Abstract
Private forest (PF) program has the potential to be one of the most efficient forest management programs in Nepal but it has not gained the momentum compared to the other forest management regimes. Considering this, this paper aims to portray policy provisions, existing institutional arrangements as well as landholder experiences and perceptions over the existing mechanisms of PF registration, management, and forest product harvesting. Using the Sudoorpashchim province of Nepal as a case study, we conducted policy and literature reviews, key informant interviews, household surveys, and field observations. We found only 300 PFs registered in the Sudoorpashchim province, with lowland districts having the highest proportion (87%). Institutional arrangements and procedures for timber harvesting and selling were found to be lengthy and complex, with this being a major issue for PF owners with small forest areas. Government initiatives are inadequate to facilitate PF development due to poor implementation of policy provisions, as well as the lack of appropriate incentives and program packages. Despite a very small government investment in PF development, we found the return from PFs in terms of timber supply to be substantially higher than other forest management regimes. Among others, PF owners perceive the cumbersome regulatory procedures and lack of technical support to be the most pertinent factors responsible for the limited growth of PFs. Based on our results, we have discussed and recommended a number of policy and institutional measures to mainstream PF development programs, in order to support economic prosperity of the nation.
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Notes
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, provincial government officials and civil society actors.
Interview, provincial government officials and civil society actors.
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, provincial government officials and representatives of the local government.
Interview, representatives of the PF networks.
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, representatives of PF network.
Interview, representatives of PF network.
Interview, representatives of the PF networks and civil society actors.
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, representatives of PF network and representatives of local government.
Interview, representatives of PF network.
Interview, representatives of PF network.
Interview, civil society actors.
Interview, provincial government officials and civil society actors.
Interview, representatives of PF network.
Interview, civil society actors.
Interview, representative of PF networks.
Interview, representative of PF networks and civil society actors.
Interview, civil society actors.
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, provincial government officials and representatives of local government.
Interview, provincial government officials.
Interview, representatives of PF network.
Interview, representatives of PF network.
Interview, civil society actors.
Interview, civil society actors and provincial government officials.
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We would like to thank Divisional Forest Offices in Sudoorpashchim province, key informants, and private forest owners for their immense support during field visit and data collection.
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Aryal, K., Rijal, A., Maraseni, T. et al. Why is the Private Forest Program Stunted in Nepal?. Environmental Management 66, 535–548 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01343-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-020-01343-z