Assessing the Insights of Community Forest Users on Scientific Forest Management in Community Forest of Nepal: A SWOT-AHP Analysis

Author(s)

Abstract
Implementation of scientific forest management (SciFM) plan is gradually expanding in community forest (CF) of Nepal. Meanwhile insights of CF users regarding the management of CF with implementation of SciFM plan is still unidentified. In this study we used SWOT (Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats) methods in combination with AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) to assess the insights. The results revealed that even with the presence of negative factors (weakness and threats) of SciFM, positive factors (strengths and opportunities) are outweighed. In addition, economically attractive, lack of appropriate technology and technical manpower, balancing growing demand of forest products and less supporting geography were the most important SWOT factors perceived by CF users. The findings suggest that SciFM in CF of Nepal is viewed as double-edge sword with challenges and benefits. Therefore, despite of the less focused of SciFM on environmental and ecological aspects of the CF, it is capable of ensuring immediate communities' benefits. Hence, uncertain benefits flow due to SciFM could disrepute the acceptability of SciFM by CF users in long run.

Keywords
Community forest; management plan; silviculture system; SWOT–AHP

Cite this paper
Prabin Pandit, Pradeep Kunwar, Assessing the Insights of Community Forest Users on Scientific Forest Management in Community Forest of Nepal: A SWOT-AHP Analysis , SCIREA Journal of Forestry. Volume 3, Issue 1, February 2022 | PP. 1-20. 10.54647/forestry22023

References

[ 1 ]	Adhikari, B., Williams, F., & Lovett, J. C. (2007). Local benefits from community forests in the middle hills of Nepal. Forest Policy and Economics, 9(5), 464–478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2005.11.002
[ 2 ]	Awasthi, N., Aryal, K., Bahadur Khanal Chhetri, B., Bhandari, S. K., Khanal, Y., Gotame, P., & Baral, K. (2020). Reflecting on species diversity and regeneration dynamics of scientific forest management practices in Nepal. Forest Ecology and Management, 474(June), 118378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2020.118378
[ 3 ]	Bampton, J., & Cammaert, B. (2007). How can timber rents better contribute to poverty reduction through community forestry in the Terai region of Nepal? Journal of Forest and Livelihood, 6(1), 28–47.
[ 4 ]	Banjade, M. R. (2013). Discourse and Discursive Practices Over Timber in Nepal. Journal of Forest and Livelihood, 10(1), 58–73. https://doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v10i1.8601
[ 5 ]	Baral, Sirjana, Meilby, H., Khanal Chettri, B. B., Basnyat, B., Rayamajhi, S., & Awale, S. (2018). Politics of getting the numbers right: Community forest inventory of Nepal. Forest Policy and Economics, 91(October), 19–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2017.10.007
[ 6 ]	Baral, Sony, & Vacik, H. (2018). What governs tree harvesting in community forestry-regulatory instruments or forest bureaucrats’ discretion? Forests, 9(10). https://doi.org/10.3390/f9100649
[ 7 ]	Basnyat, B., Treue, T., & Pokharel, R. K. (2018). Silvicultural madness: a case from the “Scientific Forestry” initiative in the community forests of Nepal. Banko Janakari, 54–64. https://doi.org/10.3126/banko.v27i3.20542
[ 8 ]	Bhattrai, B., Mandal, R. A., & Kurmi, R. R. prasad. (2017). First National Silviculture Workshop. In S. Adhikari, R. Karki, & A. Gurung (Eds.), Policy Instruments and Practices of Collaborative Forest Management (p. 11). Department of Forests, Babarmahal, Kathmandu, Nepal.
[ 9 ]	Bhusal, P., Awasthi, K. R., & Kimengsi, J. N. (2020). User’s opinion in scientific forest management implementation in Nepal-a case study from Nawalparasi district Public land Agro-forestry for Biodiversity Conservation, Livelihood Support and North-South Conflict Mitigation in Nepal Terai View project Commu. Cogent Environmental Science, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2020.1778987
[ 10 ]	Boyce, J. . (1954). Forest plantation protection against diseases and pests. FAO.
[ 11 ]	Demarais, S., Verschuyl, J. P., Roloff, G. J., Miller, D. A., & Wigley, T. B. (2017). Tamm review: Terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity and intensive forest management in the U.S. Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 385, pp. 308–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2016.10.006
[ 12 ]	Department of Forest. (2020). Community Forestry National Database: MIS Database. In Department of Forest (DoF). Kathmandu, Nepal.
[ 13 ]	Department of Forest Research and Survey. (2015). STATE OF NEPAL ’ S FORESTS. In Forest Resource Assessment Nepal Project (FRA), Department of Forest Research and Survey (DFRS). Babarmahal, kathmandu, Nepal.
[ 14 ]	Dhakal, M., & Masuda, M. (2009). Local pricing system of forest products and its relations to equitable benefit sharing and livelihood improvement in the lowland community forestry program in Nepal. Forest Policy and Economics, 11(4), 221–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2009.02.004
[ 15 ]	Dwivedi, P., & Alavalapati, J. R. R. (2009). Stakeholders’ perceptions on forest biomass-based bioenergy development in the southern US. Energy Policy, 37(5), 1999–2007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2009.02.004
[ 16 ]	Forest Action. (2014). Political Economy of Forestry Sector of Nepal Analysis of Actors Engagement and Policy Process. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.4310.5284
[ 17 ]	Gilmour, D. (2016). Forty years of community-based forestry: A review of its extent and effectiveness. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
[ 18 ]	Government of Nepal. Community Forestry Program Development Guideline (Third Revision). , (2014).
[ 19 ]	Government of Nepal. (2014b). Scientific Forest Management Guideline. Kathmanud, Nepal: Mnistry of Forests and Environment.
[ 20 ]	Gurung, A., Bista, R., Karki, R., Shrestha, S., Uprety, D., & Oh, S. E. (2013). Community-based forest management and its role in improving forest conditions in Nepal. Small-Scale Forestry, 12(3), 377–388. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-012-9217-z
[ 21 ]	Hull, J., Ojha, H., & Paudel, K. P. (2010). Forest inventory in Nepal – Technical power or social empowerment? In Taking Stock of Nature: Participatory Biodiversity Assessment for Policy, Planning and Practice (pp. 165–184). https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511676482.008
[ 22 ]	Jayasawal, D., & Bishokarma, D. (2016). Scientific Forest Management Initiatives in Nepal: MSFP EXPERIENCES AND LESSONS LEARNT. In Multi Stakeholder Forestry Programme (MSFP). Kathmandu.
[ 23 ]	Joshi, O., Parajuli, R., Kharel, G., Poudyal, N. C., & Taylor, E. (2018). Stakeholder opinions on scientific forest management policy implementation in Nepal. PLoS ONE, 13(9), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203106
[ 24 ]	Khanal, Y., & Adhikari, S. (2018). Regeneration promotion and income generation through scientific forest management in community forestry: a case study from Rupandehi district, Nepal. Banko Janakari, (4), 45–53. https://doi.org/10.3126/banko.v27i3.20541
[ 25 ]	Kurttila, M., Pesonen, M., Kangas, J., & Kajanus, M. (2000). Utilizing the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) in SWOT analysis - A hybrid method and its application to a forest-certification case. Forest Policy and Economics, 1(1), 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1389-9341(99)00004-0
[ 26 ]	Luintel, H., Bluffstone, R. A., & Scheller, R. M. (2018). The effects of the Nepal community forestry program on biodiversity conservation and carbon storage. PLoS ONE, 13(6), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0199526
[ 27 ]	Ojha, H. R. (2006). Techno-bureaucratic Doxa and Challenges for Deliberative Governance: The Case of Community Forestry Policy and Practice in Nepal. Policy and Society, 25(2), 131–175. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1449-4035(06)70077-7
[ 28 ]	Pandit, R., & Bevilacqua, E. (2011). Forest users and environmental impacts of community forestry in the hills of Nepal. Forest Policy and Economics, 13(5), 345–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2011.03.009
[ 29 ]	Poudyal, B. H., Maraseni, T., & Cockfield, G. (2019). Impacts of forest management on tree species richness and composition: Assessment of forest management regimes in Tarai landscape Nepal. Applied Geography, 111,102078.
[ 30 ]	Poudyal, B. H., Maraseni, T., & Cockfield, G. (2020). Scientific forest management practice in Nepal: Critical reflections from stakeholders’ perspectives. Forests, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/f11010027
[ 31 ]	Rights and Resources Initiative. (2014). What Future For Reform? Progress and slowdown in forest tenure reform since 2002. Washington DC: Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI).
[ 32 ]	Rutt, R. L., Chhetri, B. B. K., Pokharel, R., Rayamajhi, S., Tiwari, K., & Treue, T. (2015). The scientific framing of forestry decentralization in Nepal. Forest Policy and Economics, 60, 50–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2014.06.005
[ 33 ]	Saaty, T. L. (1977). A scaling method for priorities in hierarchical structures. Journal of Mathematical Psychology, 15(3), 234–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-2496(77)90033-5
[ 34 ]	Saaty, T. L., & Vargas, L. G. (2012). Models, Methods, Concepts & Applications of Analytic Hierarchy Process (Second Edi). New York: Springer Science + Business Media New York.
[ 35 ]	Sapkota, L. M., Dhungana, H., Poudyal, B. H., Chapagain, B., & Gritten, D. (2020). Understanding the Barriers to Community Forestry Delivering on its Potential: An Illustration From Two Heterogeneous Districts in Nepal. Environmental Management, 65(4), 463–477. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-019-01224-0
[ 36 ]	Shrestha, R. K., Alavalapati, J. R. R., & Kalmbacher, R. S. (2004). Exploring the potential for silvopasture adoption in south-central Florida: An application of SWOT-AHP method. Agricultural Systems, 81(3), 185–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2003.09.004
[ 37 ]	Stainback, G. A., Masozera, M., Mukuralinda, A., & Dwivedi, P. (2012). Smallholder Agroforestry in Rwanda: A SWOT-AHP Analysis. Small-Scale Forestry, 11(3), 285–300. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11842-011-9184-9
[ 38 ]	Subedi, B. P., Ghimire, P. L., Koontz, A., Khanal, S. C., Katwal, P., Sthapit, K. R., & Mishra, S. K. (2014). Private Sector Involvement and Investment in Nepal ’ s Forestry : Status, Propects and Ways Forward. Babarmahal, kathmandu, Nepal: Multi Stakeholder Forestry Programme (MSFP).
[ 39 ]	Subedi, V. R., Bhatta, K. D., Poudel, I. P., & Bhattarai, P. (2018). Application of silvicultural system, yield regulation and thinning practices in natural forests: case study from western Terai. Banko Janakari, (4), 92–97. https://doi.org/10.3126/banko.v27i3.20553
[ 40 ]	Wheelen, T. L., & Hunger, J. D. (2010). Concepts in Strategic Management and Business Policy (12th ed.). Noida, India: Dorling Kindersley (india) Pvt. Ltd.
[ 41 ]	Yadav, N., Yadav, K., Yadav, K. K., & Thapa, N. (2009). Facilitating the Transition from Passive to Active Community Forest Management: Lessons from Rapti Zone, Nepal. Journal of Forest and Livelihood, 8(2), 51–66. https://doi.org/10.3126/jfl.v8i2.2308