Community forest entrusts, empowers, sustains, conserves

8 March 2010

The introduction of the people-centric forest management has gained momentum in Bhutan. Almost every day, we hear of community forests being handed over to the people in different parts of the country. This is a tectonic shift from the earlier fully government-backed forest management policy. Now with the people at the forefront of forest management, all aspects of forest management fall on the shoulders of the beneficiaries.

This is based on the principle that the ultimate benefits of the natural resource should go to the people, and in this regard, the management should also be the people’s responsibility. Now members of a community take proactive role in the management of the community forest that falls within their community.

This has created a win-win situation for the government and common people. For the government, except for the knowledge transfer regarding management of natural resource, there is substantial reduction in the cost of maintaining a forest. And for the people, it becomes easier to acquire timber permits for construction of houses and other purposes. This is one of the immediate benefits besides others.

This approach makes people the owners of their natural resources. Research shows that people become efficient caretakers and custodians of the natural resources once they are given the right and the responsibility to do so with a little support from the government.

Efficient management of forest has direct manifold effects on the community.

First, it results in the prevention of the loss of biodiversity. Second, there is protection of watershed which ensures good and reliable water source for farmers’ livelihood. Third, there is supply of timber and other forest products for use by the community. Fourth, grazing land is protected.

Since the members of the community are imparted knowledge on how to regenerate the forest after use, conserve and put back to the forest what they extract, sustainability is ensured.

Fifth, the scenic beauty of a place is enhanced by the forest, and this ultimately contributes to eco-tourism.

Sixth, since majority of Bhutanese villages use firewood for cooking purposes, a steady supply of firewood can be ensured. Women need not walk for long hours in search of firewood and can productively utilize the time that they would otherwise spend on farming and other activities.

Seventh, forests act as the cheapest and the most reliable method for carbon offsetting and the proper use of the local forest produce substantially lowers the carbon footprint of a community. Illegal poaching and felling of trees by few intending to profiteer can also be brought down with this approach.

Community forest is in line with one of the pillars of GNH – Preservation of the natural environment. And since the environment (of which forest is a part) is the wellspring of our life, our happiness, to a great extent, depends upon the very way we care for our environment. Judicious use of forest resources ensures that a community thrives and prospers.

This approach is an excellent way of empowering people. It also acts as a confidence building measure between the people and the government. People increasingly start viewing the government as facilitators or custodians of their rights and not as an entity bent upon preventing the local people from using the natural resources in the name of preservation and conservation of natural resources.

By Netra Binod Sharma
Lecturer, Life Science Programme
Sherubtse College
netra80sharma@gmail.com

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