POLICY AND PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCE USES

(A Sociological Study of Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forestry Maidi-8, Dhading)

A Dissertation Submitted to:

The Department of Sociology/Anthropology
Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus
Exhibition Road, Kathmandu

In the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the course of

Thesis writing of Master of Arts in Sociology.

Submitted by
Sontosh Sharma
T.U. Reg. No. 6-2-327-806-2002
Symbol No. 400420/066
2070
 ABSTRACT

POLICY ANDD PRACTICES OF COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCE USES

(A Sociological study of Dhalphu Lamatar Community forestry Maidi 8 Dhading)

Abstract Approved by: -

----------------------------
Mr. Ram Hari Dhakal
(Supervisor)

Community Forest User Groups (CFUG) and other participating stakeholders in the development

of community forestry is an important case for participatory environmental governance. It

encompasses well-defined policies, institutions, and practices for the sustainable forest

management. The processes of community forestry have not only enabled the people to manage

the forest, natural environment and biodiversity but also prepared them to exercise social

inclusion and democratic governance at local level. The major issues incorporated in this study is

a sustainable livelihood management of the community forestry through a detailed assessment of

a case study in Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forest User Group ( DLCFUG). Similarly, the study

also assessed how the CFUG- based national and local level policies are being practiced in the

sense of social justice. Social justice and forest resource distribution system linked in the

locality, and whether the community forest is sustaining the livelihood of the community. As

more than 70 percent of Nepal’s population depends on agriculture for their livelihood,

community management of forests has been a critically important intervention. The program has

evolved from a protection-oriented, conservation-focused agenda to a much more broad-based

strategy for sustainable forest use, enterprise development, and livelihood improvement.

Community forestry shows traits of political, financial, and ecological sustainability, including
emergence of a strong legal and regulatory framework, and robust civil society institutions and

networks. However, a continuing challenge is to ensure equitable distribution of benefits to

women and marginalized groups.

Keywords: Nepal, Community Forestry, DLCFUG, Livelihoods, Biodiversity, Social Justice,

Marginalized Group.

Sontosh Sharma
 COPY RIGHT

© By Sontosh Sharma
Date 2013
All rights reserved
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that this dissertation has not been submitted for the candidature for any other

degree.

Sontosh Sharma
01/09/2013
 Tribhuvan University

Department of Sociology/Anthropology

Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus

Exhibition Road, Kathmandu.

LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION

This is to certify that Mr. Sontosh Sharma has prepared this dissertation entitled
“POLICY AND PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCE USES" under my
guidance and supervision in the partial fulfilment of the requirements of the course of (SA 508)
Thesis writing of Master in Arts in Sociology/Anthropology. Therefore, this dissertation report is
recommended for its evaluation.

----------------------------
Mr. Ram Hari Dahal

(Dissertation Supervisor

Date: 01/09/2013
 Tribhuvan University

Department of Sociology/Anthropology

Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus

Exhibition Road, Kathmandu

LETTER OF APPROVAL

A dissertation entitled (POLICY AND PRACTICES IN COMMUNITY FOREST RESOURCE

USES) A Sociological Study of Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forestry Maidi-8, Dhading has been

submitted by Sontosh Sharma in the partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master

in Arts in Sociology/ Anthropology of Humanities and social Science.

APPROVED BY.

----------------------------
Mr. Ram Hari Dahal
Dissertation/Supervisor

-----------------------------
Pramesh Pokharel
(External Examiner)

-----------------------------
Mr. Ram Prasad Poudyal
(Head of the Department)

I understand that my dissertations will become a part of the permanent collection of

Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus Library. My signature below authorizes release of my dissertation to

any trader upon request for any scholarly purposes.

Sontosh Sharma
01/09/2013

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I am sincerely grateful to all the individual and organisations that help me during study period. I

would like to express my most sincere gratitude to my research supervisor Mr. Ram Hari Dhakal,

Department of Sociology/ Anthropology R.R.Collage, for his excellent guidance, supervision

and invaluable suggestion. I would like to express my thanks to Mr. Ram Prasad Poudyal,

Department of head for his kind support.

I am grateful to the resident of the study area especially to the Forest User Group Members of

Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forest of Maidi-8 Dhading. Pay thanks to all the respondents for

their support and co-operation. I would like to thanks Mr Dev Shrestha of Maidi-8 and member

of Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forest User Group, for his co-ordination and facilitation during

field work

Likewise, I am very thankful to everyone, who has directly or indirectly associated with this

study and assisted me to make this endeavour a success, especially to my Brother Mr Binod

Sharma for the support in various ways encouraging me to pursue the academic work.

I am grateful to my parents and other family members for their support and encouragement for

my achievements.

Sontosh Sharma
01/09/2013
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page No.

Abstract i

Copyright iii

Dedication iv

Letter of recommendation v

Letter of approval vi

Acknowledgement vii

Table of content viii

List of table xi

List of figures xi

Abbreviations xii

CHAPTER-I: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 4

1.3 Rational of the study 5

1.4 Purpose of the study 5

1.5 Conceptual framework 6

CHAPTER-II: LITERATURE REVIEW 7

2.1 Sociological engagement on forest policy 7

2.2 Forest policy in Nepal 8

2.3 Emperical studies of community forestry in Nepal 10

2.4. Forest policy and practice 13

CHAPTER- III: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 19

3.1 Introduction 19

3.2 Description of the study site 19

3.3 Study framework 20

3.4 Data collection 21

3.5 Nature and source of data 21

3.6 Sampling procedure 21

3.7 Data collection technique 22

3.8 Primary data collection 22

3.8.1 Focused group discussion 22

3.8.2 Observation 23

3.8.3 Questionnaire 23

3.8.4 Interview 23

3.9 Secondary data 23

3.10 Data analysis 24

3.11 Limitation of study 24

CHAPTER- IV:DATA ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION 25

4.1 Demographic characteristic of Maidi VDC of Dhading District 25

4.1.1 Introduction of Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forest User Group 26

4.1.2 Population status of sample household 26

4.1.3 Ethnic composition of DLCFUG 27

4.1.4 Ethnic composition of DLCFUG's HHs 28

4.1.5 Educational status of population involved in DLCFUG 29

 4.1.6 Ethnic composition of sample respondents 30

4.1.7 Distribution of respondents by sex 31

4.1.8 Age composition of the respondents 32

4.2 Composition of respondents 33

4.2.1 Natural capital 33

4.2.2 Financial capital 35

4.2.2.1 Household income 35

4.2.2.2 Livestock holding in sampled FUGs 36

4.2.3 Well bieng ranking 37

4.2.4 Physical capital 38

4.2.4.1 Access to drinking water 38

4.2.4.2 Access to education 39

4.2.2.3 Occupational composition of sampled HHs 39

4.2.5 Social capital 40

4.2.6 Human capital 41

4.2.6.1 Trainings, workshops and opportunities 41

CHAPTER -V: RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION IN DHALPU LAMATAR COMMUNITY

FOREST USER GROUP 42

5.1 Forest resources in Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forest 42

5.2 Damand for forest producs in DLCFUG 44

5.3 Consumption of forest products from DLCF 46

5.4 Distribution of community forestry benefit on different wealth

category (monetary terms) 47

CHAPTER -VI: POLICY PRACTICES AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 50

6.1 Policy and practices 50

6.2 Process to executives committee formation 50

6.3 Participation 51

6.3.1 Participation in general assembly by sex 51

6.3.2 Participation in general assembly by cast 52

6.3.3 Participation in general assembly by wealth class 54

6.4 Participation in executive committee 54

6.4.1 Ethnic group in the executive committee 55

6.4.2 Representation of women in the executive committee 55

6.4.3 Participaiton in the executive committee according

to the wealth class 56

6.5 Decision making practice 57

6.5.1 Decision making areas 58

6.5.2 Mode of decision making 59

6.5.3 Discission on household level 59

6.5.4 Role of individual member 60

6.5.5 Silvicultural operaiton and product collection system 61

6.5.6 FUGC re-formation 62

6.6 Fund collection and mobilization 62

6.7 Social justice 64

6.7.1 Representation of cast/ethnicity in executive committee 65

6.7.2 DLCFUG in community development 67

 6.7.2.1 Road construction 67

6.7.2.2 Drinking water 67

6.7.2.3 School buildings 68

CHAPTER -VII: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATION 69

7.1 Summary 69

7.2 Conclusion 70

7.3 Implication 71
REFERENCE 72

APPENDICES 76

ANNEX 1 - Interview Schedule 76

ANNEX 2 - Questionnaire for Executive Committee 82

ANNEX 3 - Location Map of Dhading District 84

 LIST OF TABLES

Table Page No.

1: General information of Maidi VDC of Dhading district 24

2: Population Status of Sampled Household 25
3: Ethnic Composition of the Sampled Population in DLCFUGs 26
4: Ethnic Composition of DLCFUG’s HHs 27
5: Educational status of the DLCFUG population 29
6: Distribution of Respondents by Sex 30
7: Age Composition of the Respondent 30
8: Land Holding of the Respondents 32
9: Major sources of Annual Income (cash) in Sampled HHs 33
10: Livestock Holding in the Sampled CFUG 34
11: Well-being ranking of the sampled HH. 34
12: Access to drinking water for the respondents 35
13: Educational status of sampled HH 36
14: Major Occupational Status of Sampled HHs 37
15 : Annual forest products collection from DLCFUG. (in FY 2068/69) 41
16: Annual demand of forest product in DLCFUG (In FY 2068/69) 43
17: consumption of forest products from DLCF 44
18: Impact of CF benefit on different wealth categories (monetary terms) 45
19: Participation in General Assembly by Sex 49
20: HH Number in GA by caste (FY 2068/69S) 51
21: Participation in General Assembly by the Wealth - Class 52
23: Fund Collection and Mobilization 60
24: Involvement of Male / Female in Forest Product Collection 61
25: Representation of Caste / Ethnicity in the EC 63
 LIST OF FIGURES (CHART)

Figure Page No.

1: Policy and Practices in Community Forestry. 17

2: Ethnic Composition of DLCFUGs 27
3: Ethnic Composition of DLCFUG’s HHs 28
4: Distribution of Respondents by Sex 30
5: Age Composition of the Respondent 31
6: Distribution of land holding size of respondent HH 32
7: Distribution of Major Occupational Status of Sampled HHs 37
8: Annual Demand of Forest Product in DLCFUG 43
9: consumption of forest products from DLCF 45
10: Distribution of CF benefit on the different wealth categories monetary terms) 46
11: Presence of the Male and Female in Last General Assembly (Fy 2068/69) 50
12: Participation in General Assembly by Cast / Ethnicity group individually 51
13: Representation of the Ethnic Group in Executive Committee 53
14: Representation of Women in the Executive Committee 54
15: Representation of the CFUG Members in Executive Committee According to Wealth Class.
55
17: Involvement of Male / Female in Forest Product Collection 62
 ABREVIATIONS

CF : Community Forestry

CFD : Community Forest Department

CFM : Community Forestry Management

CFP : Community Forest Product

CFUG : Community Forestry User Group

CP : Common Property

CPR : Common Property Resources

CPRM : Common Property Resource Management

CPRs : Common Pool Recourses

CF : Cubic Feet

DFO : District Forest Office

DLCF : Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forest

DLCFUG : Dhalpu Lamatar Community Forestry User Group

EC : Executive Committee

FOCF-UGN : Federation of Community Forestry User Group of Nepal

FGD : Focused Group Discussion

FPC : Forest Product Consumption

FUG : Forest User Group

FY : Fiscal Year

GA : General Assembly

HA : Hectors

Hh : Household
HL : Head Load

HP : Health Post

ICIMOD : International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development

IFDA : International Forest Development Association

IGAs : Income Generating Activities

INGOs : International non Governmental Organizations

KG : Kilogram

MoFSC : Ministry of Forestry as Soil Conservation

NGO : Non-Governmental Organizations

NPC : National Planning Commission

NR : Natural Resources

NRs : Nepalese Rupee

NTFP : Non – Timber Forest Products

OP : Operational Plan

PHC : Primary Health Centre

SHP : Sub – Health Post

Sq. Km : Square Kilometre

UG : User Group

VDC : Village Development Committee