5 - Community Forest User Groups in Nepal

Summary

The peoples of Nepal have long sought to free themselves from fatalism, in striving against feudal systems and entitlement myths that disable hope and resist purpose. Many things influenced this process, including a 25-year partnership with Denmark and its aid agency Danida, which offered steady encouragement through some critical moments. Of key importance were Danida’s efforts to promote community-based forest management in the mid-hills districts, by enabling the legal establishment of Community Forest User Groups and training Nepalese foresters in how to help those groups take charge of their own biophysical resources. These community forestry arrangements had the unplanned effect of maintaining traditions of participatory democracy during a protracted civil emergency, and when peace was restored they decisively shaped the emerging national constitution. Danida may not have fully appreciated its contribution and it left the forest sector prematurely, but Nepal is now in a much stronger position than before to resist climate chaos, with a viable democratic constitution, large areas of regenerating forests and a more confident population.