Seeing the forest and the trees

Background Tree planting Community development Improving the lives of women Achievements   Background  Nepal is among the poorest and least developed countries in the world, with 42 percent of its population living below the poverty line. There is great disparity between rural and urban areas, regions, genders and ethnic groups. Political instability and weak governance have hampered both economic growth and the ability of the government to deliver adequate services, particularly in rural areas. Nepal has 27.3 percent forest cover (3.9 million hectares), but one-quarter of the forest area is heavily degraded. Its range of altitude means there is a wide variety of different forest types. The Nepalese rely on forests for: food clean water to drink herbs for food flavouring, medicine and aromatic purposes timber for building and tools fuel wood for cooking and heating charcoal for forging iron implements food for cattle and goats leaf matter for animal bedding and compost Deforestation resulted in severe land degradation in the Middle Hill region of Nepal by the late 1970s Tree planting In the early 1960s, the Government of Nepal requested assistance from the Australian Government to help grow more trees. Australian foresters began planting Australian eucalypts and acacias and European pine trees to stop soil washing away. The tree planting programs were, in the main, successful. However, in some places the trees used too much water, which affected supplies for people, other plants and animals. The Nepalese helped plant and care for the trees, but had little involvement in information sharing and decision-making, and, as a result did not feel any ownership of the project. Also, because poverty was still a problem, people kept cutting down trees before they were fully grown. Community development In the mid 1970s, both governments realised that the relationship between the people and the trees had to be considered in relation to any future reforestation projects. In response to this, the Nepal-Australia Community Forestry Project began. Forest User Groups in many villages were put in charge of their own tree nurseries and planting. All members were encouraged to give opinions and plan for the future. Only one section of the forest was cut each year, then replanted with native trees where possible. People began using traditional knowledge, such as saving leaves for compost. Careful management through community development has assisted the reforestation of severely degraded agricultural land People stayed interested in the project because the trees were thriving, and the money raised from the forest provided funding for other things such as: further tree planting wells and pumps for clean water schools connection to electricity roads irrigation schemes lights for reading and writing classes at night safer and more efficient cooking stoves loans to help start businesses lokta trees for the silk-like paper highly prized in Japan increased spice production a sawmill furniture-making workshops guards to protect fragile forest areas donations to needy families Improving the lives of women Many of these activities have been of particular benefit to Nepalese women. Recognition of their traditional knowledge has improved their social status and role in decision making. This has involved gender awareness training for men as well. Improved access to water has reduced the physical effort and time taken to collect water. Income generation has reduced the need to seek work in the city. Building of local schools has meant more girls are able to attend. Safer and more efficient stoves have reduced the amount of fuel needed to be carried, and amount of respiratory problems caused by the smoke. Literacy classes have developed women's ability to participate in decision making, and their life skills in areas ranging from nutrition to composting. Achievements Since 1978, Australian assistance has helped grow over 20 000 hectares of forest, and establish over 10,000 Forest User Groups, who manage their own patches of forests, all around the country. Twenty-eight Nepalese forestry officials have studied on scholarships in Australia. This project has inspired more Forest User Groups in other regions of Nepal to start using the same techniques to help maintain forests and reduce poverty. An independent evaluation of Australia's 35-year involvement in this sector found that Australian assistance has reduced soil erosion, increased plant diversity and arrested natural forest degradation. Although the country's forest cover declined by 1.8 percent annually between 1990 and 2000, some studies have indicated an increase in the number of trees, a phenomenon which can be explained by the progress in community forestry, farm forestry and agro-forestry. Going further McLaughlin, Andrea "Seeing the Forest and the Trees...Nepal/Australia Community Forestry project" Focus http://www.ausaid.gov.au/publications/focus/focuspdfs/29619-27.pdf Nepal Australia Community Resource Management Project http://www.nacrmlp.com.np/project_achieve.html