Linkages among land, water and forest resources and their institutional dynamism : a case study from Chitwan District of Nepal | |
| Author | Thapa, Kanchan |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-02-11 |
| Subject(s) | Community forests Nepal Forests and forestry Irrigation Nepal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-02-11 |
| Abstract | Irrigation and Forest are the common pool resources, having subtractive consumptive value. Presences of the community norms and rules in use have been able to institutionalize the governance of the resources by the community. Farmer Managed Irrigation System (FMIS) and Community Forest (CF) are example of such community institution. From the institutional point of view, both the resources are very much related. On the other hand, close relationship between forest and water has also been reflected in the importance of forests to total or integrated water resources management from the concept of the river basin management. The gradual and on going process of land use change thus has influenced on the forest-water relation and ultimately affecting the irrigation system. Hence the irrigation and forest has been linked through the perspective of institution and resource system. The objective of this research was to assess relationship between Farmer managed irrigation system and community forest evolved at different phase of time under the dynamics of changing resource system. Research study was carried out in irrigated and partially irrigated area of Chitwan district of Nepal. Selection of the study sites in an irrigated area was chosen where there was well developed FMIS and CF where as in partially irrigated area; farmer practicing partially irrigated agriculture and community forest development over an area was chosen. Forestwater relationship under the changing land use condition has been analyzed using change in the water availability situation across period of ten years. Ten-year period was chosen for analysis, as there was change in the forest land-use during that period of time, which has been confirmed by the secondary sources and field study. Process documentation has been done to access the relationship between Farmer Managed hTigation System and Community forest. From the perspectives of socio economic condition, farmers in the irrigated area were in well off situation than in partially irrigated area. During the period of ten years, water availability situation has been improving in the area along with the significant increase in agriculture production. This changes has been mainly due to the good management of the forest. Process documentation study shows that community forest development in the area has been result of high collective activity of the users due to the consequences of the environmental implication brought in an irrigation system and farmland through degradation of the forest. High conformance of the rules in use of the FUG has been observed in irrigated area than in partially irrigated area. Organization experience of WUG has been an important factor over the high conformance of the rules in use in the irrigated area. There has been observed simultaneous changes in the organization structure of the user groups governing the forest and water resources. The changes have been mainly in the mode of formalness of the user groups. Some of the possible recommendations suggested from the study include both the user groups can show up their collective action towards the improvement of the resources system, which are mutually reinforcing like in flood and landslide protection work measures. Water harvesting methods in the partially irrigated area should be adopted for use during the water stress period. Department of forest should also evaluate prior organization experience of the community before handing over the forest; this will help them to empower the community towards the better management of the resources. Quantitative time series water availability analysis under changing land-use condition seems an appropriate research topic for fmther study. |
| Year | 2002 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-02-11 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Zoebisch, Michael; Shrestha, Rajendra Prasad; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship; |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 |