Community Forest Management Research Articles

Understanding Facilitators and Barriers to Success: Framework for Developing Community Forestry Case Studies

Due to the observed success of community-based management strategies, countries around the world have reformed forest policy to focus upon decentralization and community participation in forest management. Nonetheless, despite the commonly lauded benefits of communal forest management, not all community forest programs successfully achieve the dual goals of forest conservation and income generation. In an era when communal forest management is gaining global popularity, understanding factors that enable or constrain communities’ communal forests and community forest enterprises will help ensure their success. A significant amount of academic research has focused upon identifying and summarizing factors that facilitate or impede community-based resource management. Understanding these factors is an important first step for individuals interested in understanding community forestry operations. The goal of this article is to guide individuals interested in delving deeper into an existing community forestry case. This article provides a framework that can be used to develop community-forestry case studies and guide analysis. The framework highlights the interconnection between community resources, national-scale policy implementation, and markets and provides key factors to consider when analyzing the local context of community-based natural resource management cases.

Study of Community Forest Management (HKm) on Socio-Economic Sustainability in Several Regions of Indonesia

A community forest (HKm) is a type of state forest that is used primarily to empower communities in and around forest areas and to make sustainable forest management available to nearby communities. The research aims to analyze the benefits of community forestry (HKm) on the socio-economic aspects of the people around the forest. The research method was carried out in several steps, namely, at the initial stage, collecting articles, journals, and scientific articles from various sources and then making a resume on community forest management in several regions of Indonesia. The results of this study indicate that each region has a different focus in terms of orientation and varying degrees of success in HKm management. In general, the practice of community forestry is still more oriented towards short-term economic interests than environmental sustainability. The economic benefit is in the form of increased production, increased income, employment, the development of business opportunities, and business partnerships. The social benefit that occurs is in the form of increased public knowledge of social forestry, which allows the community to manage the forest, change people’s behavior by clearing land without burning, and reinforce the culture of cooperation.

Model of Utilization and Participative Management of Community Forests according to Geosocial Principles

The objectives of this research were 1) to study the utilization of the Huai Sai Khao Community Forest, Ban Tha Pa Pao, Tha Pla Duk Sub-district, Mae Tha District, and Lamphun Province with community participation. 2) To study the mode of participative management of community forests according to the geosocial principles of Ban Tha Pa Pao, Tha Pla Duk Sub-district, Mae Tha District, and Lamphun Province. The objectives were performed using questionnaires from a sample group of 66 household representatives and qualitative research using in-depth interviews and group discussions from village forums. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, and mean. The results showed that the social structure of Ban Tha Pa Pao was self-sufficient agriculture. Most people in the community had modest incomes and were primarily men. Overall, it was an empowered community with indigenous knowledge from the local sage, who was a leader and had visions for solving problems and developing communities properly. In addition, the cooperation of people in the community is of great importance to the community forest area. Villagers utilized community forests by collecting non-timber forest products and hunting at all times, and they mainly utilized the forests during the dry season. In terms of community forest management, it was found that villagers participated in community forest management as a whole at a good level. Villagers participating in decision-making showed that they were aware of taking part in proposing alternatives and discussing guidelines to solve problems and set rules or regulations in the management of community forests. Research results suggest that the community forest management model should be adapted to suit modern times and be distinctive to create value for the community and be a source of learning for the community. It should increase the conservation of wildlife that is scarce and provide knowledge about wildlife conservation and the balance of the ecosystem, as well as continuously develop a source of learning and good publicity.

Seasonal shifts in large mammal activity relative to fruit availability and hunting risk along a protected area boundary in Borneo

AbstractUnderstanding wildlife spatiotemporal dynamics at protected area boundaries is critical to conservation. In SE Asia, protected areas are often bordered by indigenous communities whose traditional practices result in increased landscape heterogeneity within their community managed forests (CF). Because SE Asian forests exhibit supra‐annual mast fruiting (3–7 yrs) and sustained fruit scarcity, wildlife using CF may benefit from greater availability of fruits and seeds encouraged by traditional management, but incur greater risk of being hunted. We examined shifts in wildlife activity in forests within and adjacent to Lanjak Entimau Wildlife Sanctuary (LEWS), in Sarawak, Malaysia. Using camera traps and surveys of fruiting phenology, we related presence of fruits and seeds to shifts in large mammal activity over 3 years (October 2016–2019). We first compared relative frequency of five focal species (sun bear, bearded pig, muntjac, mouse deer, and sambar) by forest type for a given survey year and season (rainy vs. dry). We then modeled activity to assess how fruit availability, landscape features, and proxies for hunting risk, influence seasonal shifts in habitat use. Our results suggested seasonal variation in concert with increased landscape heterogeneity influenced patterns of activity. We found no evidence that CF excluded any detected mammal species, suggesting CF contribute important habitat to wildlife, particularly during periods of fruit scarcity in primary forest. However, our findings also imply increased hunting risk for wildlife attracted to resources near human settlements, emphasizing the need to consider the influence of both annual and supra‐annual seasonality when developing best practices for the sustainable management.

Land cover change effects from community forest management in Michoacán, Mexico

More than half of Mexico’s forests and about a third of the forests of the world are communally owned. Despite this, community forest management (CFM) is the least studied forest management policy, and existing studies have focused on the effects of CFM on deforestation. In this paper, we evaluate the effect of CFM on land cover more broadly, to understand how CFM affects a community’s land use decisions. Mexico’s forestry administration mandates that to legally sell timber, communities must adopt forest management plans designed by a certified forester. In this study, we use differential access to foresters to identify the effect of community management on land cover and deforestation. We find that over time communities that adopt management plans see relatively more primary forest, a limited expansion of the agricultural frontier, and a decrease in deforestation. The decrease in deforestation is economically significant since the economic benefits from the avoided CO2 emissions alone could far outweigh the costs of adopting the management plans.

Open ledger sustainability accounting for community forests: the case of Qingshui river society of southwest China in the 18th-19th centuries

PurposeThis article intends to explore the sustainability accounting practices that emerge from the business of artificial forestry in the Qingshui River society of southwest China in the 18th-19th centuries.Design/methodology/approachUsing a historical approach, we set out to discuss the systematic use of “folk contract” as a tool of tracing accountability in timber trading and in the collective management of community forests in this region, based on the archives of Qingshui River Manuscripts.FindingsThe findings indicate that active transactions of small forest plots facilitated by the prevalent use of folk contracts allow both the landlords and the tenants to easily acquire cashflow needed any time before the harvest, and in turn prevent premature logging and deforestation for crop farming. An “open ledger” bookkeeping system emerged from the extensive contracting practices guarantees the functioning of a dualistic accountability system, where both market value of timbers and “face” value of community members' reputation are preserved for long-term sustainability of local economy, society and ecological environment.Originality/valueFrom the perspective of economic anthropology, this study forms the link between the folk contract practice in sustainable forestry of the Qingshui River society and the emancipatory accounting literature.

Forest stressors and roadside vegetation management in an exurban landscape

As part of the forest landscape, roadside trees are susceptible to multiple stressors that increase potential for tree damage during storm events and contribute to power outages. In exurban areas, decision-making related to the roadside forest is divided among many land ownerships and management entities with diverse objectives. Our objectives were to (1) identify general forest and roadside vegetation management objectives and challenges, (2) identify forest stressors and assess perceived severity and level of concern for forest stressor impacts to the roadside forest, and (3) evaluate manager interrelationships based on management objectives and challenges. We conducted semi-structured interviews with thirty-nine members of the forest management community who manage non-residential and non-industrial tracts of forest land in Connecticut, USA. Improving overall forest health and resilience, wildlife habitat, and forest products were the three most common general forest objectives. The two most frequently identified roadside objectives were public safety and mitigating hazardous conditions. The most common general forest management challenges included workforce limitations, financial constraints, and public perceptions. Support and satisfaction among the public and other stakeholders was the most frequently mentioned roadside forest management challenge. Although participants recognized the importance of roadside vegetation management, many avoided active management along roadsides. Immediate roadside vegetation issues such as public safety were prioritized rather than long-term planning. Stakeholders are constantly orchestrating a balance of numerous objectives as they integrate roadside vegetation considerations into broader forest management.

Pengembangan mata pencaharian alternatif berkelanjutan: diversifikasi produk ikan air tawar di Kampung Boha Dan Pachas Distrik Muting Kabupaten Merauke

ABSTRACT Merauke Regency is an Autonomous Regency located at the eastern end of Indonesia which is directly adjacent to Papua New Guinea (PNG). This region has the peculiarities of both its ecology and its people. Muting District is one of the areas in Marauke which has the potential for freshwater fish because it is located in the Bian Lake wildlife reserve. Together with partners the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency of the Republic of Indonesia (BRGM) as a consortium partner of the Indonesian Forest Management Community (KOMHINDO) in 2022 to obtain funding for a vocational campus which involves three universities, namely the University of Papua, Musamus University and Halu Oleo University. One of the objectives of this activity is the Teaching Factory for the development of sustainable alternative livelihoods based on fisheries and forestry resources for poverty alleviation. This activity was centred in Boha and Pachas Villages, Muting District, Merauke Regency, South Papua. The results of the Training and Productive Economic Development Program for Local Communities Based on Fisheries and Forestry Resources are in the form of fish product diversification in the form of making fish sauce, meatballs and empek-empek. The participation of the UMK groups from Pachas and Boha villages was very enthusiastic and took part in the training which is expected to be used as a source of community economic income in the future. Key words: Kedaireka; Matching fund; Merauke; UNIPA

Greenwood regeneration status in community forests of Chiti Lamjung Nepal

Forest regeneration is the process by which new tree seedlings become entrenched after forest trees have been harvested or destroyed by fire, insects, or diseases. The process is key to sustainable forestry and can be accomplished through natural regeneration, which occurs when new seedlings or sprouts are produced by trees left on or near the site. The study is to calculate the regeneration status of the tree species in community-managed forests. The sampling points were generated by using the random table. The sample quadrate size was taken 20m×20m for a tree, 5m×5m for a sapling, and 1m×1m for the seedling. In five community forests, altogether 30 quadrates were taken for a tree, 60 nested quadrates were taken for a sapling and 120 nested quadrates were taken for a seedling. The tree layer, sapling layer and seedling layer were differentiated by taking reference tothe Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) class. An individual having DBH ≥ 5cm is considered a tree, an individual having DBH value between 1cm to < 5cm is considered a sapling, and individuals having 1cm to < 5cm DBH are considered as a seedling. The DBH distribution curve was obtained by plotting diameter class in x- axis and density on y- axis. All studied community forests are mixed forest dominated by tree species Castanopsis indica, Diospyros embryopteris (Diospyros malabarica), Shorea robusta, and Schima wallichii (Schima wallichii choisy). The regeneration potential of the Tilahar community forest(CF) is found high despite high grazing and other human intervention. The DBH class distribution curve of tree species is found as inverse J-shape, indicating that the overall forest has a sustainable regeneration.

Current Status and Challenges for Forest Commons (Iriai Forest) Management in Japan: A Focus on Forest Producers’ Cooperatives and Authorized Neighborhood Associations

Iriai forests are an example of communal forest management in Japan. Local institutions have never been static in governing iriai forests and the external environments of iriai forests have changed significantly over time. This study examines the management challenges of forest producers’ cooperatives (FPCs) and authorized neighborhood associations (ANAs) as the two most important contemporary forms of iriai forest management. Data from nine FPCs and three ANAs in the Fukuoka and Saga prefectures of Kyushu Island are used. Surveyed topics included basic information about FPCs and ANAs, recent management activities, financial conditions, and member perceptions of forest management. Some FPCs suffered from disadvantageous forestry circumstances, including low timber prices, decreased number of members, and tax burdens; at the same time, some FPCs greatly profited from non-forestry income or assets, e.g., by leasing or selling forestland. In most cases, basic forest management operations had been conducted by both FPCs and ANAs, and members had maintained attachment to and responsibility for iriai forests and a sense of public contribution. Policy recommendations include making legal settings and administrative supports more compatible with contemporary realities, providing greater financial support for management activities, and pursuing multi-level governance to open the commons to wider society.

Forest Governance in Nepal concerning Sustainable Community Forest Management and Red Panda Conservation

This paper investigates issues confronting forest management and sustainability, focusing on the governance of the community forest user group (CFUG) initiative in Nepal. The paper begins with a literature review to give a general overview of the historical and current situation of forest governance in Nepal. It explores the historical impacts of unsustainable logging in Nepal and the World Bank Report, which both investigated and explored avenues for improving the forest situation, including community forestry. The paper outlines the development of community forestry, the legislative, regulatory, and governance frameworks underpinning this unique system of community-driven forest management, and its relationship to sustainable forest management (SFM). SFM in turn has engendered a market for sustainably derived timber and labeling systems for ‘good’ wood. The paper continues by providing an analysis of stakeholder attitudes regarding the current forest governance situation in Nepal. Furthermore, it provides another small case study on how such standards might be applied in the local community context of protecting Nepal’s Red Panda while simultaneously delivering sustainable forest management and community development. It concludes with a discussion on the need for governance standards for forest management and community forestry in Nepal.

Vegetation diversity, structure, composition and carbon stock of community managed forests of Mid-hills, Nepal

Abstract. Joshi P, Joshi R, Sapkota RP, Panta M, Chand P. 2023. Vegetation diversity, structure, composition and carbon stock of community managed forests of Mid-hills Nepal. Asian J For 7: 29-36. Depending on management practices, forests can serve as both carbon sinks and sources. The goal of reducing carbon emissions and increasing the carbon sink is thought to be feasible if carbon reservoirs in current forests are protected and conserved. This study was objectively conducted to assess the vegetation diversity, structure, and carbon stock of the Mid-hills of Nepal. The study was undertaken in the Lanta Community Forest, Jajarkot District, Nepal, which has an extent of 38.65 hectares. Data for vegetation analysis and carbon stock assessment were collected using systematic random sampling using quadrats of 10×10 m with a total number of 35 quadrats. Within each quadrat, individual trees and bamboo were identified in the sites, and their height (m) and DBH (cm) were measured. Density, frequency, basal area, and Important Value Index (IVI) were calculated as structural parameters of vegetation. The Above-Ground Tree Biomass (AGTB) and Below-Ground Tree Biomass (BGTB) were calculated using an allometric equation based on tree diameter, height, and wood-specific gravity. The species diversity, species richness, and evenness were found to be 2.2, 2.35, and 0.83, respectively. A total of 14 tree species, with 723 individuals and one bamboo species were recorded. Rhododendron arboreum Sm. had the highest tree density with 211 trees/ha, while Tsuga dumosa (D.Don) Eichler had the highest IVI. Total wood volume, biomass, and total carbon stock were estimated at 15.37 m3 ha-1, 31.99 t ha-1, and 15.03 t ha-1, respectively. There was a strong negative correlation (r = -0.59) between R. arboreum and R. campanulatum D. Don and a strong positive correlation (r = +0.65) between Malus sikkimensis and Machilus species. For the preservation and sustainable management of community forests, information regarding the structure, composition, and dominance of tree species is provided by the study. The establishment of community forests is thus demonstrated in this article as a means of promoting the protection and preservation of regional biodiversity.

Assessing social capital in community forest management in the Mount Hamiding Protection Forest, North Halmahera District, North Maluku, Indonesia

Abstract. Kailola J, Purwanto RH, Sumardi, Faida LRW. 2023. Assessing social capital in community forest management in the Mount Hamiding Protection Forest, North Halmahera District, North Maluku, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 24: 431-440. The success of forest management in the context of community forestry cannot be separated from the contribution of social capital. The Mount Hamiding Protection Forest is administratively located in North Halmahera District, North Maluku Province, Indonesia, and has a high biodiversity value with endemic flora and fauna. However, the management has not shown significant impacts in enhancing the welfare of the surrounding community, and there have been forest disturbances due to anthropogenic activities and vertical conflict. Hypothetically, the high level of social capital can support sustainable forest management and improve people's welfare, yet this has not been tested in the context of Mount Hamiding Protection Forest. Therefore, this research aimed to assess the social capital in community forest management in the Mount Hamiding Protection Forest. The quantitative survey was conducted in six villages in North Halmahera District, namely Wangongira, Efi-Efi, Mamuya, Togawa, Soakonora, and Roko. The elements of social capital assessed were trust, social norms, and social networks. The results showed that the level of community trust in the study area's six villages is in the medium category. However, the trust in the internal community is high, and trust in external stakeholders is medium. The communities in the six villages have overall high social norms. The social networks are high in Togawa, Soakonora, and Roko Villages, while the remaining villages have social networks in the medium category. Generally, the community around the Mount Hamiding Protection Forest area has a moderate social capital category due to a lack of participation and trust in written rules and government institutions. Therefore, the Forest Management Unit of North Halmahera District should strengthen the community's social capital to increase knowledge and understanding of written rules, trust in institutions, and network development through organization and participation.

JARINGAN SOSIAL PETANI KOPI DI LMDH KARAMAT JAYA KECAMATAN CISURUPAN KABUPATEN GARUT

LMDH Karamat Jaya is a community institution in Kramatwangi Village, Cisurupan District, Garut Regency which was initiated by the PHBM (Community Forest Management) program. In coffee farming, farmers at LMDH Karamat Jaya experience limitations in obtaining productive resources, so that the potential and production yields are less than optimal due to the lack of relationships and relationships between farmers and other coffee actors. This study aims to: 1) identify the characteristics of coffee farmers in LMDH Karamat Jaya, and 2) analyze the social network structure of coffee farmers in LMDH Karamat Jaya. Informants were selected by the Snowball sampling technique. The research method used is qualitative with a case study approach. Data analysis used descriptive and Social Network Analysis (SNA). The results show that the social network structure of coffee farmers in LMDH Karamat Jaya forms an interlocking personal network and the actors who play an important role in the network are the LMDH Supervisory Board as well as the Village Head and members of LMDH Karamat Jaya who are a dealer/coffee collector.

Plant Community Composition and Carbon Stocks of a Community Reserve Forest in North-East India

Anthropogenic activities are altering the structure and functioning of forests and their services to society. However, we know little about the degree to which such activities are changing the health of forests through edge effects in fragmented forests in different regions of the world. The present study was carried out in Minkong Community Reserve Forest of Nagaland (North-east India) with the aim to determine the effects of anthropogenic activities on floristic composition and diversity, population structure, and biomass and carbon (C) stocks in the core zone (CZ) and buffer zone (BZ) of the forest. We established 15 plots of 0.04 ha each in the two forest zones. We identified 31 trees, 18 shrubs, and 22 herbs in the CZ, and 22 trees, 25 shrubs, and 24 herbs in the BZ; tree species diversity was greater in the CZ whereas the diversity of shrubs and herbs was greater in the BZ. The values for tree density and basal area in the CZ and BZ were 303 and 197 individuals ha−1 and 32.6 and 22.2 m2 ha−1, respectively; in contrast, the shrub and herb density increased in the BZ (4470 and 50,200 individuals ha−1) compared to that of the CZ (2530 and 35,500 individuals ha−1). The total stand biomass (including that below-ground) was 327 Mg ha−1 in the CZ and 224 Mg ha−1 in the BZ. Similarly, the total ecosystem C stocks in the CZ and BZ were 224 Mg C ha−1 and 173 Mg C ha−1, indicating that the overall ecosystem C pool including soil in the CZ was approximately 30% greater than the BZ. These results show how fragmentation and anthropogenic disturbance can reduce forest diversity and C stocks and that community forest management can play a role in conserving biodiversity and act as an ecosystem management tool to mitigate climate change.

The Contribution of the Community Forest Program to the Income of the Lumban Lansang Forest Farmer Group, Siantar Utara Village, Parmaksian District, Toba Samosir Regency.

Community Forest is a state forest concession that is utilized and aimed at empowering and increasing the income of local communities by improving community welfare. North Siantar Village is a Community Forestry location in Toba Samosir district with the Lumban Lansang Forest Farmer Group (FFG) as the manager of the area. The purpose of this study was to analyze the contribution of Community Forest concessions to the income of Lumban Lansang FFG. This study uses observation and interview techniques with all members of the Lumban Lansang FFG (55 persons) to collect primary data which includes how to manage Community Forest by FFG, FFG knowledge of Community Forest, problems faced by FFG while managing Community Forest, and FFG income from Community Forest management. Documentation studies are obtained by studying several books, journals, the internet, and documents from related institutions. The analysis used to calculate the contribution of Community Forest is quantitative analysis and analysis of income from data that has been obtained in the field by adding up income from agricultural, non-agricultural activities, activities in Community Forest and other income. The results showed that the concession of Community Forest could contribute income to Lumban Lansang FFG of Rp. 269.950.000/year for all members of the Lumban Lansang FFG, and contributes to the total income which is 23.91%. 
 Keywords: community forest, forest farmer group, income

Influence of Rural Out-Migration on Household Participation in Community Forest Management? Evidence from the Middle Hills of Nepal

Rural out-migration was a rare socio-economic phenomenon when community forestry began in the 1980s in Nepal. Now, out-migration significantly influences nearly every aspect of rural livelihoods in the country. However, it is unclear how out-migration affects community forestry governance, which is essential for sustainable rural development. Therefore, this paper addresses the following research question: Does rural out-migration affect forest users’ participation in community forestry decision-making and management practices? This paper draws on data collected from an extensive survey of 415 households from 15 community forest user groups in 2 Mid-Hill districts of Nepal. The research used ordered-logit regression to model the impacts of out-migration on participation in forest management and decision-making, while controlling for a number of other socio-economic factors. The model results show that total household size and number of internal migrants, together with multiple resource characteristics and institutional attributes, were major factors affecting participation in decision-making and forest management. However, the number of international migrants did not have a significant role in determining the levels of the participation. This study provides valuable insights for future community forestry policymaking that aims to address the effects of out-migration on community forest management in Nepal.

Community forest management led to rapid local forest gain in Nepal: A 29 year mixed methods retrospective case study

Despite widespread implementation of community forest (CF) management over the last 40 years, limited knowledge exists on CF-level processes that link introduction of CF management to long-term forest cover change. CF management has been widely adopted in Nepal but research on effects of CF management on forest cover change often lacks long-term forest cover data and does not attempt to directly link changes in local forest cover with forest management decisions by local forest users. This study used a mixed methods approach integrating a 29 year-long satellite record of annual forest cover (1988–2016) and local interview data from 2018 to 2020 across eight CFs in Nepal to evaluate the spatially explicit impacts of CF management on long-term forest cover change. Information on historical forest management practices and forest conditions were collected from qualitative open-ended interviews with 28 CF user group managers, forest management records, and field observations. Annual forest cover change from 1988 to 2016 was measured using Landsat satellite time series data. For each CF, the impacts of local forest management decisions on forest cover trends were then characterized before and after the local introduction of CF management. Although study CF user groups had a wide range of initial forest cover (11–93%) before CF management, forest cover increased in all eight study sites under CF management to between 58% and 99% by 2016. Forest cover gains were evident during an informal period of CF management that preceded formal registration and management in most CFs and were maintained over the ensuing period of formal CF management. Interview data show that forest cover gains directly followed the introduction of informal and formal CF management activities such as tree planting, forest patrols, and grazing regulations. In our case study CFs, the early success of CF management motivated the continued investment in forest management leading to long-term forest conservation. This study demonstrates that CF management has been effective at conserving and expanding forest cover in community forests, and that yearly forest change and management data can be used to assess both the immediate impact and long-term sustainability of CF management.

Collaborative Management to support sustainable Community Forest

The current state of social forestry, including community forestry (HKm) in Indonesia, is practically stagnant. Many factors cause stagnation in HKm management, including the main one being the interaction with the Forest Management Unit (FMU) as forest manager at the site level. This study aims to build an institutional model for sustainable forest management through analysis of the arena of action, community attributes, and forest management rules at the Nambo Community Forest, Central Sulawesi. The results of this research found that the collaborative management model between the government and the community is suitable to be applied in Community Forest management, because it provides greater opportunities for recognizing the rights of local communities to forest resources, as well as increasing the empowerment of rural communities.

Influence of Rural Out-Migration on Household Participation in Community Forest Management? Evidence from the Middle Hills of Nepal

Influence of Rural Out-Migration on Household Participation in Community Forest Management? Evidence from the Middle Hills of Nepal