Community Forest Management Research Articles

Empowerment or marginalization: a debate in community forestry in Nepal

The impact of community forestry program in Nepal is debated around the potentials for empowerment and risk of marginalization. This article draws some evidences of both scenarios. Evidences in the filed show that community forest management process can be a forum for all users including women, poor and 'lower' castes on the one hand, and equally it can be a vehicle for theelite group of people to legitimize their interests by the unconscious consent of the users, on the other. This articles concludes with a recommendation for monitoring policy implementation and democratizing the Forest User Groups at local level in a way that enables the poor and marginalized to articulate their interests and needs to the decision making process of the forest resourcemanagement.

Participatory action and learning in forest management: A field worker's guidebook for supporting community forest management

The guidebook introduces Participatory Action and Learning (PAL) as an approach for both FUG members and forestry field staff tolearn together to promote active and equitable management of forest. Simply, PAL is about how facilitators and users act together tolearn from experience, and hence continually update the plans and subsequent actions. It is based on the concept of the learning cycle for participatory action research (PAR) used by FRP/DFID funded FFMP, a collaborative research project of Department of International and Rural Development (DIRD), The University of Reading, UK, Livelihoods and Forestry Programme (LFP). It is a unique synthesis of experiences gained through intensive action research in forest management with four forest users groups in the middle hills, while at the same time enriched by the experiences of LFP.

The effect of a political crisis on performance of community forests and protected areas in Madagascar

Understanding the effectiveness of conservation interventions during times of political instability is important given how much of the world’s biodiversity is concentrated in politically fragile nations. Here, we investigate the effect of a political crisis on the relative performance of community managed forests versus protected areas in terms of reducing deforestation in Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot. We use remotely sensed data and statistical matching within an event study design to isolate the effect of the crisis and post-crisis period on performance. Annual rates of deforestation accelerated at the end of the crisis and were higher in community forests than in protected areas. After controlling for differences in location and other confounding variables, we find no difference in performance during the crisis, but community-managed forests performed worse in post-crisis years. These findings suggest that, as a political crisis subsides and deforestation pressures intensify, community-based conservation may be less resilient than state protection.

Community Social Capital in Community Forest Management in Poso Pesisir District

In Indonesia, commercial management of community forests began several hundred years ago. This research aims to measure the level of social capital in community forest management, and analyze its influence on community forest performance. The research was carried out using a survey method. Two villages in one district were chosen purposively. Respondents were 60 people that randomly selected from each village. The results of the research reveal that the level of social capital of the two communities in community forest management is classified as different. High social capital has facilitated the revival of good community forest performance, which is characterized by high levels of community forest productivity, as well as continuing sustainable management of community forests, the benefits of regulations. fair management and cost efficiency of community forest management. Strong social capital drives better performance. This research concludes that community social capital in managing community forests in Toini Village is relatively high, while in Betania Village it is low. Considering the differences in social capital that exist in society, the author suggests the need to increase parties, especially the government, to support forest management through increasing roles, facilitating the expansion of social networks, and strengthening the implementation of rules to the community.

The economic impact of agroforestry practice in production forest areas, Сentral Java province, Indonesia

The concept of Joint Community Forest Management in Indonesia is an effort to involve communities in forest management through agroforestry to support forest sustainability. Agroforestry (or persilan in local language) carried out by pesanggem in the KPH Kebonharjo and KPH Mantingan Working Areas significantly contributes to the pesanggem household income. This research wants to measure the provision of agroforestry on pesanggem household income and examine agroforestry factors that influence pesanggem household income. Data collection techniques through surveys and observations of 216 pesanggem households were carried out in the KPH Kebonharjo and KPH Mantingan areas, divided into eight villages respectively. The data was then analyzed descriptively and by multiple linear regression analysis. The research results found that the agroforestry pattern through land plots refers to agricultural activities by pesanggem in forest areas by utilizing forest land belonging to Perum Perhutani as agricultural/persilan for planting seasonal crops. Persilan contributions provide a moderate contribution to pesanggem households in KPH Kebonharjo and KPH Mantingan with a total contribution percentage of 38% or IDR 11,000,000 per household per year with details for each KPH Kebonharjo 44% (IDR 10,900,000 per household per year) and KPH Mantingan 33% (Rp. 11,200,000 per household per year). Based on the results of linear regression analysis, some variables significantly influence measurements with degrees of confidence of 85%, 95%, and 99%. The variables agricultural equipment (sig. 0.133), distance to agroforestry land (sig. -0.051), labor utilization (sig. 0.038), and land area of land persil (sig. 0.001) show an influence on the agroforestry income of pesanggem households in KPH Kebonharjo. In addition, the variables farming income (sig. -0.143), other income (sig. 0.048), area of land plots (sig. 0.037), and distance to agroforestry land (sig. 0.001) show an influence on the agroforestry income of pesanggem households, at KPH Mantingan. This research provides valuable insights into the complex relationships between agroforestry, production forests, and economic dynamics, providing a foundation for sound policy-making and encouraging environmentally conscious economic growth

Carbon stocks and sequestration potential of community forests in Bhutan

Community Forestry (CF) is recognized globally as a forest management regime with the potential to address deforestation and forest degradation, provide forest goods and services to local communities and contribute to climate change mitigation. Around 4% of Bhutan's forests are currently under CF management and these forests provide essential goods and services for local communities. However, the potential of CF in Bhutan to contribute to climate change mitigation is not well understood and has not been researched.In this study, we estimated the carbon stock and carbon sequestration of community forests in Bhutan by using data from the 2015 National Forest Inventory (NFI). The total biomass carbon in community forests was 130.3 Mg ha−1 (107.3–153.2) and the soil organic carbon was 52.8 Mg ha−1 (30.4–75.1). Carbon sequestration was 0.7 Mg ha−1 yr⁻¹. Other attributes: basal area, stem density and tree height, were also determined to assess forest condition and the potential to increase carbon sequestration.The values for biomass carbon in Bhutan's community forests as well as the non-community forests (all other forests) were similar to those reported from Forest Resource Assessment and NFI for forests in Nepal and the Indian Himalayan states respectively. Disaggregation of data from 38 research studies across the Himalayan region indicated that biomass carbon in Bhutan's forests was significantly lower than that in well-stocked (non-degraded) forests in the Indian and Nepal Himalayas. It was also much lower than that in Bhutan's Forest Management Units, which were used as an indicator of the potential upper limit of biomass carbon in Bhutan's forest environment. Similarly, basal area, stem density and mean tree height were also lower in Bhutan's community forests than in well-stocked forests in other Himalayan countries.The Bhutan Government is currently exploring the potential to generate revenue from the sale of carbon sequestered in its forests. This study confirms that there is potential to increase carbon sequestration by improving management of existing forests. Currently, the 107,866 ha of community forests in Bhutan store about 19 million Mg of carbon. With improved management by Community Forest Management Groups, which have the institutional capacity to control local management outcomes, the carbon stock could likely be doubled (to 40 million Mg of carbon), thereby demonstrating the potential of Community Forestry to play an important role in climate change mitigation, while not jeopardizing the provision of day-to-day goods and services to local communities.

‘The Trees are the Clothes of the Church’: Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church-Forests as Spiritual Spaces of Resilience against Climate Change?

In times of ecological crises, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church-forests are, as many suggest, sacred spaces of resilience and restoration. The need for community forest management and sustainable use of natural resources is said to be based on an ‘eco-theology of Edenic forests’ so, we ask, What can be said about conceptually defined entanglements between the theological perspective on so-called forest-churches and the ecologically oriented perspective that applies to so-called church-forests? What is the history and the present self-understanding of this phenomenon? Does it have a global dimension? How does a sacred text like Śənä Fəṭrät, with its theocentric theology and its reference to biblical testimony, create ‘sacred spaces’ in nature? The socio-ethical dimension of these church-forests is of high concern. For this, with an interdisciplinary focus, I refer to results given by existing research on the interrelations of oriental-orthodox theology, including its miaphysite Christology. Such an understanding includes reference to church architecture, biology, sociology, and on forestry in those areas of forest-churches. So we want to understand the specific religious and cultural significance of Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo church-forests. The relevance of these unique sacred groves cannot easily be compared to examples in other religions. But we may at least draw conclusions from other forms of Christianity and religiosity and their interpretation of common biblical and dogmatic traditions referring to the ‘creation of God’.

Formulation of Quality Assurance Social Indicators in Community Forest Health Assessment

Community forests provide benefits to their functions and roles in meeting community needs and environmental sustainability based on economic, social, and ecological perspectives. Social indicators play this role in the sustainability of community forest health. This study aims to obtain a weighted value (quality assurance) of social indicators in assessing the health of community forests. The stages of research carried out included, among others, conducting interviews with questionnaire instruments with respondents, determining the priority scale with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, and determining eigenvalues with the Analytic Networking Process (ANP) method. Based on the results of the study, four social indicators can describe the health condition of community forests: education indicators, employment indicators, participation indicators, and institutional indicators. These indicators have the same level of importance, where the eigenvalues obtained do not have significant differences. It means that community forest farmers have realized that social indicators can support environmental sustainability in aspects of forest health. Thus, the weighted values obtained by social indicators from the highest to the lowest are indicator participation (0.29), education indicator (0.27), institutional indicator (0.23), and employment indicator (0.21). The formation of farmer groups needs to be done to improve local institutions. Therefore, they can support community forest management regulations

Optimizing Sustainability: Exploring the Intersection of Carbon Trading and Social Forestry Initiatives

Carbon trading has emerged as a novel approach to mitigating climate change impacts and promoting sustainable development. The emphasis on social forestry enhances this strategy by involving local communities in forest management and carbon trading. In the context of the climate crisis, this study examines how the combination of carbon trading and social forestry can promote sustainability. The adoption of social forestry practices, such as empowering communities and managing forests sustainably, aims to reduce carbon emissions and preserve ecosystem health. This approach offers dual benefits by fostering local economic growth through carbon trading and safeguarding biodiversity while addressing climate change impacts. The research delves into the opportunities and obstacles of integrating carbon trading into social forestry, laying the groundwork for comprehensive solutions to sustainability and climate change adaptation.

Beyond Ostrom: Randomized experiment of the impact of individualized tree rights on forest management in Ethiopia

We argue that while community forest management is effective in protecting forest resources, as argued by Ostrom, such management may fail to provide the proper incentives to nurture such resources because the benefits of forest management are collectively shared. This study proposes a mixed private and community management system characterized by communal protection of community-owned forest areas and individual management of individually owned trees as a desirable arrangement for timber forest management in developing countries. By conducting a randomized experiment in Ethiopia, we found that the mixed management system significantly stimulated intensive forest management activities, including pruning, guarding, and watering. Furthermore, more timber trees and forest products were extracted from the treated areas, which are byproducts of tree management (e.g., thinned trees and pruned branches). In contrast, the extracted volumes of non-timber forest products unrelated to tree management (fodder and honey) did not change with the intervention.

An annotated checklist of the birds in Loharghat Forest Range, Assam, India

Loharghat Forest Range, within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, features diverse habitats like wetlands, scrublands, grasslands, tropical and deciduous forests. Chandubi, a vital tectonic wetland in the landscape, is designated as Important Bird Area (2003) and Key Biodiversity Area (2005) but remains largely unexplored. This study aims to establish a baseline database of avifaunal assemblages from the Loharghat Forest Range in Kamrup District, Assam, which includes the Mayang Reserved Forest and Barduar Reserved Forest. The forest is protected and managed by the local community. The surveys were conducted between August 2021 to June 2023. The study revealed the occurrence of a total of 224 avian species belonging to 20 orders and 58 families. The birds are further categorised on the basis of their seasonal movements, diets, and rarity in the region. Our findings indicate that the community-managed forests have a rich and diverse avifauna.

Many mountain paths: Perceiving change in the management of community forests in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

India's high mountain, van panchayat forests are a long-standing example of community-led forest governance. These provide vital support for mountain communities’ wellbeing, yet little is known about how environmental and social change is currently perceived or addressed, despite many claims that characterize van panchayats to be in crisis due to policy interventions by state forest actors and erosion of local management institutions. This research investigates how changes in forest dependence, governance, and health drive forest management decisions. Using open-ended interviews with 41 forest stewards and knowledge holders in a high mountain valley in Uttarakhand, our analysis describes managers’ perceptions of environmental and social changes and their implications for management choices. We found that van panchayats are currently navigating stewardship pathways in response to: (a) population shifts and changes to historically forest-dependent livelihoods; (b) a shift in governance regimes across van panchayats, affected by both regulatory changes and local institutional capacity; (c) the effects of global environmental change as it intersects with local influences on mountain ecosystems. Forest stewards’ perceptions of the drivers, trends, significance, and appropriate management responses to these changes varied widely. An overall decline in rightsholders’ dependence on forest resources was commonly reported, as was improved forest health in van panchayats in relation to other forest types. However, van panchayat managers disagreed on whether declining dependence positively or negatively affects forest health, whether the state is absent or actively wresting control from communities, and if successful forest restoration efforts will continue. A lack of shared understanding of these issues complicates forest stewards’ efforts to cooperate towards mutually desired ends, exacerbated by a co-management policy which isolates forest councils’ efforts from neighbouring forests. Accordingly, we encourage policy changes to enhance collaborative decision-making and to address implications of diverse perceptions, priorities and practices of care in mountain forests.

Impact of Poverty Alleviation and Forest Land Allocation and Sustainable Forest Practices on Community Forest Management in Vietnam

Impact of Poverty Alleviation and Forest Land Allocation and Sustainable Forest Practices on Community Forest Management in Vietnam

Participatory Forest Management and Gender Inclusiveness within the Community Forest Management Groups of Bhutan

Participatory Forest Management and Gender Inclusiveness within the Community Forest Management Groups of Bhutan

Floristic Diversity of Vascular Plants in Community Managed Forest of Sankhu village, Lalitpur District, Nepal

The plant diversity of an area reveals its biodiversity, usage patterns, and conservation status which play a significant role in shaping the country's conservation plans and strategies. The present study aims to describe the vascular plants diversity of Lakuribhanjyang community forest in Lalitpur, Central Nepal. This community forest comprises an area of 43.5 hectares and the altitude ranged 1763m to 1833m asl. The study recorded 111 plant species from 102 genera and 64 families in the Lakuribhanjyang community forest. Among the documented species, trees (49 species) were dominantly followed by herbs (33 species), shrubs (18 species), and climbers (11 species). A total of 90 dicots, 7 monocots, 4 gymnosperms, and 10 pteridophytes were documented. Plants from the Moraceae family (6 spp.) dominated the research area, followed by plants from Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae and Rosaceae each with 5 species each. Ageratina adenophora, Ageratum conyzoides, Alternanthera philoxeroides, Bidens pilosa, Senna tora and Lantana camara were the invasive plant species that were found in the study area. Similarly, Choerospondias axillaris, Dioscorea deltoidea, Lithocarpus fenestratus, Senegalia catechu, Valeriana jatamansi and Zanthoxylum armatum were the endangered and threatened vascular plants listed in Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) that was found in this region.

Study of Phytosociological Parameters and Carbon Stock between Two Community Forest of Different Ecological Regions of Udaypur District of Nepal

This study compared the regeneration status, vegetation diversity, stand structure, and carbon stock of two community-managed forests located in different ecological regions of Nepal. A total of 61 concentric sample plots were investigated by using systematic random sampling with 1 % sampling intensity. The phytosociological parameters of trees and regeneration density were calculated using standard techniques. The aboveground tree carbon was estimated using a non-destructive method. Correlation analysis was performed to assess the variation of carbon stock with biomass, stand density, tree diameter at breast height (DBH), tree height, basal area, and seedling density. Janata community forest (CF) had higher regeneration than the Hazare CF, with a bell-shaped distribution of DBH in Janata CF and an interrupted curve in Hazare CF. Both forests were dominated by Shorea robusta. Hazare CF had higher Shannon diversity index, Simpson's index, and evenness index, while Janata CF had higher carbon stock. The observed differences in the studied parameters between the two community forests can be attributed to the difference in ecological factors such as temperature, rainfall, soil nutrient availability, and management practices. Future studies focusing on investigating the underlying factors driving the observed patterns and relationships, such as the effects of disturbance, climate, and management practices on forest structure and function are also needed. These findings have important implications for forest management and conservation policies, especially in the context of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

Cultivating Porang Plants (Amorphophallus Oncophyllus Prain) Using Agroforestry Patterns: Maintaining Ethnoscience in North Lombok Regency

Management of community forests using an agroforestry pattern based on porang (Amorphophallus oncophyllus Prain) plants can increase community income. Porang is a tuber plant from tropical areas that belongs to the potential Araceae family, but its product has yet to be well known. The research objective is to analyze the potential of the porang plant (A. oncophyllus Prain) on farmers' income. The benefit of this research is information for the people of North Lombok on the sustainable cultivation of porang plants and, simultaneously, maintaining local science in the region. The research method uses qualitative descriptions through observation/interviews with porang farmer respondents in Rempek Darussalam Village, North Lombok. The research results show that cultivating porang plants with agroforestry can be sustainable. The porang plant as local wisdom in North Lombok is also an effort to maintain local scientific or ethnoscience. The research results also show the economic potential for porang farmers. The average income of porang farmers is 64,927,885 (IDR) /year/hectare. A viable porang farming business planted under the stands of sengon (Falcataria mulucana (L) and can contribute to an income R/C Ratio of 8.11%.

Revitalizing community forestry in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia: A property right perspective

Severe deforestation, land degradation, and the lack of forest products in Ethiopia have necessitated the implementation of a community forestry program since the 1980s by mobilizing the local communities. However, there have been incidents indicating that many of the community forests are either degrading or remaining unproductive. While community forests are, in principle, the collective property of the local community, empirical evidence concerning how property rights impact their management and their role in enhancing rural livelihoods and environmental rehabilitation is lacking. This study aims to investigate the performance of community forestry through the lens of property rights and tenure security, in order to uncover the challenges impeding community forestry in Ethiopia, with a focus on community forests in the Amhara Region. The study gathered primary data on community forest management from two community forests located in East Gojam and North Wollo, using questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. Additionally, secondary data on legal frameworks were collected from institutions involved in community forestry. The data analysis employed descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. The findings of the study revealed that a majority of respondents (91%) lacked clarity regarding the objectives of establishing community forests, and about 95% claimed that community forests belong to the state. These incidents have led to diminished interest in continuing the program. The study highlighted that the community forestry program suffers from inadequate policy and legal provisions, chronic institutional instability, overlapping mandates, and limited community engagement. These factors have weakened property rights, which are reflected in tenure insecurity and the absence of individual household benefit packages. Consequently, it can be concluded that community forest interventions have been promoted based on general belief in the importance of trees for rural livelihoods and ecosystem rehabilitation, rather than as part of a deliberate and directed policy and strategy. In summary, revitalizing community forestry in Ethiopia necessitates a thorough understanding of property rights and tenure security issues. In this regard, it is imperative for government agencies to enact a clear national strategy for community forestry development and adopt a supportive role to enable communities to establish robust community forestry institutions to safeguard their rights while fostering community forestry and environmental protection activities.

Public Perception and Institutional Involvement in Urban Forestry Development in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal

Urban Forestry is an integral component of sustainable urban development, involving strategic administration of trees and green areas within urban environments. In this dynamic domain, institutional engagement is closely connected with local governments, sub-metropolitan offices, and division forest offices playing crucial roles in shaping policies and regulations. The significance of public perception in urban forestry practices cannot be overstated, as it shapes community involvement and endorsement for initiatives focused on improving environmental quality and urban well-being. The research aims to look into the public perception and institutional involvement in the development of urban forestry in Dhangadhi Sub-Metropolitan City, Sudurpaschim Province, Nepal. It seeks to assess the awareness levels of the residents regarding urban forestry initiatives and understand their perceived benefits and concerns. Simultaneously, the study will analyze the specific roles played by key institutions, including sub-metropolitan offices and division forest offices, in shaping urban forestry within the region. This paper is based on a household survey (n=210) and key informant interviews (n=7) representing the different institutions related to urban forestry. Roadside plantations, park and avenue plantations, as well as community forest management, were the major activities under urban forestry. Regarding the people’s perception, the majority of the respondents (80%) were found to be aware of the advantages associated with urban forestry however only 35% of people were found engaged in urban forestry activities. Over the past few years, the local government has advocated for urban greenery. Despite these efforts, there is a lack of corresponding legislation or regulations specifically addressing urban forestry. Consequently, the effective management of city forestry demands concrete scientific and professional expertise.

Diversity and Distribution of 100 Plant Species of a Community Managed Forest from the Mid-Hills of Nepal: A Phytosociological Approach

Phytosociology is the study of interrelationship among plant species which classifies the vegetation in a meaningful manner. The aim of this study was to study diversity and distribution of plant species in Gobankholi Community Forest in the Mid-Hills of Nepal which is dominated by Pinus roxburghii. Trees were enumerated in a 400 sq. m. plot, shrubs and climber in a 100 sq. m plot and herbs in a 4 sq. m. plot. Density, frequency, abundance, and important value index of individual species were calculated. Similarly, Simpson's diversity index, Shannon’s diversity index, and Pielou's evenness index were also calculated, based on life form viz. herbs, shrubs and trees. 66 herbs, 8 Pteridophytes, 8 shrubs, 3 climbers and 15 trees were found, among a total of 100 species. The rare orchid, Satyrium nepalense, was found at an altitude of 1275 m a.s.l. Herbs were more diverse and even than trees, shrubs and climbers. Aleuritopteris bicolor, Colebrookea oppositifolia and Pinus roxburghii were the most dominant herb, shrub and tree respectively.