| Author | Tripathi, Shrutidhar |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.RD-01-11 |
| Subject(s) | Watersheds--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 |
| Abstract | Involvement of local institutions has been made mandatory while implementing
integrated watershed management programs in Nepal with an expectation that they will be
able to carry out project initiated activities sustainably. In this regard, the overall objective of
this study was to assess whether project-established local institutions have been able to
function effectively after the termination of the projects and as to whether they are operating
better than local institutions in other watershed which have not yet got any external assistance.
Comparison was done between two mountain watersheds "with" and "without" external
intervention. Both qualitative and quantitative information were collected through household
and institutional survey. A total of 103 households and 23 local institutions in the project and
109 households and 13 local institutions in the non-project watersheds were surveyed.
Statistical tests and construction of indices were done to analyze the collected information.
The study revealed that there was high resemblance in overall socioeconomic condition that is
agriculture dominated with similar kinds agriculture related problems. In the non-project
watershed, local institutions were found positively influencing the production systems.
Regarding natural resources, based on settlers' perspective, project watershed was found better
in case of forest and soil erosion from farmlands but the other resources such as grazing land,
availability of water for irrigation, and land productivity the were found degrading in both
watersheds.
Regarding local institutions, some were found well structured such as community forest user
groups and agricultural cooperatives. Mixed types of results were obtained from the
institutional analysis. This showed that in some respect, such as management of forests and
farmland, local institutions in the project watershed were functioning better, while in other
aspects such as production promotion, dairy farming, local institutions in the non-project
watershed were functioning better. Consequently, there was no significant variation between
the overall functioning of local institutions between the project and non-project watersheds. In
terms of sustainability as well, no clear-cut distinction was observed between watersheds.
Some institutions in both watersheds had a greater possibility of sustainability irrespective of
external assistance. Disappearing of most of the project-established institutions in the project
watershed and successfully functioning of institutions in the non-project watershed provided
sufficient ground to conclude that strengthening capabilities of existing local institutions and
mainstreaming them into integrated watershed development and management would be a
better option than creating new ones.
A Comprehensive strategy has been developed for strengthening capabilities of local
institution and integrating them for sustainable watershed development and resources
management. This includes: a holistic approach, appreciation of existing local institutions,
identification of specific type of institution for specific purpose, capacity building of local
institutions, formalization of local institutions, developing vertical and horizontal linkages and
income generation of local institutions. |
| Year | 2001 |
| 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) | Thapa, Gopal B.; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Weber, Karl E. ;Zoebisch, Michael; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Danish International Development Assistance ; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001 |