Direct causes National budget

112

5.2 Technical approaches

Along with the policy framework to curb deforestation and forest degradation, technical backstopping has also been enhanced. The Department of Forest Research and Survey DFRS under the MoFSC started its research on rehabilitation of degraded land in 1963. The species elimination trial of local and exotic pines identified Pinus roxburghii to be suitable for degraded sites in the hills of Nepal. The DFRS then the Forest Resources Survey carried out NFIs which helped to identify the extent, nature and location of forest degradation and deforestation in the country. In addition to support, it assisted policy-makers with the planning of forest resource management. In 1976-1978, all operating donors in the forestry sector supported the need to restore and rehabilitate degraded forests. A small grant for forestry research was allocated for the DFRS to implement ‘project-focused research’. For example, the Hill Community Forestry Project World Bank, Terai Community Forestry Project ADB, Resources Conservation and Utilisation Project USAID, Integrated Hill Development Project SDC and the Integrated Bheri Carnali Rural Development Project CIDA. In addition, Overseas Development Assistance ODA, UK projects had their own research activities carried out in the Pakhribas Agricultural Centre Dhankuta in the Eastern Region and Lumle Agricultural Centre Kaski in the Western Region. To identify and document techniques for successful rehabilitation through plantations, the Silvicultural Research Project SRP conducted all essential research and established necessary facilities to obtain and store high quality seed. Breeding seedling orchards were established, and collaboration with the Tree Improvement and Silviculture Component TISC was enhanced. Laboratories were established to test seed quality. Nursery techniques of all important and planted species were identified and documented. Nurseries were established in all the Silvicultural Trial Units. Research was conducted on rehabilitation and plantation of diverse types of degraded sites in disparate topographic zones for different species and documented. Block plantations of identified species were studied and findings were documented to support future management and development of plantation forests. Species studied in block plantations were Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Dalbergia sissoo, Pinus roxburghii and Pinus patula. In 1984, to study the techniques for regenerating degraded forests, Natural Forest Management Research was initiated. Schima castanopsis was targeted as it was located in the most populated area. Because of its multiple uses, it was the species of choice for rejuvenating degraded forests naturally. This study was extended to other forest types as well. The second study was carried on Shorea robusta sal, which was again another highly degraded forest type in the Terai. Research on forest recovery was carried out in degraded shrub forest and degradeddenuded sites. Silvicultural techniques were used in shrublands, while plantation techniques were the option for denuded sites. The success of reviving degraded shrublands was quite visible as shrub forests quickly responded. While the work has been of high quality, due to poor institutional links between research and end-users, the findings have not been well utilized.

5.3 Other initiatives to implement forest restoration

The Forestry Plan 1976 was the first systematic plan with provisions for afforestation. This was followed by the Master Plan for the Forestry Sector, 1989 which gave details for future supply and demand of forest products. The 1978 position was changed when rules were promulgated whereby Panchayats village councils could be allocated up to 125 ha of bare or sparsely-forested government land for plantations in the hills, whereas in the Terai, this was 130 ha of such degraded forests for plantations to meet the local subsistence needs for forest products. The Decentralization Act of 1982 and the Decentralization By-laws of 1984 made forestry one of the components of the district development plan for each district. After promulgation of the Forest Act, 1993 and Forest By-laws, 1994 the responsibility of managing nearby forests was given to local users so that all degraded barren lands could be planted with the active participation of local forest dependents. Considerable areas of plantations have been established by agencies such as the Nepal-Australian Community Forestry Project, Nepal Swiss Community Forestry Project and numerous other bodies. By 1985, about 5 000 ha were being planted annually. Not all the plantations were successful, and in some areas, there was a lack of people’s participation apart from paying villagers to raise, plant and protect trees. Until the early 1980s plantation activity was mostly on government forest lands rather than private or community lands. From the mid-1980s onwards plantations were carried out in community and private lands as well. Currently, community plantations have become the major source of forest products. The plantations are intensively managed and are technically supported by District Forest Offices. Central leveldepartmental plantations have been removed from the programmes. Additionally, emphasis has been put on encouraging tree planting by individual farmers. Farmers have been planting trees on their own land for many years, often using wildings from the natural forests in the hills and from nurseries in the Terai. In recent years, this activity has been increased considerably in response to the declining supply of forest products from common landsforests. 113 This increase in tree planting, particularly by individuals and communities, demonstrated a positive commitment toward restoration of degraded lands and forests Table 7 and indicates a trend towards potential long-term sustainability. Table 7. Tree plantations on different types of land Source: CES 1998.

5.4 Economic assessment of different possible forest restorationrehabilitation strategies

In Nepal, forests are major sources of rural livelihoods, income and employment. The sector generates about 9 percent of Nepal’s GDP and about 87 percent of the population depends directly on it for forest products, subsistence farming and for ecosystem services. Forests fulfill 80 percent of the energy needs and 35 percent of the fodder needed for domestic animals in Nepal. The government is well aware of this demand on forest produce and the need to prevent forests from becoming degraded. Increased level of compatibility between forestry and economic development has increased the potential for sustaining forest resources in Nepal. However, enhanced social, political and financial commitments are necessary to effectively harness this potential.

5.4.1 Forest restorationrehabilitation strategies

The country has practised various rehabilitation, protection and management strategies for deforested and degraded land, but schemes do not contribute unilaterally to the strategy implemented. Most of the forests other than national forests within the management control of the government were either degraded forests or young plantations when they were handed over. Most forest transfers occurred in the 1990s following the promulgation of the Forest Act 1993. Forest management has begun to yield outputs in the form of poles and a few trees that are marketed. The government strategy of encouraging greater public participation in forest management still holds. Increased areas of forest area are being handed over and an effort is being made to enhance governance of these institutions. However, in the process, national forest management has been left behind. Major chunks of forests are still under the control of the government which lacks proper forest management techniques, largely due to no enforcement of commitments. Table 8. Financial state of the forestry programme in Nepal Forestry programmes Area managed ha FUG or group no Population benefited Employment generated Income generation NRyear Comments Community forestry 1 700 048 18 133 2 237 195 hh Not available NR10 096 452yr 177 130.7district; max. = 2 638 187 Chitwan, min.= 2 770 Manang A household hh is considered to have 5.44 members CBS 2013 Leasehold forestry 40 898.36 6 934 65 997 hh Not available Collaborative forestry 54 072 19 3 321 738 482 712yr Royalty 916 533 850yr Budget 159 991 649 Buffer zone forestry Private forests 2 360.84 2 458 3 329 885 trees Adapted from DoF 2012, DoF 2013. Type of forest land Public government Community forest Private forest Leasehold forest 1993 3 056 4 420 3 559 298.4 1994 NA 3 044.6 6 656 436 1995 NA 2 913.5 8 800.2 899 1996 NA 1 313.4 NA NA Area of plantations ha 1992 2 667 3 732 6 810 NA