Observation on Conference on Federation of Community Forest User Groups of Nepal (FECOFUN) of Province Number Five

Conference on Federation of Community Forest User Groups of Nepal (FECOFUN) of Province Number Five was concluded in Butwal on 4^th August 2018. A total of 662 participants from 41 local governments units of 12 districts of Province Number Five were present in the conference. There are 3,427 community forests use groups in Province Number Five, of which 2,737 User Groups are registered in FECOFUN. The Province Number Five includes 43.7% of the total forest areas of Nepal. Over 50% of total land in Pradesh number Five is covered by forest resources.

WWF Policy and Governance Specialist Mr. Ek Raj Sigdel addressed inaugural session of the Conferences. He shared principle of sustainable development and role of community forests in Nepal. He also facilitated a plenary session and brought out three key outcomes of community forests; i) key achievements of community forest user groups so far, ii) identifying underlying factors of the achievements, and iii) policy recommendations on how more applaudable achievements can be attained in all three pillars of sustainable development goals i.e sustainable management of environment, social inclusion and economic empowerment of forest user groups.

The Conference discussed at lengths on the role of community forest user groups in the changing political contexts when the constitution has authorised local and province governments to manage community forest and national forests respectively. Federal and a few Province Governments have already begun drafting forestry sector policies and Acts. Moreover, an institutional structure of forestry sector has already been proposed i.e. Forestry Directorate at Province Level and Division Offices in each District. There are Seven Forestry Directorates, 84 forest divisions and 14 Soil Conservation Offices proposed across the country.

FECOFUN has already revised their constitution and made a provision of establishment of community forest user group network at local, district, province and federal government level. FECOFUN is demanding their role in each tiers of the government. It was noted that there are tripartite conflicts among bureaucracy, elected political leaders and community forests user groups. Community forest user groups viewed that government employees are trying to curtail right of local government as well as local community forest user groups over community forests. The FECOFUN said that the proposed institutional structure of government for forest management is of authoritative type. Moreover, under the leadership of bureaucracy, the government is developing forestry sector policies for federal and province level government without having adequate consultations with community forest user groups, said participants. The participants expressed expectation of more coordination from bureaucrats in drafting forestry sector policy. They expressed desire to work in coordination with various tiered of elected governments, as well. Some of the participants said that local governments are eyeing on resources of community forests user group as well. Community forest user groups were against the term scientific and collaborative forests management system which the draft federal forestry sector policy is trying to promote. Mayor of Tulsipur Sub-Metropolitan City viewed that community forests user groups should be prepared for sharing revenue with different tiers of government. Progressive tax should be administered in community forests user groups i.e. richer CFUG should pay higher. He also opined that local government should confer prerogative right to local people to manage natural resources including community forests.

Industry Tourism Forest and Environment Minister of State Number Five Mr. Lila Giri expressed commitment to consult community forest user groups while formulating province and federal forestry sector policy. He applauded the role of community forest user groups in effective management of forests resources over the years. He was of the view that forestry sector policy formulation process should be coordinate with bureaucracy and policy should be developed keeping people at the center.

While interacting with the participants, it was revealed that the community forests are contributing in all three pillars of sustainable development. In the front of environmental service maintenance, community forests are contributing a lot in upkeeping biodiversity resources. Once bare lands are converted into greenery forests and encroachment for settlement expansion and agriculture crop production has been minimized. Community forest user group are contributing to conserve historical, religious, archaeological sites and valuable non-timber forests products. Due to community forests, risks of landslides and floods are minimized. Moreover, wildlife, such as leopard, wild boar, among others are increased greatly in community forests. Community forests are becoming a sustainable source of income to local communities. Community forests income are being invested in various socioeconomic development activities such as school building, community building, road maintenance and health service improvement, to name few. In addition, forest income is being mobilised for raising income of user group members mainly in skill enhancement training, vegetable farming, poultry farming, goat rearing, among others. In the social development aspect, community forest has contributed a lot to empower poor, women and dalit communities. Community forest constitution require each community forest user to represent at least 50% women of forest user group members and provision of representation of women in key position i.e Chair or Secretary had helped a lot to empower local people. Presence of almost 50% participants in the Conference can be considered as an evidence of women empowerment through community forests.

During the interaction session, participants brought out various issues in to be resolved to ensure sustainable management of community forests. The upcoming management interventions should focus on raising income and employment opportunities to community forest user group members focusing women, poor, marginalized communities and distance users. According to Honorable Minister Mr. Giri, the province government is implementing various income generation activities such as ecotourism promotion, resorts construction, zoological park establishment, botanical garden maintenance, plantation of non-timber forest products, and promotion of forest and non-timber forest-based enterprises in community forests. According to the participants, to address the need of poor and marginalized communities, part of the community forests should be leased for them to plant broom grass, bamboos and valuable non-timber forest products. The other part of the community forest group income should be invested in improving productivity of the forests as such. Community empowerment activities should be implemented focusing women, poor and marginalized community groups. Target groups should be made able to make decisions instead of mere participation in the decision-making positions and processes. A mechanism for equitable distribution of forest products also need to be envisioned. Good governance with accountable forest officials to forest users is needed. Long term management options for problem wildlife species like wild boar, porcupine, leopard, monkey, bear, deer, etc should be explored and implemented as these animals have been creating conflicts with local people in many community forests.

In summary, community forests user groups expressed desire to work with restructured elected governments at different layers and expressed strong reservation. They believe that the community forests are contributing in all three spheres of sustainable development. It was realized that the upcoming intervention should be in empowering target user groups and making more accountable service providers. Wildlife people conflicts is being evolved noticeably that demands intervention in the days ahead. 

Note: WWF has extended partial financial support for the Conference