For Environment, Democracy and Livelihoods
Community Forestry in Nepal has already created a history of its four decades. Over these years, the trees have grown, and the society has changed and so has the societal roles of individuals evolved. Such changes demand a shift in women’s role from caretaker to a decision maker. In such, mere representation is not enough, their leadership and voices matters the most.
In this backdrop, Forest Action Nepal (FAN) under Enhancing Livelihoods from Improved Forest Management in Nepal (EnLiFT) – an action research project financially supported by the Government of Australia through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) organized orientation programs on “Women Leadership Development on Forest Management” in Chautara-13 and Chautara-8. They were mainly aimed at sensitizing users and leaders of the Community Forest Users Group on women’s role and leadership in regards to decision making for sustainable forest management. The one day interactive event in each ward focused on the importance of individual users and impact of exclusion on community forest management, conceptual clarity on gender, socialization of gender, leadership qualities and barriers of women leadership.
