Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Amidst alarming global biodiversity loss, community-based approaches in natural resource management have been increasingly recognized in environmental policies. Nepal’s Community forestry program is an example of community-based natural resource management, in theory consisting of the formation of local institutions with decentralized decision-making regarding the forests. This thesis explores the intersection of local values and forest management in Nepal's community forests, utilizing qualitative methods including interviews and participant observation, along with forest inventories. Research questions addressed include: the values local resource users attribute to forest biodiversity, governance structures in place, and opportunities and challenges in empowering local communities in biodiversity management. The study employs a feminist political ecology framework to analyse the power dynamics and emotional connections of marginalized communities to natural resources. It additionally draws on concepts developed in previous research of authority within decentralized governance structures. The findings show that forest users value a variety of tree species of different benefits and consider active utilization of forests as determinant for the conservation of species diversity. High local autonomy was found to foster local engagement, awareness and valuation of forest species. The study indicates however, that challenges in local empowerment and governance persist in Nepali Community forestry, restricting the influence of local communities in forest management. The research underscores the importance of inclusive governance that integrates local expertise and emotional connections to forests, supported by appropriate government measures. Community-based approaches have the potential to enhance the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation by leveraging local knowledge and fostering adaptive governance.