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Community Forest Management: The story behind a success story in Nepal

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  • Libois, François
  • Baland, Jean-Marie
  • Delbart, Nicolas
  • Pattanayak, Subhrendu

Abstract

Since 1993, Nepal has implemented one of the most ambitious and comprehensive program of decentralization of forest management in the world, which is widely considered a success story in terms of participatory management of natural resources. Using quasi-experimental methods, we first quantify the net gains in tree cover related to the program in the Hills and Mountains of Nepal, and describe their temporal evolution. We then discuss the mechanisms driving forest restoration, highlighting that, while community forestry played a role in increasing forest biomass and forest size, it also reduced demand pressures by altering energy choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Libois, François & Baland, Jean-Marie & Delbart, Nicolas & Pattanayak, Subhrendu, 2022. "Community Forest Management: The story behind a success story in Nepal," CEPREMAP Working Papers (Docweb) 2204, CEPREMAP.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpm:docweb:2204
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    2. Poudyal, Bishnu Hari & Khatri, Dil Bahadur & Paudel, Dinesh & Marquardt, Kristina & Khatri, Sanjaya, 2023. "Examining forest transition and collective action in Nepal’s community forestry," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).

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    Keywords

    Forest management ; Community forestry ; Nepal ; Energy ; Participatory development;
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