Capacity assessment of forest users' groups in development planning process of community forest in Chitwan District, Nepal | |
| Author | Khanal, Bhoj Raj |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-04-11 |
| Subject(s) | Community forests--Nepal Associations, institutions, etc.--Nepal--Management Organization--Planning--Nepal |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The research dealt with the capacity level of FUG members in FUG development planning process of community forestry in Nepal. The main objectives of the study were to describe institutional set up of FUG on planning and capacity building programs provided to FUG; to assess the capacity level of the FU Gs with special focus on FUG development planning process; to obtain the feedback from FUG on development planning process focusing on capacity development components; and to identify problems, potential and give suggestion to improve the capacity level and FUG development planning process of the future. The study was conducted in the two organizations managed FU Gs namely RCNP and DFO under the buffer zone development program and general community forestry program in Chitwan district respectively. A structured questionnaire was executed to gather the information from FUG members of six sampled FUGs. Key informants interview with members of stakeholders, group discussion with users and field observation were also applied. Both quantitative and qualitative analysis was applied in this research. The study showed the higher level of capacity building programs and attendances from the FU Gs of RCNP than DFO. The FU Gs of RCNP found good but was at a moderate level in FUG of DFO in performing the FUG development process. Factors associated with the capacity level of FU Gs included the frequency of capacity building programs provided, its follow up program, degree of influence of incentives, level of education, degree of experiences in FUG and degree of influence on technical support to FUG. The capacity areas on FUG development planning process after the formation of EC of FUG found extremely needed in the following stages including operational plan preparation phase, implementation phase and revision and monitoring phase. The common problems identified by both FUGs were low level of education, low level of incentives to the members and low individual exposure to the members of FUG. In specific, the problems associated with the FUGs of DFO were less technical and administrative supports from DFO, few training and visit programs and less follow up programs on it and low networking and coordination with the concerned authorities. The study concluded that a bottom up planning process used in the FU Gs of RCNP was very effective in the FUG development planning process in buffer zone area. Mostly institutional and economic factors were found having an association with the capacity level of FUGs in FUG development planning process. Human resource development, local employment, leadership development, awareness raising on environment and watershed development and replication of bottom up planning in FUGs of DFO were found potential in these areas. A set of recommendations on the capacity building programs were given to improve and strengthen the capacity level of members on development planning process from both FUGs. These included additional capacity strengthening on specific planning tasks and additional areas needed, modifications and simplification of existing capacity building program comprising of training, workshop and visit, replication of a bottom-up planning model and provisions of technical and financial support to FUGs including viable incentives to FUG members. |
| Year | 2004 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Rural Development, Gender and Resources (RD) |
| Chairperson(s) | Soparth Pongquan; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh P. ;Zoebisch, Michael A. ; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Asian Institute of Technology Fellowship;Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2004 |