The Role of Community Forestry in Socio-Economic Development (A Study of Shiva Community Forest, Kawasoti, Nawalparasi)

Abstract

The study 'The Role of Community Forestry in Socio-Economic Development' has been carried out using primary source of data collected from Shiva Community Forest User Groups, Kawasoti, Nawalparasi District, where included 40 respondents. The objectives of the study are as follows: i. To examine the socio economic condition of study area. ii. To analyze the benefits derived by the user group from the community forestry. iii. To examine the management system and utilization of community forest resource in the study area. Percent, distribution, frequency tables and cross tables are used to describe the role of community forestry in socio-economic development. The Shiva community forest was found such as facility of to be playing a very crucial role for the betterment of poor and deprived group of people by implementing different kinds of poverty reduction programme such as facility of loan, timber with out charge, timber for natural disaster affected population, job for the poorest family etc. The user group is also doing different activities in terms of improving fertility of land conservation of forest for healthy environment, bio gas programme for the conservation of forest and women's heath as well as generating the income of the people through livestock rearing. The SCFUG is also spending its fund for soil conservation, bridge construction, plantation etc. The people are being benefited by the SCFUG in two ways; on the one hand, they are receiving different facilities such as sustainable collection of forest products different forest products in nominal and discount rate. On the other hand less time consumption in forest products collection, healthy environment, social integrity, people's consciousness etc.