[M2] Dynamics of Cooperation and Commons: Local Governance across Agriculture, Labor, and Forests

1:40 PM - 2:10 PM JST(4:40 AM - 5:10 AM UTC)Japanese

[1M07] Developments and challenges of community forest management in Nepal

*BINOD BHATTARAI¹ (1. Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)

Keywords:

Community Forest,Nepal,Sustainable Forest Management,Forest,Rural Development

Community Forestry (CF) in Nepal has emerged as a globally recognized model for sustainable forest resource management and rural development. This study provides a comprehensive review of the historical evolution, institutional framework, implementation status, and socio-economic and environmental impacts of community forestry in Nepal. The Community Forestry Program (CFP), formally institutionalized through the Forest Act of 1993, has facilitated the establishment of over 22,266 Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs), managing more than 2.3 million hectares of forest—approximately 15% of Nepal’s land area—as of 2023. The implementation of CF has led to a substantial increase in forest cover, rising from 29% in the early 1990s to 44.74% in 2023. It has also contributed significantly to poverty reduction and livelihood improvement for approximately 2.9 million rural households. Moreover, the program has generated a wide range of co-benefits, including the empowerment of women, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation. However, several emerging challenges threaten the long-term sustainability of the program. These include unequal benefit distribution, weakening governance mechanisms, and increasing vulnerability to climate change impacts. Addressing these issues requires a strategic shift toward strengthening institutional governance, promoting inclusive participation, and integrating climate adaptation measures into forest management planning. This study argues that Nepal’s community forestry experience offers valuable insights for participatory natural resource management globally. It highlights the potential of decentralized and community-based approaches to contribute to broader sustainable development goals (SDGs), especially in the context of developing countries facing similar socio-ecological conditions.