Community Forest User Groups Investment Dynamics : Lessons from Irregular Shelterwood Silviculture Practice in Nepal's Mid-Western Terai

• Published in: Journal of Forest and Environmental Science Vol. 41; no. 1; pp. 67 - 81
• Main Authors: Pawan Karki, Prabin Bhusal, Kavi Raj Awasti
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 산림과학연구소 31.03.2025
• Subjects: 임학; income; expenditure; investment; determinants; community forests
• ISSN: 2288-9744; 2288-9752

Irregular shelterwood silviculture practice in Sal (Shorea robusta C.F. Gaertn.) forest led to a rapid alteration in the dynamics of terai community forests (CFs). However, the waves of timber-based forest income overlooked the changing investment patterns of these forests. In this paper, we analyze patterns of income, expenditure, and their determinants of CFs that implemented the new timber-based silvicultural approach. For this, we surveyed 26 purposively sampled Community Forestry User Groups (CFUGs), complemented by focus group discussions with forestry officials and forest users (n=10), and key informant interview (n=26). We observed that CFUG three-year average annual income accounts NRs 6,411,423 (1 US$=NRs 133.36) where timber is the key source, comprising 86% of total forest income followed by user contribution (4%). Overall, 42% of the CFUG income is invested in forest management and 20% in community development while administration, interest/donation/prize, pro-poor activities and training receive 17%, 9%, 9%, and 3% respectively. The investment in forest development, community development, and livelihood enhancement activities of CFUG income are also highly skewed based on the income size of CF. Equally, socio-economic factors such as the number of households, women proportion in executive committee, annual discussion, and knowledge on scientific forest management (ScFM) have realigned the investment pattern of ScFM implemented CFs.