Tree Cultivation on Private Land in the Middle Hills of Nepal: Lessons from Some Villagers of Dolakha District

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Recently formulated plans for the forestry sector in Nepal place much emphasis upon the encouragement of tree cultivation on private land. This paper examines tree cultivation by farmers from a village perspective. The species composition (planted and natural regeneration), location, and population structure of trees being cultivated by 44 farmers on their own land are discussed in the light of field observations and farmers' comments. Villagers' perceptions of the value of different species are outlined, and used to show why certain species are commonly planted. Farmers' planting techniques are also reported. An important factor influencing the location of trees on farm land was found to be farmers' views about the effect of tree shade on crop yields; this is discussed with relation to farm elevation. The population of trees on farm land was found to be dominated by seedlings and saplings, in keeping with the claim of many villagers that they had commenced planting trees only recently, in response to a deterioration in the quality of publicly utilized forest resources. A number of broad conclusions are drawn from the findings that have relevance to forestry projects operating in other parts of Nepal's Middle Hills, as well as national planning. RESUME Culture d'arbres sur les propriitis privies des montagnes centrales du Nipal: enseignements tires de l'experience de certains villageois du district de Dolakha. Les plans elabores recemment pour le secteur foresterie du Nepal mettent l'accent sur l'encouragement de la culture d'arbres sur les proprit ce sujet est traite en rapport avec l'altitude de celles-ci. Cette etude a montre que la population d'arbres d'une exploitation agricole t cela correspond bien aux affirmations d'un grand nombre de villageois que la plantation d'arbres n'a commence que recemment, en reponse a la dt dieser Gesichtspunkt wird im Zusammenhang mit der H6henlage diskutiert. Die Baumbestinde auf den Feldern bestehen iiberwiegend aus Simlingen undjungen Biumen. Dies stimmt mit der Aussage der Dorfbewohner fiberein, daB sie erst kfirzlich, als Reaktion auf die rfickliufige Qualitit der 6ffentlich genutzten Waldressourcen, mit Neupflanzungen begonnen haben. Aus diesen Feststellungen folgen Erkenntnisse, die ffir waldwirtschaftliche Projekte in anderen Teilen der Middle Hills von Nepal und bei der nationalen Planung von Bedeutung sind. 'Present address: Rural Development Forestry Network, Overseas Development Institute, Regent's College, Inner Circle, Regent's Park,