Bijendra Basnyat

In Nepal, there is currently no volume function for economically valuable tree species like Shorea robusta Gaertn. prepared based on destructive sampling for stem and branches. Existing functions rely on solely diameter and height, despite research indicating the importance of crown dimensions for stem taper. The objective of this study was to collate harmonized data from destructive sampled S. robusta trees from far-west to east Nepal, spanning about 500 km and to prepare new stem and branch volume functions. For every tree (n = 219) diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (H) was measured. Thereof 188 trees had measurements of crown length (CL). For a subsample (n = 100) volume of branches (>10 cm diameter) were measured too. We fitted functions for stem and branch volume using regression mixed models with DBH, slenderness and crown ratio as covariates/predictors. We hypothesized that crown ratio is needed for accurate stem and branch volume predictions. Our results indicate that DBH and slenderness were the most important variables for predicting stem volume (marginal coefficient of determination R2 0.948), whereas the inclusion of crown ratio did not increase the explained variance. Crown ratio significantly increased explained variance in branch volume functions, suggesting that crown dimensions are needed to obtain accurate branch volume predictions (marginal R2 0.766). Estimating volume with only DBH, e.g. if more detailed H and CL measurements are missing, resulted in more precise estimates for stem (marginal R2 0.908) and fair estimates for branch volume (marginal R2 0.554). Our mixed model approach revealed that there were only small differences in volume from the different sampling sites and a similar accuracy can be assumed when applying the presented functions in other part of the country. Additionally, we demonstrated that log-transformation and currently used volume functions lead to biased volume estimates, in particular for large-sized trees. This study helps to provide reliable growing stock estimates of S. robusta (and in combination with density the carbon content) and considers the effects of wider spacing and longer crowns on stem taper and allocation patterns.

The study assesses the likely consequences of COVID-19 in the forest sector of Nepal, focusing on timber production and rural livelihoods. The study conducted telephone interviews along with a review of the secondary source of information and consultations. The timber production in 2020 is likely to decrease by 80% compared to previous years, resulting in a monetary loss of NRs 647.0 million. Furthermore, local community will lose 147,447 days of employment, amounting NRs 117.9 million. This will make livelihoods of the people more vulnerable. Returning of youths from abroad can further escalate biodiversity threats. Timber import is likely to increase in the country, thus impacting on local level employment opportunities. Both long-term and short-term strategies are necessary to revive the timber production and rural livelihoods, where priority should be on increasing investment in the forestry sector. However, public-sector investment is declining. Hence there is a need to expand conservation finance portfolios to incentivise rural people on timber production and achieve synergies between conservation and livelihood outcomes.

In Nepal, forest management priority is shifting to scientific management from conventional management. Though, the forest officials claims that scientific management is beneficial to the forest user groups, comparative financial assessment with conventional management remains unexplored. Following a case study approach, this study compares financial efficiency of two forest management systems in the community forests, focusing on benefit-cost ratio. The study conducted documents review, focus group discussions, and rapid survey to quantify costs and benefits from each forest management system. Conventional management gave a higher benefit-cost ratio to the forest user groups, irrespective of whether forest products are sold at a subsidized price or par with the market price. However, scientific management required high forest management costs and thus had a lower benefit-cost ratio. Sensitivity analysis between two systems revealed that conventional management gave a higher benefit-cost ratio in all cases. The study concludes that forest user groups would bear financial loss if they do not fix the price of the timber at par with the market in scientific management, and in such a case, the tagged price will be beyond affordability of the forest users. Furthermore, scientific management has discouraged kind contribution of users in managing forest. Besides, social and environmental consequences of scientific management cannot be ignored. Hence, the study argues for reconsidering current scientific management considering likely economic and social consequences to the forest user groups.

The authors found some minus signs were omitted in Table 4 and the Equations (1) and (8), and have requested that the following changes be made to their paper

The accurate prediction of the volume of standing trees is a prerequisite for planning and decision making in sustainable forest management. In Nepal, limited information on form factor (i.e. the ratio of the volume of a tree to the product of its basal area and height) is available for economically important tree species. Thus, current management plans consider a simple approximation for all species irrespective of their height and diameter, which hampers the estimation of a sustainable harvest rate. Therefore, this study elaborates the form factor for Sal (Shorea robusta), an economically valuable tree of Nepal based on a random selection of 100 individual trees representing a wide range of diameters between 10 and 100 cm. Diameter and bark thickness were measured at every 1-meter interval of the length of the stem and branches until the diameter reached 10 cm. The analysis allowed for the estimation of an average form factor for Sal wood with 0.407 over bark and 0.336 under bark, while the form factor for the stem was 0.335 over bark and 0.281 under bark. The results indicate an increasing form factor until 70 cm diameter and a decreasing value for larger diameters, because of the large crowns of the mature Sal trees. We conclude that the default form factor of Sal (0.5) used in management planning results in an overestimation of standing tree volume. Using form factor according to diameter classes will allow a more accurate prediction of the standing volume.

This research explains the distributive effect of the implementation of scientific forestry practices in the community forests of Nepal. Taking a case from two community forests of Nepal, the study conducted financial analysis of scientific forest management, followed by semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and observation. Scientific forest management can be beneficial to forest user groups in rhetoric. However, forest user groups are selling timber at a price far below the cost of production and thus efficient economic model of scientific managment is compromised. Users should either pay the price at par with the production cost or increase their labor contribution. Surprisingly, forest user groups give priority to selling timber either in the market or to local elites, instead of distributing to the poor and marginalized members. Both elite capture and bureaucratic control take place during implementation. Paradoxically, scientific management is defeating the primary purpose of community forests, i.e. assisting local communities in fulfilling the basic needs of forest products and facilitating an equitable sharing of benefits. In Nepal, the forest bureaucracy has not only commodified community forestry for timber production but also succeeded to seize official and un-official revenue from the decentralized forests.

Fuelwood is the primary source of energy in Nepal, where 87.1% of the total energy is derived from wood, making it the major source for carbon emissions. This study explores the factors affecting the fuelwood consumption, the amount of carbon emissions including the potential for carbon sequestration in community forests, taking a case study of Kankali Community Forest Users Group (CFUG) of Chitwan district of Nepal. Interviews with 217 households revealed that 60% of the households still depend on fuelwood for cooking, which apparently emits approximately 13.68 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The emission, however, varies with the economic status of the households; poor households rely exclusively on fuelwood for cooking and therefore emit greater amount of carbon. Similarly, the carbon emission was also found to be directly proportional to the family size and livestock holding, and inversely proportional to landholding and per capita income. A more conservation-oriented forest management along with activities to support livelihood has contributed to lower carbon emissions. Interestingly, the poverty-energy trap seemed to have a distinct gender dimension. We argue that CFUGs need to invest in income-generating activities for local users, and especially for women of low-income households, in order to reduce current carbon emission.

This paper highlights on Lok Vanaki (private forestry) scheme, an innovative and decentralized approach for managing private forestry of Madhya Pradesh (MP) and examines on policy provisions, implementation status and explore on issues associated with its implementation. This scheme was launched in Madhya Pradesh in April 1999 for promoting multi-tier scientific management of neglected and degrading forests on private holdings. The State Government has taken adequate measures to provide sufficient legal support to the whole initiative. Lok vanaki has not only helped on conservation and development of private forestry but also in socio-economic upliftment of people. It has also contributed in reducing the unemployment rate of the country concept through the charter foresters, who are fully authorized for preparation, implementation and monitoring of the plan. Efforts are underway to make the programme successful through political commitment. Key words: Private forestry, Forest acts, Management plan, MP, India. Banko Janakari Vol.15(2) 2005 pp24-27