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forests (1.219 mio ha) is handed over to the groups which covers about
38 percent of the rural popula� on (1.647 mio families). There are about
52,000 grassroots women leaders (1/3rd posi� on in the CFUG commi� ees)
and 5000 women leaders in various chapters in CFUG federa� ons (½ of the
leadership posi� ons are reserved for women at village, sub district, district
and na� onal level federa� ons). As a result of inclusive structure and local
democra� cs processes, Nepal's community forestry programme signifi cantly
contribute to social and human development, community infrastructure and
addresses, to some extent, poverty and equity issues by mobilizing natural
and human resources. It is discovered that many groups are able to deliver
16 various types of services at rural areas which are under the domain of
various ministries beyond the mandate of forest ministry and department
(see Box below).
CFUGs deliver at least 16 types of services to their members
Local democracy and economy - Local level par� cipatory decision
making, elec� on of commi� ees, judiciary, supply of forest products, public
audi� ng; communica� on and extension, micro- fi nance, coopera� ve
Natural Resource Management - forest, agriculture, environment,
eco-tourism, and land management
Physical infrastructure, human and social development - community
building, community utensils, transport – road, trail and bridge, irriga� on
channel, pond, electricity, toilet and sanita� on, water mill, telephone
lines and poles, improved stove, health facili� es and humanitarian
assistance, temple, drinking water, educa� on – school building, teachers'
salary, furniture and women empowerment
Source: Pokharel et. al. (2008)
Studies show that quality of community forests has increased as evident
from improvement in landscape and biodiversity (Branney and Yadav, 1998;
Gautam et. al., 2002; DOF, 2005; Kandel and Neupane, 2007; Nagendra
et. al., 2008; Luitel et. al., 2009; Pokharel and Mahat, 2009). Community
Forest User groups have become the vehicle to reach to the poorest and
disadvantaged households to enhance their livelihoods assets (see Box
below).
Changing paradigms of aid eff ec� veness in Nepal 119