant interview and direct observation were the methods used for Data collection.

Major findings of the study are: CFUGs have been able to maintain good stage of participation and transparency having 68.85% 58.03% score respectively. However, proportionate representation in EC, inclusive participation in decision making is still lacking. Only the 42.41% of the user members are found to be accountable to their duties, function and rules and regulations. Equitable distribution of resources and poor focused program found to be weak. Predictability of the CFUGs in the study site is found to be at poor stage having 44.63% score. All the CFUGs have good network with their federation but co-ordination, linkages and human resource development system found weak. In overall, the community forestry user groups have been able to maintain 53.23% good governance in the study sites. Moreover it can be generalized that the CFUGS in Gorkha district are marching towards the path of attaining good governance capabilities.

In order to achieve the highest level of good governance, it will require a concerted effort of program interventions, additional research, and internal and external policy changes by CFUGs, District Forest Office and other key stakeholders at all level.