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🇳🇵 Nepal /Environment & Climate

Leasehold forestry revives barren hills, boosts incomes in Chitwan

From Kathmandu Post · (4m ago) English Positive tone

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Leasehold forestry programs in Chitwan, Nepal, have transformed barren hills into thriving forests, improving both the environment and local incomes.
  • A local group, Chuwad Tandi Kabuliyati Forest, manages 5.19 hectares and earned Rs756,000 from selling sal timber this year, a significant boost from previous earnings from grass and bamboo.
  • Policy revisions in 2022 now allow user groups to harvest and auction fallen or dried trees, with revenue shared between the government and the community, revitalizing forest resource management.

The transformation of degraded hillsides in Chitwan into lush forests through leasehold forestry is a testament to the power of community-led conservation and sustainable resource management. For residents like Larimaya Gurung, this initiative has not only restored ecological balance but also unlocked significant economic opportunities, as evidenced by the substantial earnings from timber sales.

We used to cut grass and sell bamboo that grew here. This year, we earned Rs756,000 just from selling sal timber.

— Larimaya GurungA local resident and member of the Chuwad Tandi Kabuliyati Forest group, highlighting the economic benefits of the leasehold forestry program.

This program, supported by the Division Forest Office in Bharatpur, empowers local communities to manage and benefit from national forests. While the journey has faced challenges, including past conflicts that impacted forest resources, recent policy changes have been crucial. The ability to now utilize fallen or dried timber, with a shared revenue model, marks a significant shift, allowing for the proper use of forest resources that were previously rotting or lost to fires.

Communities are allowed to plant, grow and sell crops, fruits and forest products.

— Bishnu Prasad AcharyaDivisional Forest Officer, explaining the purpose and provisions of the leasehold forestry arrangements.

Chitwan's success with 443 leasehold forest groups managing over 1,400 hectares highlights the potential of such programs nationwide. While traditionally focused on products like broom grass and bamboo, the emerging timber income signifies a new era of economic growth for these communities. This story is particularly resonant in Nepal, where community forestry has long been a cornerstone of both environmental protection and rural development, demonstrating how local stewardship can yield tangible benefits far beyond ecological restoration.

We tried to stop them by hugging the trees, but they did not listen.

— Larimaya GurungRecounting an incident during the armed conflict when Maoist combatants felled trees in the leasehold area.
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Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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