Final Report

The study focused on the role of communities for biodiversity conservation in the Buffer Zone area of Royal Chitwan National Park. The primary objective of this research was to develop a methodology for integrating and livelihoods concerns in the context of community forestry. The focus of the study was to facilitate community and their actions on conservation and management of species under selection stress as well as identify policy issues and opportunities in relation to the integration of biodiversity concerns in community managed forests.

In Nepal, over 11,000 FUGs have been managing more than 850,000 ha of country forests. However they have not incorporated the concept of biological diversity in their operational forest management plans (OP). In addition, most OPs focus on timber-oriented management strategies, ignoring a number of valuable products that are useful to poor communities and their livelihoods. The action research mode allowed the project team to increase awareness of communities on both institutional and ecological aspects. Several of the changes induced through the project actions are expected to create conservation impact and enhance biodiversity based livelihood opportunities.

Read in full Hemant's final report below.