User-participation and Benefit-sharing in Community Forestry Around Sunpur in Dang District, Nepal

Abstract

Nepal is very rich in terms of forest resources and biodiversity. A broad range of ecosystems flourishes in relatively small area of land in Nepal. The forest resources have made a significant contribution to economic and social development of the country. Besides, forests are indispensable as a life support system for women and men in the Inner Terai, Hills, and Mountains, where agriculture, livestock and vegetation influence the ecology of the area and the lives of the local population in Nepal. The general objective of the study was to identify and analyze the User-participation and Benefit-sharing in Community Forestry around Sunpur in Dang, Nepal. The study area is located in the mid-western development region of Nepal. Field survey and review methods were used to collect the data. The household heads were selected through a two-stage sampling method. A Range Post (RP) was selected purposively having at least ten numbers of community forests handed over before 2054 B.S. From the list of households for the selected RP, household heads were then selected randomly. The study has used both primary and secondary data. FUG members were the source of primary data. FUGs’ approved OPs, minutes of the meeting, and progress reports were also used as sources of data. Information related to the FUGs gathered from DFO’s official records, DDC, VDCs, published reports, maps and statistics served as sources of secondary data. Information related to the FUGs gathered from DFO's official records, DDC, VDCs, published reports, maps and statistics served as sources of secondary data. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentage, averages, and ranges are used to describe the findings of the study. The computer based Excel program is used to analyze the data. Based on the results of the study, conclusions have been drawn and sets of recommendations for planning and further research have been presented. The conclusion of the study is that CF could not include the wider mass in forming stage and preparation of the OP plan. The participation is good in implementation of rules and regulation for the protection of CF; participation in meeting and decision-making process, but this is only for fulfilling the requirement but not for the development of CF. Poor could not take the advantages from the CF due to the elite biased activities of the CF and CFUC. The fund of the CF is also not mobilized for the welfare of the poor and income generating activities, which is extremely demanded by the users.