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Can community forestry contribute to household income and sustainable forestry practices in rural area? A case study from Tshapey and Zariphensum in Bhutan

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  • Moktan, Mani Ram
  • Norbu, Lungten
  • Choden, Kunzang

Abstract

Community forestry is an emerging success model of state–community partnership for forest management and poverty reduction. Bhutan's initial experience of forest management by user group is promising, but merits further study on how community forests have experienced with harvesting and income generation consistent with national forest policy. This study quantifies whether community forestry contribute to household income with equitable products and income distribution and gender inclusive participation; and community forests are managed applying the principles of sustainable harvest without compromising regeneration and productivity. We applied a combination of social and ecological methods using household interview and forest sampling plots. Our findings revealed that community forestry contributes to household income through harvesting and marketing of large trees, and non-wood forest products where markets are accessible. Household income, however, vary widely between rich and poor households with former capitalizing on commercial and latter on subsistence products. Timber harvesting is consistent with the principles of sustainable harvest without altering species composition, regeneration and productivity. To narrow income inequality, pro-poor approach to community forestry needs to target poor households with income diversification activities and market accessibility. The promising results are context-driven and warrant consolidation from other community forests experiencing harvest in Bhutan.

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  • Moktan, Mani Ram & Norbu, Lungten & Choden, Kunzang, 2016. "Can community forestry contribute to household income and sustainable forestry practices in rural area? A case study from Tshapey and Zariphensum in Bhutan," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 149-157.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:forpol:v:62:y:2016:i:c:p:149-157
    DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2015.08.011
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    7. Tapan Kumar Nath & Mohammed Jashimuddin & Makoto Inoue, 2020. "Achieving sustainable development goals through participatory forest management: Examples from South‐Eastern Bangladesh," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 44(4), pages 353-368, November.
    8. Harbi, Jun & Erbaugh, James Thomas & Sidiq, Mohammad & Haasler, Berthold & Nurrochmat, Dodik Ridho, 2018. "Making a bridge between livelihoods and forest conservation: Lessons from non timber forest products' utilization in South Sumatera, Indonesia," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 1-10.
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    10. Choden, Kunzang & Nitschke, Craig R. & Stewart, Stephen B. & Keenan, Rodney J., 2021. "The potential impacts of climate change on the distribution of key tree species and Cordyceps in Bhutan: Implications for ecological functions and rural livelihoods," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 455(C).

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