Community Forestry Policy of Nepal: A Noble Approach to Sustainability

This report provides a critical analysis of Nepal's Community Forestry Policy, examining its effectiveness in addressing the triple bottom line of planet, people, and profit. The policy, originating from the traditional Panchayat System and formalized by the Forest Act of 1993 and 1995, utilizes a multi-faceted approach, including local governance, forest regulations, and monitoring bodies. It evaluates the policy instruments, highlighting the success in Terai region and its alignment with Nepal's environmental sensitivity. The report also discusses the integration of scientific methods, the division of areas for management and research, and the policy's strengths in promoting local values. It also addresses the weaknesses of the policy, such as potential roadblocks to societal development and the challenge of population growth. The report concludes by emphasizing the policy's role as an ideal example of balancing stakeholder interests and promoting sustainable forest management, offering valuable lessons for other regions.

Community Forestry Policy of Nepal, a noble way to address the triple bottom line

The policy Instruments used in the policy
In the year 2011, during the course of the Geneva Convention on the environment, developed
nations of the world appealed to the developing countries that they should follow the triple
bottom line of planet people and profit. This appeal stated that “the industry should come up
with the ways to facilitate their tasks in such a way where the planet or the environmental
concerns should form the backdrop and profits made by the country should stay in the
forefront (Hilarie 2012)”. Most of the developing the nations of the world refused to this idea.
It painted a wrong picture of Asia in the mind of the westerners. However, most of them were
unaware of the fact that countries of the Indian subcontinent have a tradition of following this
triple bottom line is built in their culture. Community Forestry Policy of Nepal has presented
one such interesting case in front of us. In this critique, we are having a glance at it from a
critical point of view.
We can study the draft of the community forestry policy of Nepal in a formal draft written in
an international language. However, when we check it on the application level we find that
this system has originated from the “Traditional Panchayat System (Raj 2012).” Under these
system local authorities appoint representatives from their areas, these panchayats were
allowed to function under the provisions of forest act 1993, the recommendations of the
forest act states that the ownership of the forest will remain with the government whereas,
locals will be allowed to use the resources in a justified and sustainable fashion (Dahel 2012).
The system of Panchayat or the local bodies is the first tool, the second tool is the forest
regulation act of 1995, and this act allows a community to utilize a forest under the realms of
self-governance. The second clause of this act gives them a right to utilize the resources of a
forest under the pre-determined rules and customs derived by a community (Bhattarai 2012).

This model can also be termed as the model of the self-governance where a son of soil can
utilize the resources as per his needs and he can also take care of the capacity of the system.
The tools of the policy also ensure a third instrument which is a monitoring body. This
monitoring body has all the rights to conduct an environmental survey from time to time and
set new benchmarks of the use (Cullen 2011).

The evaluation of the policy on the merit of the policy instruments
Right now one-fourth forest in the Terai area of Nepal is functional under forest act 1993.
This fact is a testimony of the success of this community forestry policy. On the scale of
environment friendly practices, Nepal is a sensitive country because of its geographical
location and its dependence on nature. The community forestry policy solves all the purpose
of this country which is under a pressure of the “natural increase in the population (Luintel
2018).”
The first tool of the policy the “ Panchayat System” is a great way to restore the
belongingness of the community with the program. It gives them the impression that they are
doing it under the regime of the self-governance and they are doing it in a traditional fashion.
The psychological impact of this fact eases down the work of the second tool which is a
legislation imposed by forest act of 1995, we should never forget the fact that this act
provides right to the local people regarding the utilization of the natural wealth, however, it
also imposes a third tool in the form of monitoring where a body with a scientific know how
can keep a check on certain activities (Pathak 2017).
The community forest policy and the industry of the forestry associated with it present an
ideal example in front of us. Under this example, the interests of the stakeholders remain
intact while the regulatory body keeps a check and balance on the sustainability of the system
(Paudyai 2017). This policy is precisely based on the traditional communal system of forest
protection. An ideal policy should carry forward the essence of the local thought process and
try to create synchronization with the needs of the masses. The implementation of this policy
fulfills both the conditions and rest of the world can learn from this example. Most
importantly this policy promotes some ancient values in a postmodern world and gains
momentum with the help of traditional wisdom (Cullen 2011).

When we check the weaknesses of the policy then we find that this policy can create some
roadblocks against the systematic development of the society. The triple bottom line also
advocates the concept of the development of the local people, this aspect is missing from the
policy, and somehow it carries a regressive hangover of the traditional systems as well.
Another factor which is missing is related to the “natural increase in the population.” It has
been seen that on most of the occasions such types of arrangements fail when the carrying
capacity of an eco-system fails in holding the pressure of the natural increase in the
population (Luintel 2018).

The integration of the scientific methods in the policy
In order to integrate the concerns of the scientist in the development of this area, the
government has divided the entire area into two areas. The first area is the area of “Panchayat
forest” and the second area is the area of “ Panchayat protected forests.” Under the current
policy frameworks, the government and other external agencies are duty bound to protect the
PF areas from all sorts of calamities like epidemics and negative impacts of the natural
environments. This legislation also writes a duty of the external bodies to make sure that they
are taking all the necessary measures to ensure proper means to protect the eco-system of the
area with the help of right interventions (Paudyai 2017).
The PPF areas can be compared with the core zones of a reserve forest where scientific
research can be conducted and scientists can come up with right kind of interventions to
enrich the area against the broader environmental threats like global warming etc (Bhattarai
2012).

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syThis act successfully created a triangular system to meet all the three needs of the triple
bottom line. On the lines of the evaluation we can say that this policy allows facilitates the
exercise of forest management and converts the forest into a friendly industry.