Contribution of Forestry to Poverty Alleviation - APFNet

A hanging foot bridge constructed using income generated by a CFUG
exercise exclusive rights to use and manage these forests and strictly prohibit outsiders from access,
though there is no legal base for said prohibition.
There are many such forests particularly in the hills above 1,500 masl where control and management
of forests by the DOF is weak. A study conducted in the mountains of Nepal in 2003 showed that
there were four traditionally managed forests with 26 households each in hills above 1,500 masl
and two traditionally managed forests with 65 households each in the lower elevation zone (below
1,500 masl) in three village development committee areas (Pandit 2003). On average, each VDC
in the middle hills of Nepal has one such traditional forest. The proportion of traditional forests to
community forests in the upper elevation was estimated at more than 10% and in the lower elevation,
which cover almost 5% of the total forest area. Comparing this figure to the national average of
community forests, there are 1,125 traditional forests managed by local communities without DFO
intervention (Ibid.). Only those claiming such forests have the rights to use and manage these forests.
As users are not concerned about the conservation of forest resources, the members of the households
have free access to the resources and may collect as much as they can. Therefore, forest degradation
is relatively higher compared to that in community forests (Ibid.). The contribution of traditional
forests to the household economy cannot be directly interpreted because of lack of data, but local
people are able to meet their subsistence needs.
Allocation of tenure over forest resources
Many agencies and projects in Nepal are involved in supporting CFs and LFs for the sustainable use
and management of forest resources and achievement of the GoN’s poverty reduction goals, which are
consistent with the MDGs. These include the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations,
Nepal Swiss Community Forestry Project, Livelihood and Forestry Program of UK Department of
International Development, Leasehold Forestry and Livestock Program of the Government of Nepal,
and Western Upland Poverty Alleviation Program.
The government implemented the Hills Leasehold Forestry and Forage Development Project (HLFFDP)
from 1992 to 2003 in 10 districts of the country, with funding support from the International Fund
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Bishnu Hari Pandit