Community forestry - ForestAction Nepal

Empowering Communities for Fire-Responsive Forest Management

Posted on March 27, 2025March 27, 2025 by admin

ForestAction Nepal recently conducted “Fire-Responsive Forest Management Trainings” for community forest user group members. ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with the Australian Himalayan Foundation (AHF) is undertaking this initiative on ‘Fostering Community-Led Forest Fire Management in High-Altitude Regions of Nepal’ in Dolakha and Sindhupalchowk.
The training took place from 1st March and continued till 20th March 2025. Altogether four CFUGs were targeted: BanjheKapase, Bhedigoth, Golmeshwor, and Salleri in Sindhupalchowk and Dolakha districts. Both conceptual aspects and field based demonstrations on forest management were conducted in the respective community forests. A total of 84 community user groups participated in the training.

The training was helpful in:

– Understanding sustainable forest management practices in relation to forest fire management.

– Bridging traditional community forest management knowledge with scientific approaches and management techniques for more effective decision-making.

– Hands-on experience in fireline construction and maintenance.

– Discussions on “Nepal’s forest management legal framework” and community roles in fire prevention.

Empowering communities with knowledge and practical skills is key to proactive and sustainable forest fire management. This training is a step toward enhancing community resilience in forest fire management.

Mastering Chainsaw Safety

Posted on May 22, 2024May 22, 2024 by admin

In several districts of Bagmati Province, individuals often perform chainsaw operations without formal training or guidance leading to unsafe practices and habitat destruction. Recognizing this issue, EnLiFT2/ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with the Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC) launched a 2-day training session (16th-17th May 2024) on the “Safe Chainsaw Operation and Maintenance Program”. The training program focused on bridging the knowledge gap by providing comprehensive training on safe chainsaw operation and maintenance practices. By equipping chainsaw operators with the necessary skills and knowledge, the program seeks to ensure the safety of the operators, minimize environmental impact, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the sustainability of chainsaw use in Nepal.

A total number of 24 diverse participants from different fields (forestry workers, farmers, sawmill operators, construction workers, drivers, etc) attended the session. The first day of the session focused on “Introduction to Chainsaw Operation and Safety” where theoretical knowledge on usage, components, maintenance, and environmental considerations of chainsaw operations were discussed. Similarly, the second day aimed to enhance the participant’s theoretical knowledge through practical exercises, safety procedures, and legal & regulatory methods.

At the end of the training, participants were evaluated on their understanding and proficiency in safe chainsaw operation through written assessment and practical demonstrations. The “Safe Chainsaw Operation and Maintenance Program” has become a successful program in enhancing safety awareness among chainsaw operators from the Bagmati province, developing their technical skills, and emphasizing the importance of responsible and sustainable practices!

Orientation Programs on Women Leadership Development on Forest Management

Posted on December 28, 2022December 28, 2022 by admin

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.