Forest Management Committees Research Articles

Livelihood impacts of community-based forest landscape restoration in the Hindu Kush Himalaya, Pakistan

Over the past decade, community-based forest landscape restoration (FLR) has gained policy attention in Pakistan. However, there is a lack of information on how FLR affects the livelihood capital of mountain communities. To fill this gap, this study investigated the livelihood impacts of FLR in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region of Pakistan. To understand the role of FLR in livelihood restoration, we utilized focus group discussions (FGDs) and field observations. The study revealed that community members perceived various impacts of FLR on their livelihood assets. FLR helped restore the ecology, improved access to food, education, and health facilities, developed infrastructure, and initiated ecotourism in the study area. FLR activities were executed through several institutions, particularly extension services, Village Development Committees (VDCs), and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), through the process of equity, accountability, and collaboration. We recommend continuing the implementation of FLR initiatives through extension services to maximize positive impacts on social, natural, human, financial, and physical capitals.

Trends, patterns and determinants of biodiversity conservation outcomes in Buxa Tiger Reserve, West Bengal, India

ABSTRACT This paper analyses the trends, patterns and determinants of biodiversity conservation in the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR), India. Temporal remote sensing data from 1990 to 2020 shows a loss of 27.69 km2. The results show that the total forest area has seen a significant decline from 1990 to 2020, whereas non-forest and degraded forest areas have been on the rise. The decline of forest area is observed more in fringe and lower altitude areas where accessibility is easy for humans to extract forest resources. The secondary data shows a decline in the wildlife population including the flagship species, the Bengal tiger. The decline in natural resources due to human activities in the BTR is likely to continue unless a participatory biodiversity conservation programme is established. The establishment of the Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC), a formal local institution where local communities and forest departments (FDs) jointly share the rights and responsibility towards the use and management of the forest, seems to be effective in reducing negative forest activities. The sustainability of the BTR is possible if the local people abandon the ‘tragedy of the commons’ activities and work together, with government guidance for the promotion of livelihoods and biodiversity conservation.

Institutions of Community Participation including Joint Forest management Committees (JFMCs) and eco-Development Committees (EDCs), linkages with Panchayati Raj Institutions, review of their working in various regions of the country and identification of

Institutions of Community Participation including Joint Forest management Committees (JFMCs) and eco-Development Committees (EDCs), linkages with Panchayati Raj Institutions, review of their working in various regions of the country and identification of

Effects of joint forest management on forest conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

This study measured the effects of joint forest management (JFM) on forest conditions in purposively selected three forest divisions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The technique of experimental (JFM) versus control (non-JFM) group was applied. Assessment was made between JFM forest and nearby similar non-JFM forest located in the same forest-ecological and socio-economic settings. A total of 393 sample plots (234 from JFM forests while 159 from non-JFM forests) were assessed. Results of independent sample t-test revealed significant difference between JFM and non-JFM forests. Average tree density of JFM forests was 276 trees/ha while for non-JFM forests it was 247 trees/ha. Similarly average seedlings density/ha in JFM forests was 3114 as compared to 1987 in non-JFM forests. Data analysis explored that human disturbances were more in non-JFM forests as compared to JFM forests where joint forest management committees played active role in their protection. In JFM forests, forest protection and improvement activities were observed more times as compared to non-JFM forests. So, this can be concluded that JFM has remarkable contribution in protection and improvement of forests in study areas. It is recommended that network of JFMCs should be extended to non-JFM forests for protecting them from further degradation.

Indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity conservation on Mount Cameroon

ABSTRACT Indigenous People have always provided meanings to natural ecosystems, but knowledge on local environments and their management has been eroded. This study analyses indigenous knowledge systems practiced by the native people of Mount Cameroon and explores their role in biodiversity protection and local livelihoods. To achieve this objective, empirical data were collected from four villages in the study area by conducting focus group discussions, key informant interviews and participant observation. This paper reveals that the forests around Mount Cameroon are essential to the economic and socio-cultural lives of the indigenous population. Furthermore, local institutions play an important role in forest management, and sacred sites, libations, totems, taboos and traditional ceremonies are means through which Indigenous People contribute to biodiversity conservation. Also, conventional forest management regimes such as the village forest management committees have created a new elite class, tensions and conflicts, disregard and weakening of customary laws and institutions. This study augments knowledge on the interrelations between local livelihoods, natural resources and indigenous environmental management systems by depicting how the current loss of biodiversity is perceived to be related to the weakening and erosion of local knowledge.

Why Do Households Depend on the Forest for Income? Analysis of Factors Influencing Households’ Decision-Making Behaviors

Using survey information of 150 randomly selected households across 21 villages of the forest-rich district of Swat, Pakistan, this study assessed households’ decision-making behaviors in depending on income from nearby forested land using socio-economic attributes. The evidence from the study may aid in making the existing policies be better targeted toward families that depend on the forest for income. Descriptive statistics and econometric techniques such as logit and tobit were used to analyze the data. Respondent households obtained the highest share of their income from off-farm activities (37%) and least from forest activities (16%). Fuelwood constitutes the biggest share (66%) of forest income, followed by medical plants (20%) and fodder (13%). We found that households with more physical assets, more family members working in off-farm jobs, and households earning more income from off-farm jobs were significantly and negatively associated with households’ decision to depend on forest income and total income obtained. We also found that households with less distance to the market and membership to joint forest management committees (JFMCs) were significantly and negatively associated with households’ total income obtained. However, household size was significantly and positively related to households’ decision of forest dependency. The study recommends the creation of off-farm opportunities and inclusion of local people in the management of forests through establishment of JFMCs, particularly for large and poor families.

Constraints Analysis of Joint Forest Management Programme in Jammu Division of Jammu and Kashmir

The study was conducted in purposively selected “East Forest Circle” of Jammu division of J&K. Multistage sampling was followed for the selection of respondents from six forest ranges from East circle, having maximum number of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) purposively. Twenty four committees, four from each selected ranges of and eight members from each selected JFMC were selected through random sampling technique making the sample size of 192 respondents. Total 192 JFMC members were interviewed to find out the constraints faced in Joint Forest Management Programme. Henry Garrett’s ranking technique was used to analyse the constraints. The result showed that respondents ranked Lack of funds, Delay in planting time, lack of training programme as major constraints in respective order.

Community Involvement in Forest Management: A Social Analysis of Joint Forest Management in Maharashtra, India

ABSTRACT With the formulation of Joint Forest Management Programme in India, the involvement of communities in forest management has been recognised as a sustainable way of forest resource management. Nevertheless, research conducted on the experiences of Joint Forest Management reveals that there are lots of inherent factors that determine the success or failure of such forestry programmes. The present article is the outcome of a research project conducted in the Thane and Raigad districts of Maharashtra state among some Joint Forest Management Committees. Using primary and secondary sources of information, the study investigates the characteristics of the resources, the characteristic of community, the characteristics of rules, the context of the socio-economic environment and the extent of participation of JFMC members in forest management activities and hereby tries to find out the reasons for success and failure of forest management programmes.

Promises and Contests of Participatory Forest Management (PFM) Scheme within Kafa Biosphere Reserve, Southwest Ethiopia

The PFM scheme; where the community-based natural resource management has been receiving growing scientific attention over the past three decades. Most studies, however, focus on investigating institutional designs and outcomes and pay scant attention to how community-based natural resource management arrangements are carried out in practice. Therefore, this study focused to examine the possible promises with the establishment and actual practices of PFM scheme and visible contests that needs solutions to sustain the scheme in Kafa forest coffee Biosphere Reserve. To realize this thought 16 PFM sites of five districts of Kafa zone were purposively studied by collecting primary data through focused group discussions with forest management committee members and triangulated site based actual assessment practices with members to be evidenced about the promises and available contests of/on PFM scheme. Through an in-depth survey study in all of the participatory forest management (PFM) sites in Kafa zone, southwest Ethiopia, this article demonstrates a significant promises and contests between the PFM forest management plan and actual local forest management practices. The study confirms the usefulness of a practice-based approach to understand and explain how a newly introduced institutional arrangement is acted upon by local actors situated in their social, political and historical context as promises. On the other hand, the lagging commitment from the government agents, illegal users, uncontrolled forest use pressures and unbalanced commitment among the forest user group were proved as greatest upcoming contests on the sustainability of Kafa forest coffee Biosphere reserve in general and PFM of each site in particular. The findings also contribute to empirical knowledge useful to initiate dialog and to critically reflect on whether and what kind of intervention is actually needed to positively influence forest management practices on the ground for its sustainability based on the plan. Keywords: PFM arrangement; promises and Contests of PFM; practice-based approach DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/65-01 Publication date: May 31 st 2020

Forest conversion by the indigenous Kalasha of Pakistan: A household level analysis of socioeconomic drivers

Indigenous groups in many parts of the world are often forest dependent societies, and thereby may also play a disproportionate role in protecting and managing threatened forest resources. Taking the Kalasha indigenous group of Pakistan as a test case, this study contributes a socio-economic analysis at the household level aimed at understanding factors that influence forest clearing decisions. The findings of the study may help to develop general policies that facilitate sustainable resource for indigenous and other marginalized forest-dependent communities. The analysis was based on a contrast of 74 households at the forest margin that cleared nearby forested land versus 49 households that did not clear. Survey results indicated that the prime motivation for conversion of forests was expansion for cropland (77%), livestock grazing (18%), and orchards (5%). We found that families with more members and fewer physical assets were more likely to clear forested land for agricultural expansion. Families with more members employed off-farm, and members of Joint Forest Management Committees were less likely to be involved in forest clearing. For poor households, fuel wood constituted the largest part of their total income and for households with off-farm income the smallest. Social factors, such as education, ethnicity, and forest ownership were not significantly associated with clearing of forests. We conclude that programs focusing on off-farm income generation opportunities targeted towards the poorest households would be the most effective policy intervention for lowering deforestation and forest conversion.

Identifying local actors of deforestation and forest degradation in the Kalasha valleys of Pakistan

Prevention of forest loss is a high priority in Pakistan, where catastrophic flooding in 1992 and 2010 has been linked to deforestation. Under the United Nation's REDD+ program, new incentive schemes are developed to encourage forest protection and reforestation, while implementing social safeguards for forest-dependent indigenous groups. The objective of this study is to support Pakistan's REDD+ readiness activities that affect the Kalasha, a unique indigenous people that are nominated for enhanced protection of the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. We aim to identify actors and power structures that have caused deforestation in the past, and recommend policy improvements that protect forests as well as the Kalasha's culture and traditional livelihoods. A remote-sensing based historical analysis showed that government actors have significant power to influence land use practices in the region, although their policy instruments may not have had the intended effects. A logging ban in 1993 could not stop forest loss and instead caused a shift to illegal selective cutting of the same magnitude. Near human habitation, forest loss actually increased after the ban. In household surveys, self-reported clearing of forests conformed to remote sensing data, and fuel wood use was identified as the primary pressure on forest resources. Results from expert interviews, however, revealed contradictory perceptions regarding the actors responsible for forest loss. Both local residents and government officials hold the other side as primarily responsible, while rationalizing their own contribution. We recommend policy changes towards more balanced power structure in joint forest management committees. In addition, alternative heating methods would remove the currently largest pressure on forest extraction for fuelwood. Since fuelwood production for regional consumption constitutes one of the largest sources of income for the poorest households, REDD-based compensation schemes would have to support the most affected households of the indigenous Kalasha.

Factors affecting women participation in joint forest management committees in Punjab

The present study was conducted in different joint forest management committees (JFMCs) of five forest development agencies (FDAs) in Punjab to assess the effect of demographic factors viz age, caste, qualification, landholding and occupation on women participation at different stages of the project. Maximum participation of women was observed in middle age group in all stages of programme viz planning (5.61%), implementation (27.33%) and maintenance (22.61%) followed by young and minimum in old age group women. Women of schedule caste category participated more at all stages of programme viz planning (7.52%), implementation (34.44%) and maintenance (29.28%). Participation of educated women was observed more at planning stage and of illiterate women at implementation and maintenance stages since latter were mostly engaged in labour-oriented work. The landholding of the participants played an important role in participation. Landless women participated more at all stages of programme followed by women with low landholdings. On the basis of occupation women from labour class participated more at all the three stages of the programme. The implementing agency should generate more awareness through meetings, consultations, group discussions etc so that women could participate at planning stage more effectively. Some incentives to the participants must be provided while attending the meetings and few income generating activities should be initiated among the women groups.

Perceptive insight into incentive design and sustainability of participatory mangrove management: a case study from the Indian Sundarbans

Incentive design is among the decisive factors behind active community participation and long-term sustainability of participatory forest management. Especially in case of mangroves, where multiple interests apply, it requires a careful integration of several ecological, economic and institutional factors. The primary objective of this paper is to understand the basis of incentive design and make a comprehensive inquiry into the existing incentive mechanism of participatory mangrove management in Indian Sundarbans. The qualitative and in-depth assessment was derived against a conceptual framework that contains three main determinants: (1) resources availability, (2) control mechanism, and (3) perception of end-users. The study deploys the results of various participatory exercises such as structured interviews with forest officials, focus group discussions with 10 Joint Forest Management Committees and semi-structured interviews with 119 mangrove users. In general, we observed an over-cautious, hierarchical and safety-margin-based incentive design with distinct bifurcation of communities over the adequacy and effectiveness of derived benefits. Although, the incentives are diverse and align well with the overall conservation of mangroves, they are considered to be insufficient by nearly half of the mangrove users. The main issues that were observed to hinder effective community participation can be summarized as (1) serious restrictions on access to economically exploitable mangrove products, (2) passive involvement of vulnerable occupational groups, and (3) lack of trust and conflicting interests between the officials and the communities. Although the existing preventive management of mangroves can be justified considering the magnanimity of the Indian Sundarbans, it can severely impair community participation and emerge as a clear threat to future sustainability. To secure greater participation of the communities, we propose small scale, innovative developmental incentives to supplement traditional forest-resource-based incentives.

Determinants of People’s Participation in Forest Protection and Management: A Study in Kaski, Nepal

Forests are easily available renewable natural resources in the world that directly and indirectly provide socio-economic benefits to the people living in and around the forests and also environmental protection and ecological balance to the global people. In Nepal, traditionally people’s participation in forest protection and sustainable management was very popular through many informal traditional and indigenous forest management committees. But, unfortunately, there was a huge lost of forests in quantity, quality and density due to some unfavorable socio-economic and political situations. So, the government has formally, legally and gradually shifted from centralized to decentralized protection and management of forests since mid of 1970’s through various forest plans, policies, acts, regulation and guidelines. The major aims of people’s participation are to get basic forest products, socio-economic development, and overall improvement of forest resources. Moreover, the role of I/NGOs and other stakeholders should be as partner, advisor, facilitator and more technical supporter for effective participation of people. However, the major challenges of people’s participation is how to make meaningful involvement of local people in better forest protection, management and sustainable development so that they will get sustainable economic benefits for livelihood, environmental protection and ecological balance.Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol. 17 & 18 No. 1-2 (2014) Combined Issue; Page: 175-186

The politics of negotiation and implementation: a reciprocal water access agreement in the Himalayan foothills, India

In this paper, we examine the on-the-ground realities of upstream-downstream negotiations and transactions over ecosystem services. We explore the engagement, negotiation, implementation, and postimplementation phases of a reciprocal water access (RWA) agreement between village communities and municipal water users at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India. We aim to highlight how external actors drove the payments for ecosystem services agenda through a series of facilitation and research engagements, which were pivotal to the RWA's adoption, and how the agreement fared once external agents withdrew. In the postimplementation period, the RWA agreement continues to be upheld by upstream communities amidst evolving, competing land-use changes and claims. The introduction of cash payments for environmental services for forest-water relationships has given rise to multifaceted difficulties for the upstream hamlets, which has impeded the functionality of their forest management committee. Upstream communities' formal rights and abilities to control and manage their resources are dynamic and need strengthening and assurance; these developments result in fluctuating transaction and opportunity costs not originally envisaged by the RWA agreement. The paper demonstrates the importance of an explicit understanding of the local politics of negotiation and implementation to determine the effectiveness of compensation- based mechanisms for the supply of ecosystem services.

Lost in translation? How project actors shape REDD+ policy and outcomes in Cambodia

AbstractForest protection policies to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) are currently being implemented by international donors, governments and conservation agencies across the developing world aiming for reduction of greenhouse gases while ensuring fair distribution of benefits. This paper draws on a case study in northern Cambodia to analyse how conservation practitioners and the local forest management committees engaged in implementing REDD+ actively translate and influence the policy and its implementation in accordance with their respective interests through particular communication strategies. When assessing project progress and outcomes, the conservation practitioners involved in implementing projects show an interest in emphasising positive project assessments by downplaying potential project complications, and by primarily communicating with pro‐REDD+ members of the local communities. Powerful actors in the local forest management committees adopt the conservation rhetoric of these practitioners; at the same time, they can interpret and control local access to resources to their own advantage. By doing so, they can ensure continued support, while not necessarily representing all community members or sharing benefits equally. The processes and consequences of this policy translation in a REDD+ arena are discussed and compared with existing dominant trends in environment and development policies.

Carbon Stock Estimation in Standing Tree of Chir Pine and Banj Oak Pure Forest in Two Van Panchayats Forest of Garhwal Himalaya

A study was conducted to measure carbon stock in two Van Panchayat forest of Garhwal Himalaya. For comparative study, we selected the degraded and non-degraded site in Pine and Oak Forest and estimated total carbon stock (above and below ground). Van Panchayat are managing the forest in Uttarakhand from British Period. The aim of the research was to estimate the tree density, tree diversity,biomass and carbon stocks in degraded and non-degraded sites in both forests for forest management through Van Panchayat. From this research, we found that non-degraded site contains maximum (Density, total biomass and carbon stock) as compared to degraded sites. This paper recommends the importance of forest management committee in Uttarakhand and the world. Community based small scale carbon sequestration can contribute to the solution of global climate change through carbon trading.

Helping to self-help? External interventions to stimulate local collective action in Joint Forest Management, Maharashtra, India

The governance of community forests requires that resource appropriators overcome collective action dilemmas. Often, forest communities appear unable to do this. External actors then present themselves to help. Inducing the organization of communities through external actors is common practice in development efforts in general, and in community forestry programs, in particular. Does external-agent involvement affect the likelihood of durable collective action at the local level? We apply criteria associated with durable collective action to six communities in Maharashtra, India, with varying levels of external-actor involvement in the organization of Joint Forest Management committees. Our results show that although there is a (weak) correlation between external-agent involvement and expected durability of local collective action, such interventions do not appear to straightforwardly lead to the emergence of durable forms of collective action in communities where it didn't previously exist.

Forest Management Systems and Community-Based Forestry: A Case of Sabharkantha (South) Forest Division of Gujarat State

Promoting the active participation of local communities in equitable and ecologically sustainable management of natural forests, thus contributing to increase income and reduce poverty for forest dependent communities, and developing a knowledge management system on community forestry. The majority of the Joint Forest Management areas showed that women participated actively in meetings, decision making and executing the works compared to before Joint Forest Management committee. Findings indicate the need to promoting tribal people for protection more forest area of each village for their sustainable livelihood.

Economic impact of people's participation in forest management (a case study of Kabhre Palanchwok, Nepal)

Forests as important renewable natural resources provide direct and indirect benefits to the people. Basically, it provides basic products of timber, poles, fuel wood, twigs, fodder, grass, leaf litter, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for the use of construction work, agriculture, livestock keeping, and forest based industries, etc. Similarly, a proper use of forests, forest products, and sustainable management could also contribute to income and employment generation and thereby reduction in the level of poverty of the nation. In addition, forests also provide vital role for bio-diversity conservation, environmental protection and ecological balance of the nation. Historically, people’s participation in forest protection and management work is very old through many informal traditional and indigenous forest management committees. But it has formally and legally been recognized only since mid of 1970’s through various forest plans, policies, acts, regulation and guidelines. The major aims of people’s participation are for basic forest products, socio-economic development, and overall improvement of forest resources in which the government and I/NGOs could also help significantly.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ejdi.v13i0.7218 Economic Journal of Development Issues Vol.13 & 14 2011, pp.139-151