| Author | Pradhan, Charles |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-93-14 |
| Subject(s) | Forest conservation--Nepal--Siraha--Citizen participation
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| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science, School of Environment, Resources & Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | This study explores local people's participation in a Community Forestry Project which commenced in Siraha distric t in the Terai of Nepal in 1988 . It focuses on how the different ethnic communities are actually participating in forest protection and management activities in the northern part of Siraha District . It was found that the Community Forestry Project activities in the study area are at an early stage; only a limited number of villages are participating in planting, protection.• management and utilization of Community forest resources. In most villages, the Community Forestry project has only contributed by planting trees and did not mobilize grassroots community participation in Project activities . In t hose villages where the community was mobilized , the community forest user groups were found t o be very important and to play vital roles in forest protection and management. The ethnic composition of the villages (Maithili, Nepali hill migrants , Tharu or mixed ethnic groups) are associate with different social structures, leadership patterns, gender roles and political affiliations, that influence group dynamics and in turn the extent and nature of participation in Community Forest management activities. It was also found that most villages participating in Community Forest activities, were relatively in remote areas near remaining natural forest, where degraded forest lands were still available as sites for Community Forestry Project activities. In contrast , villages near the highway and far from the natural forest , while needing forest resources the most, were unlikely t o participate in the project because of the l ack of suitable land. It was also found that the role of the District Forest Staff in forest User committee establishment is very important for the success of sustainable forest protection and management activities. Hence , the limited time that the District Forest Staff can spend on Community Forestry activities, their lac k of skills in community organizing, rapid turnover in assignments and the less than full commitment of some Forest officers to public service are all critical impediments to the success of the Community Forestry Project . A few rare cases of Community- initiated forest protection and management with or without Non Government organizations support, were discovered. Community participation in Community Forestry Projects in these villages was among the most mature and most effective. The findings of this study s how that although the Community Forestry activities in the study area are at an early stage , the potential for the expansion of participatory Community Forestry activities is great. |
| Year | 1993 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Hussain, Md. Zakir |
| Examination Committee(s) | King, David J. ;Suselo, Tri Binarko |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Austria |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1993 |