Research Fellow
jailabrai@gmail.com
Dr. Rai, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the Central Department of Anthropology of Tribhuvan University, Nepal, has been associated with the ForestAction Nepal from 2007. Dr. Rai worked for various projects at ForestAction Nepal. His Ph.D dissertation entitled “Community Forestry Practices and the Production of Social Space”, explored cultural politics of the community forestry practices among the Rai people in the eastern hills of Nepal. Dr. Rai is a commission member of the IUCN’s “Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy” (CEESP), honorary member of the “ICCA Consortium”, and founding member of the “ICCA Network Nepal”. His research works focus on inclusive community forestry practices, democratization of protected areas, political ecology of bio-culture conservation, social inclusion, minority rights, and developmental interventions. His area of interest includes social exclusion and inclusion, issues and knowledge of indigenous peoples, climate change, biodiversity conservation, natural resources governance and policy issues, and community rights on natural resources. Dr. Rai has undertaken various applied and policy research and consultancy works for government, multilateral and bilateral organizations, and international organizations. He has published a range of articles, books, booklets, and policy briefs in diverse issues.
PUBLICATIONS:
A. Books and Booklets:
Rai, J. K. 2016. Promoting forest based enterprises in Nepal: Lessons from piloting activities in Kohi Hill districts. ForestAction Nepal.
Rai, J. K. 2016. Forest resources, forest enterprises and local livelihoods in Koshi Hill districts: An analysis based on the experiences of Tinjure handmade paper enterprise. ForestAction Nepal.
Rai, J.K. 2015. Climate Change Adaptation in MSFP Working Districts: Lessons from LAPA and CAPA Preparation and Implementation in the Koshi Hill Region. ForestAction Nepal and Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), Kathmandu.
Rai, J.K., & Chapagain, S.P. 2014. Value Chain Analysis of Forest Products in Koshi Hill Districts of Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities for Economic Growth. ForestAction Nepal and Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), Kathamndu.
Rai, J.K. 2012. The Roles of Indigenous and Community Conserved Areas [ICCAs] in Biodiversity Conservation in Nepal (in Nepali language). ForestAction Nepal.
Rai, J.K. 2011. Struggle of National Park Affected Peoples: Efforts for Human Rights, Democracy and Inclusion (Nepali). Community Development Organization (CDO), Kathmandu.
Rai, J.K. 2011. Democratizing Conservation Areas in Nepal: Identification and Empowering Indigenous Community Conserved Area (Nepali). ForestAction Nepal.
Rai, J.K. 2010. State Restructuring and Natural Resources Management: An Analysis of Civic Discourses (Nepali). ForestAction Nepal.
Rai, J.K. 2009. Geographical Distribution of Natural Resources in Nepal: The Dimension of Nepali State Restructuring (Nepali). ForestAction Nepal.
B. Guidebooks:
Rai, J. K., Jha, P., & Shrestha, A. 2014. A Guidebook for Livelihood Improvement of Community Forest Dependent Households (In Nepali language). ForestAction Nepal and Rural Reconstruction Nepal, Kathmandu.
Rai, J. K., & Bhandari, K. 2014. Guideline for Improving Governance in Community Forest (in Nepali language). ForestAction Nepal and Rural Reconstruction Nepal (RRN), Kathmandu.
C.Book Chapters:
Rai, J. K.; & Saif, O. 2022. Challenges for bio-cultural diversity in the high Himalayas. Imperiled: The Encyclopedia of Conservation, pp. 1-2.
Rai., J. K., & Jana, S. 2016. A bio-cultural perspectives on the recognition and support for sacred natural sites in Nepal. In, Bas, V. and Naomi (eds.) Asian sacred natural sites, Rutledge, pp. 93-104.
Rai, J. K., Lama, N., &Bas. V. 2016. Sacred Tsum valley: improving biodiversity conservation with lessons for effective management of protected areas in Nepal. In, Bas, V. and Naomi (eds.) Asian sacred natural sites, Rutledge, pp. 93-104.
Rai, J. K., Karki, R., & Worthington, R. 2015. Biodiversity and Sustainability in Nepal: A Role for Deliberation? In Mikko, R and Worthington, R. (Eds) Governing Biodiversity through Democratic Deliberation, Rutledge, pp. 87-108.
Rai, J.K., Chapagain, S.P., & Pathak, A. 2014. The Context and Significance of Value Chain Analysis of Forest Products in Nepal. In: Rai and Chapagain (Eds.), “Value Chain Analysis of Forest Products in Koshi Hill Districts of Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities for Economic Growth”, ForestAction Nepal and RRN, Kathmandu, Chapter I, pp. 1-15.
Rai, J.K., Chapagain, S.P., & Pathak, A., 2014. Lessons, Opportunities and Challenges of Value Chain Analysis of Selected Forest Products in Nepal. In: Rai and Chapagain (Eds.), “Value Chain Analysis of Forest Products in Koshi Hill Districts of Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities for Economic Growth”, ForestAction Nepal and RRN, Kathmandu, Chapter XIV, pp. 337-351.
Rai, J. K. 2012. Shifting biodiversity conservation paradigms and a promising alternative in Nepal. Dahal, D; Upreti, L, Acharya, B (Eds), Readings in Anthropology and Sociology of Nepal. Sociological/Anthropological Society of Nepal (ASON), pp. 330-370.
D. Research Articles:
Rai, J. K. 2024. Cultural dimension of community based forest enterprise in Nepal: A case of handmade paper enterprise in eastern Hill of Nepal. Journal of Forest and Livelihood, 24, 110-132.
Rai, J. K., 2020. Indigenous Peoples in Nepal’s Forestry Sector Public Discourses. Tribhuvan University Journal, VOL. 35, NO. 1: 121-138.
Rai, J. K., Khadka, S., & Acharya, S. 2015. Multi Stakeholder Forestry Program’s Support in Promoting Forest Based Enterprises: Lessons and Experiences from Koshi Hill Region (in Nepali language), in Hamro Ban Sampada (a Nepali journal), pp. 31-41.
Rai, J.K. 2011.Poverty Alleviation Policy and Reality in Nepal: A Synopsis of Cultural Lenses. Society of Anthropology and Sociology of Nepal (SASON), 2: 230-264.
Rai, J.K. 2010.Global and Local Discourses on Climate Change: A Perspective from the Concept of Embeddedness. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 4:143-180.
Rai, J.K. 2009. Socio-Cultural Subjectivities of Landlessness in Nepal: A Case Study of Sarki People from Naubise VDC of Dhading District. Occasional Papers of Sociology and Anthropology, 11:16-37.
E.Discussion Papers:
Rai, J. K., & Paudel, N. S. 2011. Discourses of Local Governance in Nepal: An Analysisof Legislation, Constitutional Processes and Civil Society Demands. ForestAction Nepal.
Paudel, N. S.; Jana, S. & Rai, J. K. 2010. Protected areas and rights movements: The inadequacies of Nepal’s participatory conservation. ForestAction Nepal.
F. Policy Briefs:
Rai, J. K.; Limbu, R.; Gurung, R.; & Deshar, M. 2022. Roles of youths in biodiversity conservation: Efforts and lessons learned from the capacity enhancements (in Nepali). REF, Kathmandu.
Rai, J. K.; & Paudel. K. P. 2010. Community rights on natural resources in new constitution (in Nepali). ForestAction Nepal.
Ojha, H. R.; & Rai, J. K. 2010. Federalism or local democracy? (in Nepali). ForestAction Nepal.