The Role of Forest Communities in the Forest Tenure Reform

Process- Learning from Nepal

Forest Tenure, Governance and EnterpriseForest Tenure, Governance and EnterpriseNew Opportunities for Central & West AfricaNew Opportunities for Central & West Africa

YaoundeYaounde -- Mont Mont FebeFebe, May 25 , May 25 –– 29, 200929, 2009

GhanGhan ShyamShyam PandeyPandeyBharatiBharati KumriKumri PathakPathak

Federation Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN)Federation Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN)Global Alliance of Community Forestry (GACF)Global Alliance of Community Forestry (GACF)

Forest Forest TenureshipTenureship

Private sectorPrivate sector

Local Community and Indigenous

Local Community and Indigenous

Government Government

Local Community and Indigenous

(CSO)

Local Community and Indigenous

(CSO)

Experience from NepalExperience from Nepal

Nationalization of Forest in BS 2013Nationalization of Forest in BS 2013Establish and strengthening the Forest Establish and strengthening the Forest Department (Most Powerful)Department (Most Powerful)Establishment of Government owned Establishment of Government owned companycompany-- Timber corporation of Nepal Timber corporation of Nepal No peoples participationsNo peoples participationsLocal Peoples were the blamed as Local Peoples were the blamed as encroachers of forest encroachers of forest

ResultResult2.2 millions forest areas destroyed 2.2 millions forest areas destroyed Deforestation rate Deforestation rate –– 10.6 %10.6 %Highly politicize and corruptionHighly politicize and corruptionGovernment and Forest Department were Government and Forest Department were completely failure to protect the Forestcompletely failure to protect the ForestLocal people are evicted and got many troubleLocal people are evicted and got many troubleRelation between Relation between DoFDoF and Local people was and Local people was like enemieslike enemiesLot of Land slide and flood occurred Lot of Land slide and flood occurred

Declared Nepal will be like desert with in 20 years if Declared Nepal will be like desert with in 20 years if deforestations continue like thisdeforestations continue like this

Unsustainable exploitation…..

Nepal’s hills in 1970s

Evolution of Evolution of Community Community Forestry Forestry and and Community Community Tenure in ForestTenure in Forest

Community Forestry User Groups:Community Forestry User Groups:Total handed over CFUG Total handed over CFUG –– 14,32714,327-- Forestry area managed by CFUG Forestry area managed by CFUG –– 1,185,565ha 1,185,565ha -- Household benefited Household benefited –– 1,635,6641,635,664-- Population benefited Population benefited –– 8,835,588,835,58-- Proposed CFUGS Proposed CFUGS -- 50005000Potential community forestry area Potential community forestry area –– 3561300 ( 61 3561300 ( 61 ℅℅) )

Organizational Extension Organizational Extension -- CFUGsCFUGs affiliated to FECOFUN affiliated to FECOFUN –– 11500 11500 -- FECOFUN district chapters FECOFUN district chapters –– 74 74 -- Rang post level committee Rang post level committee -- around 560around 560

Community forestry brought Nepal’s green hills back:

Message

people can protect and manage forest in a better way than forest bureaucracy alone

Realization of Networking Realization of Networking and Federationand Federation

Community forestry users group has realized to Community forestry users group has realized to have networking and federation to exchange have networking and federation to exchange the the experience, knowledge, skill, experience, knowledge, skill, learning'slearning's and to face the and to face the challenge.challenge.CFUGsCFUGs are started the local level and district are started the local level and district level networking since 1991level networking since 1991

June 1, 1995June 1, 1995Federation of Community Forestry Users, Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN) was establishedNepal (FECOFUN) was established

Mass Demonstrations

Political Dialogue

Training

Policy influence

Working Strategy

Major AchievementMajor AchievementDeforestation rate is reduced from 10.6 to 1.7%Deforestation rate is reduced from 10.6 to 1.7%CFUGsCFUGs are the basic foundation for the rural are the basic foundation for the rural developmentdevelopmentStrong CSO and Watch Dog Role of FECOFUNStrong CSO and Watch Dog Role of FECOFUNFire wood, fodder, timber and other basic needs Fire wood, fodder, timber and other basic needs

are full filledare full filledCFUG started community and social development CFUG started community and social development program by CF incomeprogram by CF incomeCFUGsCFUGs are practicing and strengthening are practicing and strengthening grassroots democracygrassroots democracyNo private concession, Supreme Court Decide to No private concession, Supreme Court Decide to Hand Over Forest to the community Hand Over Forest to the community

SOME IssuesSOME Issues

Who owns the Forest Land?Who owns the Forest Land?Who has right on that carbon?Who has right on that carbon?Sovereignty of the nation and Sovereignty of the nation and communitiescommunities--Who will control the market?Who will control the market?Who benefits from the forest and Who benefits from the forest and market ?market ?

ConclusionConclusionCommunity Forestry is successful to Community Forestry is successful to reduce deforestation, protect forest and reduce deforestation, protect forest and biodiversitybiodiversityIt is proved that forest and people can It is proved that forest and people can grow together with harmonygrow together with harmonyShould have Clear tenure and property Should have Clear tenure and property rights in the forest resources and rights in the forest resources and carbon sinkcarbon sinkNO Forest Tenure RIGHT, No Forest NO Forest Tenure RIGHT, No Forest Conservation !Conservation !

What makes the change with different What makes the change with different perspectives in community by insuring perspectives in community by insuring the forest tenure right?the forest tenure right?

THANK YOU !THANK YOU !GhanGhan ShyamShyam PandeyPandey

ChairpersonChairpersonFederation of Community Forestry Users Nepal, Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal, (FECOFUN),PO Box No. 8219(FECOFUN),PO Box No. 8219PuranoPurano BaneshworBaneshwor, Kathmandu Nepal , Kathmandu Nepal Phone 00977 1 4485263,Fax 00977 1 4485262Phone 00977 1 4485263,Fax 00977 1 4485262Mobile 00977 9851002110Mobile 00977 9851002110

Email Email fecofun@wlink.com.npfecofun@wlink.com.np, , pandeygs2002@yahoo.compandeygs2002@yahoo.com