Abstract
A study was conducted on how a community forestry program improved livelihood development opportunities while addressing sustainable forest resource management. Data were collected through key informant survey, field survey, group discussions and field observation and analyzed to examine the contribution of a program in Nidahas Gama Sri Lanka using the livelihood framework method. The program improved human capital through skills development and training. The natural capital of the program was improved through development of farmers' woodlots (FWLs), home gardens and other agricultural land. Household welfare development, widening of the sources of energy for cooking and improvement of infrastructure were identified as main physical capital development of the program. The program increased household annual income, promoted household ability in self-financing forest and agricultural activities, and improved capabilities in formal banking transactions, under financial capital development. The main strategies used for developing social capital are: formation of groups and networks; trust and solidarity development; development of social cohesion, inclusion and empowerment; and information and communication improvement. Overall, the program has been highly successful in meeting the various livelihood development components.
Highlights
Participatory Forestry Management Project (PFMP) activities in Sri Lanka have attracted international interest and a large amount of donor funding
The National Forest Policy in Sri Lanka was amended in 1995 to provide the necessary policy and legal frameworks for communities to participate in forest resource development
Many other farmers’ woodlots (FWLs) development programs were initiated in Sri Lanka in 2002, in which small blocks of state land were given on a 25-year lease to local communities to plant both forest trees and cash crops
Summary
Participatory Forestry Management Project (PFMP) activities in Sri Lanka have attracted international interest and a large amount of donor funding. Participatory Forestry Management (PFM) became institutionalized in Sri Lanka during the 1980s following a global trend, and forest sector administrative reforms were implemented that gave greater roles to communities in forest management [2]. Many of the forestry initiatives of Sri Lanka, after introduction of the National Forest Policy in 1980, called for a PFM approach [3]. The Forest Department had established about 15,500 ha of Farmers’ Woodlots (FWL) in 19 districts of Sri Lanka under the Participatory Forestry Management Project (PFMP) implemented during 1993 to 1999. Many other FWL development programs were initiated in Sri Lanka in 2002, in which small blocks of state land were given on a 25-year lease to local communities to plant both forest trees and cash crops. The common criticism for FWL development programs is that there is a lack of evidences showing clear and consistent contributions of FWLs to local livelihoods other than general improvements of the physical condition
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