Building on the key insights gained from the initial assessment and consultations conducted in Gandaki and Sudurpaschim provinces, ForestAction Nepal is currently implementing the second phase of the project entitled, “Strengthening Socio-Ecological Resilience to Climate Change through Improved Collaboration between Local Governments and Community Forest User Groups in Nepal.” Consultations with local governments (LG) leaders, CUFGs, and provincial government officials and stakeholders in these regions highlighted critical governance challenges, including conflicts over power sharing across three levels of governments, policy confusions, inconsistent policy implementation, and a lack of consorted efforts to mobilise and capitalize forests resources.

With the aim of bridging these policy/regulatory, institutional and operational gaps, the project aims to facilitate evidence supported constructive multi-stakeholder policy dialogues at different levels of governance. The whole idea is to develop and present a business case that would appeal the political and bureaucratic leadership in materializing the lost opportunity in community forestry. By producing a change well-researched and creditable report on lost opportunities will serve as a key advocacy tool to drive policy action and institutional reform.

 

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Project Objectives

The initiative is aimed at fostering cross-level collaboration in governance and management of community forests through evidence informed stakeholder dialogue. The specific objectives are:

– Conduct a diagnostic study (economic assessment and political economy analysis) on the missed opportunity in community forestry focusing on its economic potential, cost of poor management, drivers of stagnation and prospects of collaboration.

– Inform and orient key policy actors on the cost of non-action and prospects of decentralized governance to materialize the potential of community forestry.

– Foster multi-stakeholder dialogue towards strengthening multi-level government and cross-level intergovernmental collaboration for a productive, resilient and sustainable management of community forestry.

 

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Project Activities

With this partnership FAN will document:

– A technical report highlighting the progress from the engagement, dialogues and diagnostic study, along with financial report.

– A diagnostic study report on the economic potential of community forestry, missed opportunity due to non-action and associated political economy analysis.

– A policy brief on current status, lessons learnt and suggested strategies for key actors in community forestry.

– An infographic on economic potentials and gaps in CF contribution to national economy.

 

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