Conflict Management of Community Forests(A Comparative Study of Malingeni, Hukkafore, Patlechaur and Juke Saplangecommunityforest of Tehrathum District)

Abstract

This is the study of conflicts issues and their adopted methods of managementbetween different stakeholders of Malengeni, Hukkafore, Patlechaur and JukeSaplange community forests of Tehrathum district. The main objectives of the study are:to find out the conflicts of forests, to explorethe causes and consequences ofconflicts, tocompare the level of conflicts andtoassess the methods of conflict management. Thisstudy is based on mainly primary data and partially on the secondary data. Primary data was collected in July 2006 from 100 respondents in total with keyinformants. Questionnaire, interview and checklist were the main tools of the study. Limbu, Rai, ChhetriandGurung were the major user castes ofcommunity forestsand they all were from Kirat (Rai and Limbu), Hindu and Buddha Religionrespectively.On average their educational status, income status and landholdingsizeare low but their family size is very high because their average family size is7.26, which ishigher than national average family size(5.44). This is an exploratory and descriptive research study conducted among a totalof100 respondents from four community forests and theserespondentswere selectedby adopting a systematic random sampling method. Research showed that becauseof lack of leadership qualityandlow educational attainment ofthe users,variousissues relating to the transparency, formation of the executive committee,distribution of theforest products and forest boundary.These issues have adverseeffects onrelationship amongthe user members. However, the users’ groupswere adoptingvariousmethodsto manage the conflictse.g. Compromise, negotiation, consensus, discussion andpublic auditing.. One ofthe conflictissuesi.e.forest product distribution in Juke Saplange community foresthas been resolved through Negotiation and compromise, which is the worthreplicable to all community forests that are facing conflicts.