Promoting social justice and conserving montane forest environments: A case study of Nepal's community forestry program

Abstract

This paper discusses a case study reflecting the impacts, the threats and challenges of a poor and marginalized community in montane forest program in Nepal. The local Forest User Group is managed by elites, which contributes to the continued marginalization of the disadvantaged and vulnerable. Forest resource management policies influence the relationships between people. The case study was conducted in the middle hills of Nepal; the data was collected through direct observation, individual interviews, group discussion and secondary information analysis. The paper uses the case study to highlight how a community forestry program can be used to encourage the participation of the women, the poor and dalit (untouchables) in forest resource management, to promote social justice and to improve forest resources. Results show that community forestry processes must address the political, economic and social needs of the forest users, and also provide a neutral platform on which the poor can present their cases.