Women’s Participation in Community Forest Management and Use:A Case Study of Bhaktpur District, Nepal
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Central Department of Rural Development
Abstract
Forest plays an important role in our daily lives and clearly. It is one ofthe country's most important national resources. Nepalese economybased on agriculture and livestock farming is greatly dependent on forestresources so in this dissertation, one of the most important to promotewomen's empowerment awareness.
The objectives of the Study was to describe the activities and tasks, of thewomen committee, women's role in utilization of forest resources andmanagement decision making to determine the factors of women'sparticipation in community forest and to describe the present condition ofcommunity forest committee and its management.
Applying the purposive sampling technique essential information hasbeen collected from five VDCs of Bhaktapur District. Semi-structuralquestionnaire, discussionwith key informants, participation observationand secondary sources of data also has been used for collection data tomeet the objectives the study.
The life of people especially in the out of municipalities areas is totallydependent upon forest resources. Firewood, timber, fodder leaf litters,which form the vital needs for the forming as well as cattle rearingactivities in the out of municipality's area. In fact there has been a veryintimate linkage between agricultural activities and forest resources.
For good management of community forest, independent and dependentvariables play vital roles. Independent variables such as size of usergroup, participation of women, size of forest, social and cultural normshave been analyzed for showing the relationship with dependentvariables. In the research the dependent variables is Women'sparticipation and collective group. The relationship between independentvariables and dependent variables has been found positive relationshipfor good management of community forest.
Many women think that as they are uneducated, the presence in thecommunity meeting and assembly is unless this hesitation has alsocontributed in making women's participation low. The absence ofobligatory rules (expect for the quota requirement of women in thecommittee) is also a factor that has not promoted the women'sparticipation in CF activities. Women always been relegated to asecondary status due to countries of male domination in the society. Thishas also become a hindrance to women's participation in CF activities.
Out of total population of the study area, there was9% illiterate women'sparticipation. Male participation in executive committee was 89% andfemale participation in executive committee was 11%. The monitoring ofCFwas satisfied. They social composition of the study population ismixed.
Due to gender's work differences and interests within the same productsin the society, it has been necessary to address gender issues. Withoutaddressing gender issues in the planand program, it is very difficult tolaunch development strategy for the upliftment of the society. Lack ofawareness among the women themselves and insufficient awarenessprogram by the donor's agencies and the government to involve women inCF management has also hindered women's participation in CFactivities. Social and cultural practices, customs and traditions are thegreatest factor that restricts women's mobility. Many families disapproveof their women going away from home to participate in CF activities,training and work.The dissertant noted that women's participation means to promotewomen's involvement in the programme, mentally, physically andeconomically for their common welfare.
Two type of Recommendation are given end of the study chapter nine.