Women's Status on Decision Makingprocess in Community Forestry

Abstract

Other the past years Forest is the most essential natural resources of rural livelihood,especially rural people are attached to forest from the birth to death. In addition, forthe proper protection of the forest it shouldhandover the nearest group of peoplewhich is generally known as community forest. The empowerment of women and their involvement on decision making process is veryimportant and also it has been the burning issue in the present context. Womenrepresentation in the CF executive committee is the urgent necessary to protect the CFand they must involve in decision making process. Women are the main stakeholders offorest and thy do not have wide access on decision making. So, an active participationis one of the important indicators for finding out the women’s status which effect ondecision making. This may be one of the key elements of women empowerment anddevelopment. The study is carried out in community forest of Dharampani VDC of Pyuthan districtwhich is situated in the mid-western region of Nepal.Field study, observation andquestionnaire, focus group discussion, interaction, meetings were conducted to knowabout the women status on decision making process. Community forestry has developed at platform for leadership development of manyrural women, which supports to increase women participation in the decision makingprocess. It does not mean only women should be prioritizes and male should be lessemphasis. Both jointdecision making process support to achieve the good practices ofdecision making and empowerment of men and womenequally. Ifso, women status ondecision making process will be strong and development also will be sustainable ruraldevelopment of each sector including community forest