Publisher : International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
Place of publication :
Publication year : 1998
Thematic : Community Based Approaches
Language : English
Note
As commercial markets penetrate rural areas, communities are making the transition from substinence to cash economies. This process, as seen in many developing countries, when uncontrolled, can widen the economic disparity between the resource poor and resource wealthy, and result in environmental degradation which, in turn, increases the work load of rural communities, especially women. In the mountains of Nepal, where cultivable land is limited, the invasion of market forces is occuring at a rapid pace. This is increasing the demand on resources used for food, medicines, fuelwood, fodder, construction materials, and income for many landless and poor. The need to strengthen existing institutions to effectively protect natural resources from expploitation and promote sustainable and equitable economic development for mountain communities, is imperative.
There is increasing interest in generating income from forest resources in community forest programmes. To do this effectively, the development approach must integrate the comparative advantages and constraints of mountain systems. Non-timber forest products, found in Nepal, present a potential means of promoting social, economic, and environmental welfare for rural communities. The increasing commercial demand for non-timber forest products promises profitable returns from collection and value-adding if the necessary institutional supportis available. Similarly, the need for a healthy ecosystem to provide a sustainable harvest of non-timber forest products motivates resource conservation.
This paper documents four institutional settings using non-timber forest products to generate income. The objective isto examine the economic, environmental, and social benefits resulting from these four different approaches fom the collectors' perspective. The analysis of these different approaches presents important guidelines for community forestry. The information in thi paper is based on research of the literature, discussions with project coordinators, and field work.
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Keywords : Marine resources
Encoded by : Pauline Carmel Joy Eje
