Proceedings of the national seminar on Chure 

 27 February, 2012 Kathmandu Nepal 

 

Sustainable management of Chure: efforts,  

challenges and potential 

                           

 Organized by:   Disclaimer   

 Rastrapati Chure Conservation Program Coordination Unit   Responsibility for the contents of the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation   papers in this publication rests solely Kathmandu, Nepal    with the respective author(s).  

 

              

     

  

Proceedings of the national seminar on Chure  

   

 Sustainable management of Chure: efforts, 

challenges and potential       

   Publisher 

Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation,  Department  of  Soil  Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM) 

 

 Editors 

Prakash Kumar Jha Prem Prasad Paudel 

Megh Bahadur Pandey 

Table of Contents  1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 1 2. Chure’s current situation........................................................................................ 2 3. Rastrapati Chure Conservation Program (RCCP) ................................................. 4 4. Efforts, issues and concern (summaries from the presentations) ......................... 4

4.1 Efforts of Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM) in Churia Conservation: ................................................................................... 4

4.2 Efforts of Department of Forests (DOF) in Churia Conservation: ............................. 5 4.3 Efforts of Department of Plant Resources (DPR) in Churia Conservation ............... 5 4.4 Key issues, implementation guidelines and historical background of the program ... 5 4.5 Key components and vision for formulation of Churia Conservation Strategy ......... 6 4.6 Role of media in Churia Conservation .............................................................................. 6 4.7 Local level experiences on Churia conservation and possibility of collaboration

among institutions................................................................................................................. 6 4.8 Existing practices, regulation option for extraction of Sand, Gravel, from Churia

River and mechanism of district level collaboration ....................................................... 7 4.9 Landscape level conservation approach in Churia region and possibility of building

partnership approach with other relevant non government sectors ............................. 7 4.10 Scope, challenges and opportunities of community forestry management in Churia

region ...................................................................................................................................... 8 4.11 Chure conservation: A challenge ........................................................................................ 8 4.12 Strategic vision on Chure area conservation .................................................................... 9

5. Challenges .............................................................................................................. 9 6. Group discussion and suggestions ...................................................................... 10 7. Views from President’s office/MOFSC ............................................................... 15 Annexs ......................................................................................................................... 16

      

Acronyms BZMC Buffer Zone Management Council BZMC Buffer Zone Management Committee CA Constitutent Assembly CDO Chief District Officer CFMG Collborative Forest Management Group CFUG Community Forestry User Groups DDC District Development Committee DFCC District Forest Coordination Committee DFO District Forest Office/Officer DOF Department of Forest DOR Department of Road DPR Department of Plant Resouce DSCO District Soil Conservation Office DSCWM Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management EIA Environmental Impact Assessment FECOFUN Federation of Community Forestry User Groups’ of Nepal GIS Geographic Information System IEE Initial environmental examination INGO Inter-national Non Governental Organization LhFUG Leasehold Forest User Group LSGA Local Self Governance Act MIS Management Information System MOE Ministry of Environment MOFSC Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation MOLD Ministry of Local Development NEFEJ Nepal Federation of Environmental Journalists NGO Non Governmental Organization NPC National Planning Commission NRM Natural Resource Management NTFP Non Timber Forest Product PFUG Private Forest User Group RCCP Rastrapati Chure conservation programRFD Regional Forest Directorate SGB Sand, gravel and bouldersTAL Terai Arc landscape TOR Term of Reference VDC Village Development Committee WTLCP Western Terai Landscape Conservation Programme WWF World Wildlife Fund

 

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1. Introduction 

Stretched parallel to the Himalayas in Nepal, the Chure region covers the Siwalik hill, its

foothill and all the areas between the southern Terai region and the Siwalik hill. The Chure region is geologically very fragile due to its steep slope coupled with less stabilized rock and soil as it is one of the youngest mountain system in the world. As a result geological erosion is very high in the Chure region compared to the other parts of Nepal. This is further aggravated by the increasing humane pressure in the last half of the twentieth century. Although large parts of the Chure region are still under forests the rate of deforestation and land use change is very high in the Chure region. Factors such as Poverty, illiteracy, high dependency of people on natural resources are the major causes of over exploitation of forests and other natural resources such as sand, gravel and boulders (SGB) in the Chure. All the rivers in Nepal flow through the Chure region and this region has an important role in the ground water recharge for the southern Terai. Degradation of the Chure region has important implications on the sedimentation, flooding of rivers and loss of agricultural lands in the southern Terai region, which is considered as the grain basket of Nepal. Thus fragility of the Chure zone combine with increasing human pressures have been increasing incidences of disasters, decreasing food security and biodiversity in the region.

Considering the above situation, the Government of Nepal (GON) initiated the Rastrapati Chure conservation program (RCCP) in FY 2066/67 (2009/10 AD) to implement various activities aimed at conserving Chure. In order to implement these activities the GON allocated budget to the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MOFSC) and its departments including the Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM), Department of Forest (DOF) and Department of Plan resources (DPR). Considering the complexities of the Chure conservation it was felt necessary to share experiences from implementation and get suggestions from the stakeholders to devise appropriate strategies for Chure conservation. With this aim the RCCP coordination unit of the MOFSC organized a one day workshop at the Everest Hotel, Kathmandu on 27 February 2012. The major objectives of the workshop were as follows:

• To share experiences among various agencies working  in the field of the Chure 

conservation; 

• To discuss various issues in the Chure conservation; and  

• To  get  suggestions  on  the  strategies  to  be  adopted  in  future  for  the  Chure 

conservation. 

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The workshop was inaugurated and closed by the secretary of the MOFSC. The workshop was attended by the high ranking government officials including the advisors duo from the president’s office, director generals and high ranking officials of various departments of MOFSC and Ministry of Local Development (MOLD), representatives of various aid agencies, journalists and networks. Detail lists of participants are listed in Annex… After formal opening various agencies working in the field of Chure conservation presented their papers followed by the discussion session. Detail schedule of the seminar is present in Annex 2 and details of the presentations are available in annex 3. In the discussion session various participants expressed their views on the RCCP and strategies need to be adopted for the Chure conservation.

The main text of the proceedings has been designed based on the summary of the presentations and suggestions from the participants. First part of the main text introduces to existing situation in the Chure region including problems, constraints, issues, causes and consequences. The second part introduces to Rastrapati Chure Conservation Program (RCCP) and describes efforts of various agencies in the Chure conservation. The third part focuses on challenges, while the fourth part on suggestions. The final part of the paper makes clear on the views of the president’s office on the RCCP.

2. Chure’s current situation 

The Chure region extends from the east to west of Nepal parallel to the Himalyan range and covers 13.6% of the country’s total area. More than 70% of land are still under forests. Of the 1.4 millions hectare forest in the Chure zone, half of them are under government management, 32% are under community forestry and 18% are in protected areas. About four millions poor households in the Chure live in fragile and marginal areas and access resources (mainly forests) from the downstream areas. Majority of them are poor and forest dependent.

The Chure is geologically very young and very fragile; and thus vulnerable to water induced erosion. Heavy rainfall occurs during the four months (June, July, August and September), while rest of the year is dry. Water flows from the upstream (Churia) to downstream (Bhabar, Dun, and the Terai) resulting into loss of soil and biodiversity in the upstream, and flooding and sedimentation in the downstream (Bhabar, Dun and Terai).

Fragility of the Chure is further exaggerated by the increasing human pressure on forest resource. Many forest areas in the Chure are under encroachment, steep slopes are under shifting cultivation and haphazard settlements. Due to the high price and demand for timber, the rate of deforestaton and illegal timber harvesting is very high. The remaining forest areas are also subjected to pressure from over grazing, forest fires and poaching. People lack incentives for conservation in the absence of the clearly defined property rights and tenure.

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Poverty and unemployment are the underlying causes behind these activities, which promote migration and haphazard settlement in Chure zone. Government agencies is facing difficulty in law enforcement due to the lack of political support to remove illegal settlements and illegal activities.

Chure is the main source for the SGB. There is a high demand for SGB in both Nepali and Indian market due to the high growth in urbanization, which needs modern buildings and infrastructures. Consequently SGBs have been over extracted using heavy machinery even in sensitive places, which, in some cases, have been damaging public infrastructures. Despite the provision of EIA/IEE in the Environmental Protection Act, ineffective implementation and monitoring of environmental safeguards by the contractors cause over extraction. This is further complicated by the rampant corruption in the process of contracting consultants for the SGB collection.

The financial attraction has also created conflict in authorities over the SGB extraction between DFOs and DDCs. The LSGA 1999 authorizes the DDCs to regulate SGBs, while the Forest Act 1993 authorizes DFOs. Environment Protection Act 1996 and Regulation 1997 authorize the Ministry of Local Development (MoLD) to approve ToR of the IEE/IEE report of local bthe odies. Similarly, the Natural Resources Committee of the Constituent Assembly (CA) mandated the DDCs to carry out IEE/EIA. Also the revenue sharing mechanism for the districts separated by bordering rivers is not clear.

Road construction is one of the most prioritized development activities in rural areas of the Chure zone and has high political support. However, haphazard development works using heavy machinery with less consideration to ecological sensitivity of the region are one of the main reasons increasing fragility of the Chure zone. Agencies trying to enforce strict environmental law enforcement for such types of activities are taken as people against development.

The situation is further worsened by the other cross cutting issues such as the lack of awareness, partisan politics, lack of coordination among development agencies and weak institutional capacity. Information related to the Chure conservation are scattered and access to information is limited at field level for planning. This is because various authorities work through various line agencies/NGOs/INGOs and they lack systematic MIS and coordination. Also there is poor linkages among various components of natural resources management programmes. For example, beneficiaries of the biogas and capacity building programs are not linked with forest protection activities implemented by the government’s forestry offices. Although, many agencies are working for the Chure conservation, they follow individual project approach with less consideration to the landscape level integrity of the Chure. As a result duplication of programs are common issues. District and sub-sector plan are too general; these plan lack field reality, less integration with the field level activities and less understandable.

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As a result of the aforementioned issues and activities, the areas suitable for cultivation and settlements have been gradually converting to waste lands. This is due to increase in river meandering/bifurcation, soil erosion, gully formation and landslides in the upstream; while flooding in the downstream. In 10 years period (1991-2001) river bed has widened by 16% in the Dun and 10% in the Terai zone. The river channels increased from 310m in 1954 to 416m in 1996, whereas in the fan zone it increased from 770m in 1954 to 1187m in 1999. In the Middle Terai, the width of river channels increased from 414m in 1954 to 623m in 1996. Severe erosion at a rate of 780-20000 ton/km2/yr has been observed along the Chure landscape and water table has been found declining.

3. Rastrapati Chure Conservation Program (RCCP) 

Rt. Honorable President’s address to the Legislative-Parliament on “Policy and Program of Government of Nepal” in F.Y. 2066/67, stressed the degradation problems in the Churia region, and need for conservation. In April 2010, office of the president requested to carryout a study on the Chure. Initial study was conducted in seven districts and results of the study were disseminated through a national seminar on July 2010. A budget of Nrs 209 millions was allocated in the budget of FY 2067/68 for the RCCP for the MOFSC, DSCWM, DOF and DPR. The following section summarizes the efforts of various agencies working in the RCCP, issues and concerns raised by the stakeholders from the presentations made by them during the seminar. Detail presentations are included in Annex 3.

4. Efforts, issues and concern (summaries from the presentations) 

4.1   Efforts of Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management (DSCWM) in Churia Conservation: 

The Director General (DG) of the DSCWM, Mr. Bharat Prasad Pudasaini, described the efforts made by the DSCWM in the RCCP with detail target, budget, activities, impacts and challenges. In his presentation he described that the DSCWM conducted various activities from a budget of Nrs. 135 millions including: river bank protection, gully treatment, irrigation channel improvement, conservation pond, rainfall/runoff harvesting, conservation trenching/farming, IGA, conservation campaign and various other partnership programs. He also made clear that these activities were implemented in 21 districts, in four clusters, which was extended to three more districts in FY 2068/69. These activities are implemented in holistic, integrated and participatory approach through a multidisciplinary team.

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4.2   Efforts of Department of Forests (DOF) in Churia Conservation:  

The DG of the DOF, Mr. Bajra Kishor Yadav, presented the efforts made by the DOF in the RCCP. He described that the DOF has been implementing the RCCP in 23 districts mainly in the districts of the Eastern and Central development regions. In these activities the DOF supported preparation of conservation oriented forest management plan for the Chure forest area and revisions of Community Forestry Operational Plan (CFOPs) to remove green tree harvesting provisions. Following are the major activities implemented by the DOF from the RCCP:

• regeneration protection in 405 ha; • forest area encroachment control; • plantation in 305 ha; • seedling production/timber harvesting • degraded land rehabilitation in 110 ha; • river bank protection through bamboo checkdam in 105 km; • plantation and IGA package in 115 ha; and • support to 45 small enterprises.

4.3   Efforts of Department of Plant Resources (DPR) in Churia Conservation 

The DG of the DPR, Dr. Annapurna Nanda Das, presented the efforts and progress made by the DPR in the RCCP. During his presentation he highlighted that the the DPR has been conducting baseline study on the site (ecology) and species suitability, which is expected to provide systematic efforts for NTFPs cultivation in the Chure. Also the DPR has been involved in mass-scale Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) seedlings production, cultivation and NTFPs related research. The DPR is also conducting awareness raising activities related to the Chure conservation by organizing training, workshops, cross visits and publishing extension materials.

4.4   Key issues, implementation guidelines and historical background of the program 

Dr Prem Prasad Paudel from the DSCWM presented the key issues, implementation guidelines and historical background of the RCCP. In his presentation he introduced the Chure and various issues related to the Chure conservation. These include: social, erosion, deforestation, haphazard collection of the SGB, riverbed expansion, land use change and their impact on downstream communities including people’s voices from different parts of the Chure. These issues are covered under the previous heading Chure’s current situation of this report.

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4.5   Key components and vision for formulation of Churia Conservation Strategy 

Dr Keshav Raj Kanel presented the vision and components of the Chure conservation strategy. In his presentation he made clear that the vision of the RCCP program should be be balancing the decent livelihood of the people living in Chure against the imperative of conservation. He described challenges in the areas of Chure conservation and elements to be considered for successful Chure conservation strategy. He also described some successful interventions in the areas of conservation.

4.6   Role of media in Churia Conservation  

President of the Nepal Federation of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ), Mr Laxman Upreti, presented the role of media in Churia conservation. He claimed that the media is playing crucial role during the last five years in informing people in nexus of corruption involving politicians, timber mafia, leaders of community forest users groups and government officials. The NEFEJ coordinated with president’s office to highlight the Chure issues. The NEFEJ has conducted following activities in the areas of environmental conservation:

• 60 special episodes and 100s of reports on Aankhijhyal; • radio Sagarmatha and other radio programme; • print (Haka Haki and Wall newspaper); • highlighted success stories; and • created awareness among the journalists, people and the policy makers.

4.7   Local level experiences on Churia conservation  and possibility of collaboration among institutions 

Mr. Chiranjibi Sharma and Prasad Chettri from CARE Nepal shared experiences of CARE Nepal from the Chure conservation. In their presentation they described various activities conducted by CARE Nepal, which are summarized as follows:

• awareness raising social campaign; • initiated to form watershed management council; • preparation of watershed management plan in collaboration with the District Soil

Conservation Office (DSCO) Dhanusha; • social and environmental dialogues between stakeholders upstream-downstream and

facilitation in policy dialogue; • community empowerment and conducted various livelihood diversifying activities, • establishment of learning centers for watershed and NRM;

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• conducted different scientific studies (bio-physical studies, hazard mapping) to understand upstream down-stream linkages;

• hazard mapping and land resources mapping (Jailaid); • community land management; and • riverbank reclamations.

4.8   Existing practices, regulation option for extraction of Sand, Gravel, from Churia River and mechanism of district level collaboration  

Mr. Narayan Bahadur Thapa from the Ministry of Local Development(MoLD) shared the existing policies, practices for extraction of SGB from Chure and mechanism for district level coordination. In his presentation he described that the MoLD conducted the following activities in the areas of the Chure conservation:

• IEE approval of 192 sites for the SGB extraction in 44 districts including Churia range;

• adopted third party monitoring system in collaboration with the Tribhuvan University / Kathmandu University;

• regular monitoring; • directives to all DDCs to consider environmental aspects for infrastructure

development including SGB collection; • inclusion of environment and climate change consideration in local bodies planning

and decision making guidelines. • facilitated to invest 11% of the total income from SGB in environment protection

activities like stream bank protection, plantation, awareness raising, disaster reduction and climate change in 2009 in 22 districts; and

• issued 14 Point directives focussed on various aspects including: IEE/EIA requirement, consultation, use of heavy equipments, satisfactory performance, sustainable extraction quantity and regular monitoring and reporting.

4.9   Landscape level conservation approach in Churia region and possibility of building partnership approach with other relevant non government sectors 

Mr Shiv Raj Bhatta from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) described the landscape approach implemented by the WWF and possibility for collaboration. He described that the WWF through its Teari Arc landscape (TAL) program has focused its interventions on the identified critical sites/corridors including Barandabhar, Dovan, Lamahi, Madhavpuri and Basanta. The TAL covers 23199 sq. km & six protected areas including the Chure zone. It has facilitated to declare four corridors as protection forest. The TAL program has been implemented by different committees at various levels.

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At policy level steering committee headed by the secretary and at every levels it comprises members from the DNPWC and the WWF. Similarly at grass root level it includes user group network and the buffer zone management council (BZMC).

The TAL program of the WWF implements its activities through the BZMCs, Community Forestry Coordination Committees and eco-clubs. It foucess on the capacity building and economic upliftment. According to the WWF, greenery has been restored due to its forest restoration programs in the corridors and bottlenecks.

4.10   Scope, challenges and opportunities of community forestry management in Churia region 

Chairperson of the FECOFUN, Ms Apsara Chapagain, shared FECOFUN’s view on the RCCP. She claimed that the RCCP has cut rights of CFUGs by stopping handover of forest in the Chure zone, banning collection of even the basic needed forest products such as fodder, grass and fuelwood from CFs and creating negative feeling among users. The FECOFUN further claimed that the RCCP has increased corruption and rent seeking, although intention of the program in itself is not bad. Therfore, FECOFUN demanded cancellation of the Chure Program.

4.11   Chure conservation: A challenge  

Dr Uday Raj Sharma gave a short presentation on the challenges in Chure conservation and his views to solve the problem. He expressed the views that strict protection oriented approach needs to be taken for Chure conservation. For this he suggested to follow the following step by step process:

• Conduct land use survey and develop land capability plan in consultation with stakeholders.

• Enforce land use plan in forest land through the Committee provisioned in the Forest Act (Art 9).

• Declare forests in the Chure zone as protected forest by publishing it in Nepal gazette.

• Identify Red-inked areas in each district. Work on forest demarcation and cancel registration of the illegally registered lands.

• Committee (Art 9/Forest Act) formulates activity plans, timelines and proposes budget.

• Ag/settlements on unsuitable lands but having land rights should be duly compensated, offered alternative plan to vacate the land but recent settlers should be forcibly evicted;

• All crushers within the forest boundaries including on the riverbeds should be closed by the Committee

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4.12   Strategic vision on Chure area conservation 

The Far west Regional Director (RD), Mr Bijay Raj Paudyal, gave presentation on the strategic vision on Chure conservation. In his presentation he described the various issues related to the Chure conservation and suggestions. He highlighted the poor information management system, lack of detail plan, lack of coordination, lack of proper monitoroing, inadequate infrastructure and logistic support at the field level hampering the effective implementation of the RCCP. He suggested the following activities for improvement:

• establish revolving fund in collaborative/community forest management and stop recurrent cost;

• declare the remaining forests in the Chure area as protected forests/botanical garden and follow strict protection oriented management including stoping forest land distribution;

• adopt one door system in SGB collection; • review goat farming policy in sensitive areas of the Chure; • control road side encroachment; • MIS establishment at field level; • development of the landscape level plan, • develop code of conduct; • link social mobilization with Chure conservation; • establish basket funding, joint monitoring; • establishing service centers based on demands of local people; and • adequate infrastructure and logistic support.

5. Challenges It takes long long time to see the impact of conservation. The high level of poverty and unemployment are causing difficulties to motivate people to contribute in the Chure conservation. Lack of long term research and database are causing difficulties to establish upstream-downstream linkages. This is further complicated by the lack of understanding of the social dimensions of conservation.

There is no specific policy for the Chure conservation; there is a need to amend acts and regulation to include special provisions for the Chure conservation. Lack of policy has created confusion and contradiction in implementation of the RCCP. For example, the cabinet decision of 2067 Asar 25 related to the zero allowable cut directs protection oriented management of CFs in the Chure zone. This decision has been opposed by the FECOFUN resulting in protests. The FECOFUN district chapter Nawalparasi vandalized DFO Range post offices last month.

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The RCCP lack concerted efforts. Experts are dividided over the opinions on whether to scale up the program covering the entire Chure region or implement intensively in the selected areas to show impact and then scale up based on the lessons from those sites. Considering extent of the Chure and its severities, one particular challenge is to implement the Chure conservation program quickly in such a large area.

The complexities of Chure conservation require coordinated approach. However, in practice the RCCP has been implemented in isolation and piecemeal approach. The role of stakeholders’ is not clear and there is a lack of public/political support for conservation. At present the DSCWM and DoF are involved in the Chure conservation and they are implementing their activities just like their regular program in the past. There is lack of integration of the RCCP activities with those of agencies doing similar works.

Stakeholders are divided over the role of local people in the Chure conservation. Some are in view to involve local people in conservation; while others are in view to evacuate people and follow complete protection oriented management. Regarding the stakeholders participation, the challenge is how to create various platforms for discussion/sharing, and how can they be designed.

The simplest way to start the Chure conservation is to enforce law to use land as per its capacity but the challenge is how to match land capacity with people’s capacity. In other words, many people depend on fragile land for food, which are not suitable for food production.

Sustainable collection of the SGB from the Chure zone is another main challenges. SGBs are the main source of DDCs internal revenue as 70% internal revenue used to come from sand/gravel in 21 districts; when gravel and sands were regularized royalty started decreasing. Of these royalties, only 11% was spent on environmental mitigation activities in 2009. There is a lack of consistencies in policies and practices related to the SGB collection as shown from the following examples.

• Despite the provision of ban to use heavy machinery for collecting SGB, enforcement is still lacking. Similarly one authority, for example, the MOFSC is banning the SGBs collection, while the other authorities, Chief District Officer (CDO) still allowing. In some areas, for examples, SGBs extraction from rivers in the Parsa wildlife reserve is still allowed.

• Despite  the  provisions  of  requirement  of  EIA  for  SGBs  collection  in  large quantities, collection was allowed only after IEE even for areas requiring EIA. 

6. Group discussion and suggestions Following suggestions were provided by the participants:

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Related to coordination

All participants stressed the need to develop clear vision, systematic plan and coordinated approach at ecosystem level. They suggested to involve and engage other line agencies – such as Ministry of Local Development, Agriculture, Water Resources, Education, Health as well. Similarly, they suggested to involve civil societies, private entities and establish a national Level coordination mechanism including donors, ministries and implementers.They also recommended to develop inter-ministerial steering committee and coordinating bodies from policy to implementation level in line with the national level coordination. Moreover they suggested to develop clear understanding between the governmental organizations for utilization of forest/land uses (inter-ministerial). Further they stressed the need to monitor compatibility of various programs with the RCCP as those programs have not been specifically designed for the RCCP. In addition to that they suggested to activate role of the regional forest directorate (RFD) by establishing the Chure coordination unit.

Policy/Strategy

The participants stressed the need to amend acts and regulations to put focus on the Chure conservation. Specifically they suggested to declare community managed protected watershed area, amend in soil conservation/ forest acts/regulations, include provision of strong punishment/reward, and restriction on illegal settlement. They also suggested to review goat farming policy in the Chure zone, formulate policy on valuing and paying environments services (inter-institutional linkage such as VDC/DDC). They recommended to adopt one door policy as per the guidance of natural resource committee over the ownership of the SGB and reinvest part of the revenue shared from SGB into Chure conservation by concern local bodies through annual plan. Other recommendations related to policy were:

• adopt simple, cost effective and user friendly IEE/EIA; • integrated use of land, forest and water resources; • adopt holistic approach and ensure wider participation; • follow adaptive management principles; and • agree on common agenda and develop code of conduct.

Chure Plan

The participants recommended to develop a landscape level Chure plan on the basis of river system/sub-watershed level plan and incorporate the Chure conservation into District and VDC level periodic and annual planning process. The Western Terai Landscape Conservation Program (WTLCP) has already developed integrated landscape plan and submitted to the MOFSC for endorsement. These plan if properly followed will contribute

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to the Chure conservation. The Chure conservation strategy formed by the MOFSC should be the guiding documents for this program. Also they suggested to develop a Chure manual/master plan and a Chure book/guideline with a systematic baseline and fixed goal. The Chure manual should focus on tenure and governance. In tenure following aspects should be made clear:

o whether to allow settlements or evacuate people from the Chure?; and o tenure of forest resource and settlements needs to be made clear (Government,

Community or collaborative).

Similarly, the participants suggested to develop and monitor indicators related to the Chure conservation such as impact on water table, flooding and others needs to be developed.

Replicate good practices from the BISEP-ST and Terai forestry program

The District Forest Coordination Committees (DFCCs) can be empowered to develop action plan along with responsibilities of stakeholders. The participants suggested to mobilize community based groups such as the community forestry user groups (CFUGs)/Buffer zone user committees (BZUCs)/Collaborative forest management groups (CFMGs)/Leasehold forest user grups (LhFUGs)/Private forest user groups (PFUGs). They also recommended to give larger role to the committee under the coordination of the CDO for management and monitoring of SGB collection.

Role of MOFSC:

The participants further questioned the role of MOFSC in the RCCP. They asked to make clear who is the the lead agency whether the DOF or the DSCWM? What is the additionality of the Chure program over other regular programs? They also suggested that the MOFSC should focus on policy and monitoring issues, while delegate contractors/service providers (SPs) for implementation.

Piecemeal versus concerted approach and ban versus sustainable use

The participants recommended to adopt concerted rather than piecemeal approach by prioritizing districts/issues, piloting and scaling up based on lesson learnt. They were also in a view that ban is not good rather wise use is better. In this point one of the participant expressed his view that mainstreaming major rivers can make hundred thousand hectares of river side land inhabitable, which can be distributed to people living in the Chure.

Clarities needed

Some authors think Chure conservation is possible by vacating people out of the Chure and enforcing law to practice land use based on land capability. They are in the view of cancelation of all registered forest lands in the Chure zone, declare protected forests for all remaining government forests and prepare management plan. The Chure conservation does

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not have any other alternatives but to protect. Protection oriented approaches needs to be taken in the Chure and green trees should not be felled. They suggest to amend policies to include zero allowable cut in the forests of the Chure zone and stop community forestry handover for the next 10 years in the Chure zone.

While others think people as an integral components of the Chure. The Chure and people are interdependent and therefore Chure conservation is not possible without people. The proponents of participatory conservation suggest to identify needs of stakeholders, legalize land rights of people in the Chure, regular sharing, enhancing capacities of local bodies to implement plan and compenasating those people for their efforts in conservation. Meanwhile interaction among political parties, local level and stakeholders is important to win their support.

Sand, stone and gravel collection

The participants need clarities on the following issues related to SGS:whether to collect or not collect sand and gravel?; Need to do EIA or not?.

They further suggested to have a detail guideline for collection of sand and gravel and bring crusher industries under EIA the Annex of the Environmental Protection Regulations, which is currently in IEE Annex. Also they recommended to broaden EIA annex to include all development works including the excavation in the protected forests in the Chure and requirement of EIA for sand and gravel collection. Similarly they suggested to license all mining activities from the Department of Mines. In addition to these they stressed the need for an effective monitoring of EIA/IEE provisions.

Activities

The participants suggested to condut the following activities for effective Chure conservation:

• massive plantation and private forestry scheme; • Build local institutions and their capacity; • interventions at all levels from policy to grassroots and trans-boundary; • need to develop action plan with comprehensive lists of activities along with

responsible agencies; • promotion of managing water conservation and water harvesting linking with

intensive farming and commercial Agriculture (Bhawar and Mid Terai); • reclamation of river bank through bio-engineering linking riverbank farming and

private forest management; • collaboration on managing public land and community ponds;

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• promotion of off-farm IGA through vocational training and micro enterprise development;

• road side encroachment evacuation by road department; • conduction of land use survey and classification; • establish basket funding mechanism; • people organization having members from the entire watershed areas can function

as an agency for US/DS linkages; and • fisheries management in the wetlands of Chure.

Commitment

The participants stressed the need for a strong political and bureaucratic commitment and honesty of all stakeholders. In this step it is necessary to take commitments of the Constituent Assembly (CA) members from the Chure area.

This is because encroachment by landless and freed slave is a political issue and needs to be tackled at political level.The participants demanded to stop forest land distribution under any conditions and to use reclaimed riverside land or other public land. They also suggested to manage migration to Chure areas.

Research/study

The participants suggested to undertake the following scientific and academic studies of the Chure zone:

• use of appropriate agriculture technologies for sustainable productivity; • promote resource conservation technology in agriculture; • establish MIS and resource centre at the regional and district level (GIS mapping,

Database , plan); and • study on how to accommodate the needs of distant users.

Governance/Consultation

Governance improvement was suggested as an entry point for effectiveness of the Chure conservation. The participants focused on the need to control corruption in timber contract and increase transparency and consultation. They further suggested to focus on poor people rather than the piecemeal activities.

Role of media needed in the following areas:

• Training/workshop/ regular watch ; • Multi-media campaign – through print, radio, TV and new medium (web, facebook,

twitter etc); • Network of journalists- from districts to central level; and • Exchange of journalists- for cross border issue   

15 

 

7. Views from President’s office/MOFSC 

View from the President’s office

The RCCP has been implemented to take immediate action on the Chure degradation. It is not a president’s program rather a program of state. The RCCP was initiated due to the importance of the Chure conservation in national interests, national integrity, socio cultural linkage of the Chure and environmental conservation as non political area. The importance of the Chure conservation is further heightened in the context of climate change and extreme climatic events. The program is based on the concept of sustainable development. In the coming days there is a need to harmonize the program based on the relationship of ecosystem and people living there lesson learned from its implementation.This program does not intend to displace people living in the Chure. The Chure conservation is essential for our national integrity and to prevent ecological disaster. All stakeholders including MoLD, DOR, MOE and NPC needs to be involved. Inter departmental coordination needs to be boosted. Media’s involvement is necessary to communicate best practices. Needs to address transboundary issues, develop detail Chure documents, remove communication gap with the FECOFUN, and develop systematic monitoring system. Politics and criminalization in use of SGB are major issues. Needs to punish rule offenders such as illegal loggers and illegal SGBs collection from the Chure. Agencies working in the Chure needs to reflect their activites so that they can be partnered to implement activities.

View from the MOFSC- Secretary

The MOFSC secretary commitment to implement positive suggestions and was serious on the implementation of the program in an integrated and coordinated way. He realized the need to develop Chure conservation strategy and comprehensive project document with public consultation. He agreed with the participants’ view to implement the program in concerted way rather than in a piecemeal approach. For better coordination he suggested to establish a national level steering committee with the NPC taking the lead and MOFSC could be a member secretary. He showed commitment to take action against frauds and irregularities. He assured the participants that any conflicts with CFUGs can be discussed and negotiated except cancellation of this program.

16 

 

Annexs 

Annex 1:  

 

Annex 2: Details Schedule of Seminar    Chair Mr. Nabin Kumar Ghimire, Secretary, MOFSC 9:00-9:10 Welcome to the participants, and objectives of the seminar

Mr. Megh Bahadur Pandey, Joint secretary/Coordinator, RCCPCU 9:10-9:25 Efforts of Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management

in Churia Conservation Mr. Bharat Prasad Pudasaini, DG,DSCWM

9:25-9:40 Efforts of Department of Forests in Churia Conservation Mr. Braj Kishor Yadav, DG, Department of Forests

9:40-9:55 Efforts of Department of Plant Resources in Churia Conservation Dr. Annapurna Nanda Das, DG, DPR

9:55-10:10 Key issues, implementation guidelines and historical background of the program Dr. Prem Prasad Paudel, DSCWM/RCCPCU.

10:10-10:30 Tea Break 10:30-10:45 Key components and vision for formulation of Churia Conservation

Strategy Dr. Keshav Raj Kanel

10:45-10:55 Role of media in Churia Conservation and possibility of coordination among institutions Representative from NEFEJ,

10:55-11:05 Local level experiences on Churia conservation and possibility of collaboration among institutions Mr. Chiranjibi Sharma and Prasad Chettri, CARE Nepal

11:05-11:15 Existing practices, regulation option for extraction of Sand, Gravel, from Churia River and mechanism of district level collaboration Mr. Narayan Bahadur Thapa, Under secretary, Ministry of Local Development

11:15-11:25 Efforts for Churia River system management, and possibility of coordination among institutions. Representative, Department of Water Induced Disaster Prevention (DWIDP)

11:25-11:35 Landscape level conservation approach in Churia region and possibility of building partnership approach with other relevant non government sectors

17 

 

Dr. Ghana Shyam Gurung, Conservation Director, WWF 11:35-11:45 Scope, challenges and opportunities of community forestry management

in Churia region Representative, FECOFUN

11:55-12:30 View papers

cum commentators

Dr. Udaya Raj Sharma (strtagegy) Mr. Bijaya Raj Paudel , Regional Director (Strategy) Mr. Krishna Murari (Media) Representative, MOE (Sand, stone Gravel regulation

12:30 -1:30 Lunch Break Views/

Discussion (maximum 5

min each) (1:30-3:00)

Regional Forest Directorate Office Regional Director : Eastern : Central : Western : Mid western : Far western (Presented by Mr. Vijaya Raj Paudel, representing all RD)

Special Invitees Office of the President of Nepal

Advisors Personal joint secretary Joint secretaries Under secretaries

Open discussion

Advisors Personal joint secretary Joint secretaries Under secretaries

Summary report and Q& A (3:00-3:30)

Mr. Ram Prasad Lamsal, Joint secretary, Chief, Foreign Aid Coordination Division, MOFSC Supporter: Mr. Badri Dhungana, Under secretary, DSCWM (Respective institutions/presentators, if any)

3:30-4:00 Summary, way forward, concluding remarks and session close Chair: Secretary, MOFSC Refreshment

 

Annex 3 : Presentations 

S.N.  Title  Institutions  Presented by  Side Page numbers 

1  Efforts of DSCWM  DSCWM  Mr. Bharat Prasad Pudasaini, DG,DSCWM 

1 ‐ 6 

18 

 

2  jg ljefu dfkm{t ;+rflnt r'/] ;+/If0f sfo{s|d 

DOF  Mr. Braj Kishor Yadav, DG, Department of Forests 

1 ‐ 6 

3  Efforts of Department of Plant Resources in Churia Conservation 

DPR  Dr. Annapurna Nanda Das, DG, DPR 

1 ‐ 3 

4  Key issues, implementation guidelines and historical background of the program 

DSCWM  Dr. Prem Prasad Paudel, DSCWM/RCCPCU

1 ‐ 3 

5  Key components and vision for formulation of Churia Conservation Strategy 

  Dr. Keshav Raj Kanel                        

 

1 ‐ 3 

6  Role of media in Churia Conservation and possibility of coordination among institutions 

 

NEFEJ  President, Mr Laxman Upreti 

1 – 2 

7  Local level experiences on Churia conservation  and possibility of collaboration among institutions  

CARE Nepal

 

Mr. Chiranjibi Sharma and Prasad Chettri 

1 – 2 

8  Existing practices, regulation option for extraction of Sand, Gravel, from Churia River and mechanism of district level collaboration 

Ministry of Local Development 

 

Mr. Narayan Bahadur Thapa, Under secretary   

1 ‐ 7 

9  Landscape level  WWF  Mr Shiv Raj  1 ‐ 2 

19 

 

conservation approach in Churia region and possibility of building partnership approach with other relevant non government sectors 

Bhatta 

10  Scope, challenges and opportunities of community forestry management in Churia region 

FECOFUN  Chairperson, Ms Apsara Chapagain 

 

11  Chure conservation: A challenge 

  Dr Uday Raj Sharma 

1 ‐ 5 

12  Strategic vision on Chure area conservation 

Regional Forest Directorate, Far West 

Mr Bijaya Raj Paudyal 

1 ‐ 2 

 

6/26/2012

1

EFFORTS OF DSCWM

IN

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

Kathmandu

SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT

OF

CHURE LANDSCAPE1

CONTENTS INSIDE

Churia related problems

Emergence of RCCP

DSCWM’s efforts

DSCWM in CHURE CONSERVATION ?

2

PROFILE OF TERRAIN AT VARIOUS NORTH-SOUTH CROSS SECTIONS ACROSS EAST-WEST 3 4

5Lakhandehi river 6Karnali River

6/26/2012

2

7Trijuga River

CHURE AND ITS RELATED PROBLEMS

8Landslide

River Meandering

9

Landslides

10

Floods Approaching to Villages

11

Soil Erosion12

Gully Formation

6/26/2012

3

13Landslide 14Rural Road Development : Causing Soil Erosion

PhysiographyChange in Riverbed area 

(%)

Churia Hills ‐2.19

Change in Riverbed Area during 1991­2001 (in %)

Narrow river valleys 14.89

Dun 15.66

Bhabar 11.79

Terai 10.2915

Rt. Honorable President’s address to Legislative-Parliament on “Policy and Program of Government ofNepal” F.Y. 2066/067 has highlighted Mechi-MahakaliIntegrated Churia Conservation for the first time.

EFFORTS EFFORTS

g

Budget speech of the same F.Y. stated that Mechi-Mahakali Integrated Chure Conservation Action Plan willbe formulated and Chure Conservation Program will beoperated in four districts including Siraha, Saptari,Udayapur and Sunsari district in the F.Y. 2067/068.

16

As an initial step in F.Y. 2066/067, Government of Nepal provided fund (NRs. 14,00,000) to DSCWM for Environmental Study Of Churia Region.Environmental Study Of Churia Region.

DSCWM formed two groups:

CONTINUED…….

•First group for east chure (Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sunsary & Udayapur)

•Second group for west chure (Dang, Surkhet)

•Findings were presented in a workshop

17

l;= g+=sfo{ ljj/)f OsfO{ jflif{s nIo

kl/df)f jh]̂

1 ;+/If)f cleofg r'/] b]lv bzuhf;Dd Kofs]h 23 23650

2 ljkGg ju{sf nflu cfod'ns sfo{qmd #/w'/L 2100 6300

3 ;fem]bf/L e' ;+/If)f sfo{qmd uf]̂ f 65 11550

44 rr'/] '/] hnfwfhnfwf/ / Aoj:yfkgAoj:yfkg of]of]hgfhgf thth'{'{dfdf ufuf]̂ f]̂ f 2323 96009600

] l l l L l l l 51 137

ALLOCATED BUDGET FOR CHURE CONSERVATION PROGRAM 2067/068

5 afof]-OlGhlgol/é gbL lsgf/f ;+/If)f ls=ld= 51 13700

6 gfnf Aoj:yfkg Kofs]h 17 3400

7 kfgL d"xfg ;+/If)f /s'jf pTvgg\. .kl/If)f uf]̂ f 85 4950

8 ;Ld;f/ If]q/;lj{ If]q ;'wf/ / ;+/If)f kf]v/L uf]̂ f 64 7000

9 hnfwf/ ;+/If)f Kofs]h sfo{qmd uf]̂ f 24 39000

10 /]gkmn tyf /gckm xfe]{li^é *\ofd uf]̂ f 46 9550

11 ;+/If)f ^«]GrLé Kofs]h sfo{s|d :yfg 46 6300

hDdf 13500018

6/26/2012

4

Watershed Management Plan for Churia Region (2067/068)

1. Cluster 1 :- Ilam, Jhapa, Sunasary, Siraha, Saptari, Udayapur

2. Cluster 2:- Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa,

19

3. Cluster 3:- Makawanpur, Chitwan, Nabalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu,

4. Cluster 4:- Dang, Surkhet, Dadeldhura, Kailali, Kanchanpur

5.5. Morang, Morang, SindhuliSindhuli and and PalpaPalpa districts included in F.Y. 2068/069districts included in F.Y. 2068/069

AREA OCCUPIED BY CHURE IN EACH DISTRICTS

District Chure Area (km2) Bhabar Area (km2) Terai Area (km2)Ilam 442.88 45.99 0Jhapa 449.68 257.92 1151.98Sunsari 109.73 610.85 517.38Udayapur 991.00 ‐ 83.00Siraha 228.06 225.89 773.45

20

Saptari 286.00 283.00 794.00

Dhanusha 311.73 183.11 688.29

Mahottari 152.50 262.72 586.77Sarlahi 188.85 226.62 742.81Rautahat 100.06 222.84 802.73Bara 173.49 393.6 728.52

Parsa 324.96 532.85 535.21

AREA OCCUPIED BY CHURE IN EACH DISTRICTSDistrict Chure Area (km2) Bhabar (km2) Terai Area (km2)

Chitwan 1889.76(Recent = 1336.26)

‐ ‐

Makanpur 1386.60(Recent = 495.91)

‐ ‐

Nawalparasi 1179.00 272.00 396.00

Kapilvastu 238.10 225.47 1187.15

d h

21

Rupandehi 29.32 347.38 927.85

Arghakhanchi 581.13 ‐ ‐

Dang 1491.66 (Dun = 879.54)

‐ ‐

Surkhet968.95

(R. V. = 139.89)‐ 49.64

Kailali 1279.67(R.V. = 249.9)

400.50 1550.06

Kanchanpur 189.69 215.74 1216.38

Sadeldhura 369.21 (R.V = 55.64) ‐ ‐ 22

Bio-engineering,

23

Water Holes for Soil Moisture Enrichment 24River Bank Protection

6/26/2012

5

25Small Irrigation Channel Improvement 26Water Source Protection

27

Income Generating from Degraded Land28

Conservation Farming

Sub-surface water harvesting

29 Monitoring of water table 30

6/26/2012

6

SCWM ACTIVITIES AS NUCLEUS ?

• Integrated and holistic approach

Supports to Country’s Rural Development

•Participatory approach

•Multidisciplinary team approach

31

p y pp

Forestry

Engineering

Agricultural Engineering

Agriculture

Engineering Geology

OUR CHALLENGES Long-tern Impacts Visible

Upstream-Downstream Linkages

Social Dimensions

Utili ti f A il bl M t i l ( d g l

32

Utilization of Available Materials (sand, gravels,

boulders)

Coordination

Acts and Regulations

THANK YOU FOR

33

FOR YOUR ATTENTION !

6/26/2012

1

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{ +sfo{s|d ;rfngjf6 xfn ;Ddk|fKt pknJwLx?;d:of tyf r'gf}tLx?

Forest Management Regime in Churiya250,000

ha, (18%)700,000

ha, (50%)

450,000 ha,

(32%)

( )

Protected area Community Forest Government Forest

District wise Churia Forest S.N. District Total Churiya area (Ha)

Churiya Forest area (Ha)

Percentage of Forest cover in Churiya

1 Arghakhanchi 46,797.60 40,602.52 86.76

2 Banke 81,321.20 77,269.44 95.02

3 Bara 20,499.90 15,909.66 77.61

4 Bardiya 70,604.50 67,150.23 95.11

5 Bhojpur 65 17 7 43 11 415 Bhojpur 65.17 7.43 11.41

6 Chitawan 188,745.00 122,845.11 65.09

7 Dadeldhura 38,846.60 31,483.89 81.05

8 Dang 242,475.00 159,894.04 65.94

9 Dhankuta 567.36 295.41 52.07

10 Dhanusa 34,039.40 28,349.23 83.28

11 Doti 3,853.63 3,020.79 78.39

12 Ilam 39,025.80 26,971.64 69.11

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Churiya Forest area (Ha)

Percentage cover by forest under Siwalik

25 Pyuthan 3,075.69 2,005.98 65.22

26 Rautahat 9,954.60 9,039.56 90.81

27 Rupandehi 23,507.80 19,655.11 83.61

28 Salyan 38,530.90 34,374.09 89.21

29 Saptari 23,565.60 18,717.60 79.43

30 Sarlahi 23,472.00 14,664.78 62.48

31 Sindhuli 143,362.00 102,094.04 71.21

32 Siraha 21,006.50 17,079.02 81.30

33 Sunsari 10,357.10 5,961.34 57.56

34 Surkhet 115,580.00 91,760.17 79.39

35 Tanahu 570.70 62.12 10.89

36 Udayapur 126,951.00 91,145.35 71.80

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4

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pBd ;Vof 30 3000

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5 of]hgf th'{df tyf sfo{qmd ;Dkfbg k|ltj]bg tof/L

5.1lhNnfsf] r'/] If]qsf] jg ;+/If0f / Joj:yfkg Plss[t of]hgf th'{df sfo{s|d

j6f 6 1798

ut cf=j= dfsfo{of]hgf jGgg;s]sf / gof ykePsf lhNnf ;d]t

5.2 sfo{qmd÷lqmofsnfk ;Dkfbg k|ltj]bg tof/L j6f 26 520gof sfo{s|d

5.3:ynut k|efj cWoog ÷ l;sfO{ cfbfg k|bfg ÷ r'/]sf] lhNnf :tl/o of]hgfdf ;xhLs/0f, k'g/fjf]nsg ÷ r'/] / o; ;DaGwL cfwf/e"t tYof+s ;+sng sfo{s|d

lsl;d 5 933gof sfo{s|d

r'/] If]qsf] of]hgf th'{df tkm{sf] hDdf 3251

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6.1;+/If0f cGt/lqmof -lzIfs, ;fd'bflos jg, kqsf/, gful/s ;dfh, /fhlgtLs bn_

k6s 52 520ut cf= eGbfj9L kmf]s;

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hgr]tgf cleofg tkm{sf] hDdf 2900hgrtgf cleofg tkmsf hDdf 2900

7 cg'udg tyf sfof{no ;+rfng

cg'udg lhNNff / s]Gb| 27 2400

sfof{no ;+rfng / ;]jf vr{ lhNNff / s]Gb| 26 2765gof sfo{s|d

cg'udg tkm{sf] hDdf 5165

s'n hDdf 100035

r'/] If]qdf /x]sf ;jfnx?

ul/jL

vf]l/of km8fgL , jg clts|d0f, cJojl:yt j;f]jf; / v]tL k|0ffnL

h}ljs ljljwtfdf x«f;

Rff]/L l;sf/ tyf cj}w Jofkf/Rff/L l;sf/ tyf cjw Jofkf/

cToflws rl/ r/g,

jg 89]nf] k|sf]k

sdhf]/ e' ef}uf]uLs jgf}6 , e" pTkfbsTjdf sdL

>f]t ;+/If0fdf hg r]tgfsf] sdL

Plss[t Joj:yfkgdf ;dGjosf] sdL

Issue 1: Social conditions

About 4 millionpeople (17%)Majority are Poorand Forestand ForestdependentIndigenous people68 %, and sociallydeprived people(Dalit) 16 %

Land less people in Dhanisa

Issue 2: Mass wasting erosion

Fragile young mountain High rain fall intensityLess or no ground cover

Severe erosion along the Churia landscape

Less or no ground cover

6/26/2012

5

Issue 3: Deforestation and illegal settlementEncroachment

Political support to illegal settlers High dependency and less livelihood option g

Support by NGO/INGO and other development agencies

Encroachment

Issue 4: Uncontrolled Grazing

Issue 5: Forest FireIssue 6: Government program/decisions are not properly implementing

Progress Program activities are distributed

No concrete result

Current program/decisions

Precedential Churiya conservation

Conflict

Not coordination and collaboration

Centrally decided program

Stakeholders role is not recognized

/ progress

yProgram

Council of ministerial decision

Directives of Parliamentary committee

6/26/2012

6

6/26/2012

1

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utut cfcf=a= @)^&=a= @)^&––)^* )^* sfsf] ] sfosfo{{qmdxqmdx? ?

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@ dsjfgk/df sv/]gL vf]nfsf] s6fg lhNnf ! !))@ dsjfgk'/df s'v/gL vfnfsf s6fg lhNnf ! !))If]q Joj:yfkg

hDdf ah]6 %)) -/sd ?=xhf/df_

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cflycfly{s {s k|ultk|ult

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s'v/]gL vf]nfdf ## ld6/ t6aGw lgdf{0f eP af6 lhNnf jg:klt sfof{nosf] % x]S6/ kl/;/ If]q s6fgaf6 ;+/If0f ePsf] .

s'v|]gL vf]nf klxn] s'v|]gL vf]nf clxn]

6/26/2012

2

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dxf]Q/L lhNnfsf] dfO{:yfg ;f= j= dfO{:yfgsf] k|bz{gL If]q

wg'iff lhNnfsf] cf}/xL afaf ;f=a=,cf}/xL afaf yfgsf] k|bz{gL If]q

nfeflGjtnfeflGjt juju{{;d:of tyf ;'emfjx?

r'/] If]qsf sfo{x? ;DkGg ubf{ ;DjlGwt ljefux? -jg, jg:klt, e"–;+/If0f tyf /fli6«o lgs'Gh ljefu_ Ps cfk;df ;dGjo u/L sfo{ ul/g' kg]{ b]lvG5 .

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cf=a= @)^*–)^( sf] sfo{qmdx? sfo{qmdsf] gfd lhNnf ah]6

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Onfd,wg'iff,dsjfgk'/ af“s]

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dsjfgk'/ af“s]

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s}lkmot

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Onfd,wg'iff,dsjfgk'/ af“s]

()

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6/26/2012

3

r'/] If]qdff jg:klt ljefun] ug]{ sfo{qmdx?

sfo{qmdsf] gfd

jghGo h8La'6Lx?sf] v]tL / jg pBd ljsf;

h}ljs ljljwttfsf] ;+/If0f

k|fs[lts ;|f]t ;+/If0faf/] hgr]tgf clej[l4

ul/aL lgjf/0f :yfgLo lhjg:t/df ;wf/sf] sfo{qmdul/aL lgjf/0f :yfgLo lhjg:t/df ;'wf/sf sfoqmd

r'/] If]qsf] Biodiversity inventory/ baseline information lgdf{0f

r'/]If]qsf] Ethnobotanical cWoog

High Value NTFPs/MAPs sf] cWoog / Joj:yfkg dfkm{t :yfgLo lhljsf]kfh{gdfclej[l4 .

r'/] If]qsf] df6f] kfgL / jg:kltx?sf] cjl:ytL. cGt/;DaGw af/]df cWoog

cf=a=@)^( . )&) sf] k|:tfljt sfo{qmdx?

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kl/df0f ah]61 2 3 15 17

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lhNnf÷;d"x 7 425

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wg'iff

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4 x}l;ot lju|]sf ;f=jgdf h8La'6L lj:tf/ -;k{uGwf, ;tfj/L_ wg'iff x]S6/ 2 2005 Documentation of Indigeneous Traditional Knowledge of

economically important plants of Churiya Range of Kailali and Kahchanpur Districts. -s}nfnL_

k|ltj]bg 1 200

6 af+s], jlb{of, ;'v]]{t, bfËsf] r'/] If]qsf] jg:kltx?sf] lnli6Ë ug]{ -af+s]_ :yfg 3 1200

7 Study of the status, distribution, phenology, chemistry and economic importance of Chiuri (Aesandra butyracea) in Sahajpur, VDC of Kailali District -s}nfnL_

k|ltj]bg 1 200

8 jg:klt ljljwtf / r'/] ;+/If0fdf o;sf] e"ldsf jf]/ ;r]tgf sfo{qmds -s}nfnL_ k6s 2 100

9 sfo{qmd ;+rfng e|d0f -dsjfgk'/, s}nfnL, wg'iff_k6s cf=c= 450

-v_rfn' sfo{qmdsf] hDdf 3100

-u_ sfo{qmd vr{ tkm{sf] hDdf -s + v_ 6875

-#_ pkef]u vr{ 0

-ª_ sfof{no ;+rfng vr{ -dsjfgk'/, s}nfnL, wg'iff 970

-r_ s"n hDdf vr{ -u + # + ª_ 7845

wGojfb Û

6/26/2012

1

Ministry of Local Development

Proper Management of Sand, Gravel and Stone in Churia Area and Possibility of Collaboration at

Local Level

February, 2012

Local Level  

Narayan Bahadur Thapa

Policy/Legal Framework

Local Self Governance Act 1999 and Regulation 1999 authorize local  bodies to manage natural resources of their respective  areas  

Environment Protection Act 1996 and Regulations 1997 authorize  Ministry of Local Development to approve ToR of Initial Environment Examination (IEE) and IEE Report of local bodies

N t l R C itt f th C tit t A bl (CA)Natural Resources Committee of the Constituent Assembly (CA) mandated the DDCs to carry out Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs) or Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) to use the Source of Rivers 

All the development as well as sectoral policies and plans like Tenth Five Year Plan, Three Year Interim Plan, Three Year Plan, Nepal Biodiversity Strategy, Terai Arc Landscape Strategy and Implementation Plan,, Churia Conservation Strategy – stressed on the need of coordinated and concerted efforts for Chure Conservation

MLD’S Initiatives192 IEE – Sand, Gravel and Stone reports of 44 districts  including Churia Range got approved  

Adopted Third Party Monitoring System – Tribhuvan University / Kathmandu University

Need to adopt EIA instead of IEEEffective monitoring is needed for effective gimplementation of IEE Reports 

Regular monitoring from MLD

Directives to all DDCs to consider environment for infrastructure development including SG&S collection 

Local bodies planning and decision making guidelines include environment and climate change consideration

Tinau River 

14 Point ‐ Directives

• Process– Be clear IEE/EIA requirement– Experts– Consultation – Heavy equipment– LDO in review committee 

meeting

• Contents– Site specific information 

including detailed maps – Sustainable extraction quantity– Budget for EMP implementation– Byproduct management as per 

the EMP– Other infrastructure need IEE/EIAmeeting

– Regular monitoring and reporting

– Environment management through EMF

– Activate energy and environment units/focal person

– Satisfactory performance of consultant groups 

Other infrastructure need IEE/EIA

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6/26/2012

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Revenue Sharing 

• 11% of the total income of 22 districts from this sub‐sector in the country was invested in environment protection activities like stream bank protection, plantation, awareness raising, disaster reduction and climate change in 2009g

• Almost two third of the entire Sand, Gravel and Stone collection  districts are sharing revenues ranging from 18% in Pyuthan to 90% in Udaipur District with an average of 42%with local bodies including Municipalities and VDCs.

Issues 

Collection methods-;Gt'lnt / lbuf] /fh:jsf] ;|f]t agfpg'eGbf tTsflng p4]Zodf

k|]l/t ._

Resource ownership-lhlj; / jg sfof{no ljr 7]Ssf nufpg] ljifodf ljjfb tyf

;dGjosf] cefj .-vf]nf gfnf jg If]q ;d]taf6 aUg]_ . L ] l ] l ]:yfgLo :jfoQ zf;g P]g lgod / jg P]g tyf lgodn]

Pp6} ljifodf cnu cnu lgsfonfO{ clwsf/ k|bfg u/]sf] ._

Revenue sharing for management ofChuria and Sand, Gravel and Stonecollection and extraction sites (b'O{ jf

b'OeGbf j9L sfof{no / lhNnfn] ;+o'St ?kdf 7]Ssf nufpg]/ /fh:j jf8+kmf+8 ug]{ ljifo_

Monitoring and coordination

Issues • People participation and awareness

-k|fs[lts ?kdf x'g] e"–Ifo, af9L klx/f]sf] sf/0f t/fO{df 8'jfg nufotsf ;d:of pTkGg x'g] u/]sf] ._

• Put policies into effect

-7]Ssf k|yfdf :j:Yo k|lt:kwf{sf] cjfe / zt{cjnDjg gug'{ _

• In‐effective implementation andmonitoring of Environment SafeguardMeasures-7]Ssf aGbf]j:tsf] ;+emf}tf ubf{ 7]s]bf/;+u cfjZos kg]{ k|ofKt zt{ / ;f]sf] kfngfdf sdL sdhf]/L /x]sf]_

• Inadequate institutional capacity andawareness

Recommendations and possible collaboration

Prevailing policy conflicts over ownership of the SG&S sub sector should be resolved as soon as possible through adopting one door policy as per the guidence of Natural resource committee. 

There is a need to avail simple, cost effective and user friendly IEE/EIA study guidelines and formats for DDCs and Municipalities.  

Reinvest part of the revenue shared from SG&S into Churia Conservation by concern local bodies through annual plan

6/26/2012

3

Enabling environment for discharging effective, and efficient service delivery system 

Empower local communities for playing effective role in roles, responsibilities and obligations 

Improve livelihood opportunities of localImprove livelihood opportunities of local communities through chure based income and employment opportunities 

Adopt integrated Churia planning process: Introduce Churia Conservation into District and  VDC level periodic and annualplanning process 

Planned excavation of stone, boulder and gravel in Churia (in nonvegetation area) for optimum use of Natural resource and planned development package p p gin excavated area collaborating between Curia conservation programme,  community and local bodies specially DDC.

Committee under the cordination of CDO for management and monitoring Stone and gravel in district level is functioning at present as per the cabinet decision Multistakeholdersthe cabinet decision. Multistakeholders involvement as member of committee is positive aspect and can arrange possible role for Churia conservation. 

Thank youThank you !!

1

Local Level Initiatives, Experience and Opportunities for

Collaboration on Churia Conservation:

CARE Experience

CARE in NRM 

• CARE since its engagement in Nepal (1970’s) has been a key player in promoting CBNRM in Nepal

• In the beginning (till late 80’s) CARE was involved in providing technical support on forestry developmenttechnical support on forestry development

• Supported in establishing sustainable model of integrated watershed management in partnership with local communities and the government (Begnas, Rupa and Phewa Tal and Upper  Andhikhola watershed management)  

CARE in ChuriaCARE Initiated activities at Churia and Central Terai

in 1989 focusing

• Infrastructure development (irrigation, Soil conservation health/ sanitation and family  planning)

• Natural Resource Management  (Late 1990)

Key Problems/Issues

Churia Hills

•Enchroment/un-plan settlement•Land degradation and deforestation•Land Slide and erosion (strey animal, over grazing)•Rapid losses of bio-diversity

Bhawar

•Riverbank cuttingRiverbank cutting•Water resource degradation/deteoration•Vegetation losses at riverbank

Terai

•River Course Shifting•Flooding•Inundation (Duban)

• Free and Over Grazing

Low level of awareness of NRM

• Limited dissemination and communication/access of related

Genera Issues

information and materials and understanding

• Inadequate policies/regulations and weak enforce men

(limited/no engendered of local stakeholders)

Close networking in timber and NTFP trading

Shifting Paradigm of CARE on Churia  Addressing Issues

Integrated Watershed management 1980s (co‐management)

Technical support on forestry dev (late 80s)

Soil conservation (A forestation,  Soil conservation check dam),  

Central ChuriaCWMP Early 2000 (Aforestation, ecological restoration, soil conservation,  

livelihood  improvement and strengthen NRM Groups)

CAP  Mid 2000  (Churia Area Strategy formulation)

Up stream‐down stream Linkage

2

Sifting ……

A decade long involvement of CARE on Churia

CWMP :  Churia Watershed Management Project 

(2003‐2006)(2003‐2006)

CAP : Churia Area Program (2004‐2007)

JIWAN Jalaidh Integrated watershed and natural Resource management (2005‐2012)

CHULI: Churia Livelihood Improvement Program(2007‐2013)

Shifting………

JIWAN (2005‐12)  Initiations• Watershed management• Up Stream Down stream linkage  (holistic approach)‐ Awareness raising Social  

Campion, Cultural Perspectives

• sub watershed/scale of management unit approach• Interaction at local level and develop in dialogue to policy level• Watershed Management Council• Preparation of watershed Mgt plan in collaboration with DSCO Dhanusha• Hazard mapping and land resources mapping (Jailaid) (Link)• Vertical and horizontal people organizations • Social and environmental dialogues between stakeholders Upstream‐down 

stream 

CHULI (2007‐13) Reduce Pressure on Churia diversifying livelihood optionsImprove forest stock and improve governance in NRM groupsAwareness raisingCommunity land managementCommunity empowerment

Upstream‐Downstream Linkage  

• Conducted different scientific studies to understand upstream down‐stream relationship

(Bio‐physical studies, hazard mapping etc)

• Promotion of socio‐cultural relationship between up‐stream and d bili i l i idown‐stream mobilizing people organizations

• Preparation of whole watershed management in collaboration with DSCO and people organization

• Initiation formation of watershed council

• Initiating community based watershed monitoring 

CAREs Initiatives• Awareness raising (LP, PEC)

• Empowerment (Communities, CBOs, NGOs)

• Up-stream Down-Stream Issues• Diversifying livelihood options• Riverbank reclamations (bio-engineering and greening riverbank)

• Comm nit based NRM (C it l d/ d t)• Community based NRM (Community land/pond management)• Coordination-collaboration ( DDC, DSCO, DFO, WIDVD, DADO, DoI etc)

• Resource Leverage• Establishment of LSC ( learning center for watershed and NRM )

Lesson Learn• Change in community feeling and increased ownership on effective management of NR

• Inclusion (Addressing) of issue of distance users is vital)(Need to address this issue)

• Pressure under Churia forest could reduce through alternative livelihood options for land less and rural poor  

Lesson……

• Coordination among large stakeholders (Gos,I /NGOs , Civil Societies, media and resource users) is crucial for Churi conservation and functional watershed 

• Clear understanding between GoN organization is needed for utilization of forest/land uses (inter‐ministrial)needed for utilization of forest/land uses (inter‐ministrial)

• People organization having members from whole watershed areas receiving entitlement to forest and water resource can function as an agency for US‐DS relationship

3

Area for Further Collaboration

Mobilization of multi‐stakeholders (GoN, Development Actors, users organizations and Civil socity) for managing fragile land scope, biodiversity conservation, rewarding environmental services and sustainable livelihoods at district level

• Promotion of managing water conservation and water harvesting linking with intensive farming and commercial Agriculture (Bhawar and Mid Terai) 

Promote participatory forest management  (CF, LhF, Private forest, CoFM etc) which ever is feasible

• In Promotion of alternative energy  (improved cooking stove, biogas)

Areas……Reclamation of river bank through bio‐engineering  linking riverbank farming and private forest management

• Conduction of land use survey and classification

• Collaboration on managing public land and community g g p yponds

• Promotion of off farm IGA through vocational training and micro enterprise development linking local Hat Bazar(diversifying livelihood options)

Strengthen participatory natural resources (water, sand, boulders) in coordination with NR users

Promote scientific and academic studies of churia (biophysical, need of conservation) 

Use appropriate Agriculture technologies for sustainable productivity

Way Forward

Modification of current dependency on natural resources (forest , land and  water) diversifying source livelihood options

Capacitate individuals/community to adopt/practise market‐led appropriate farming technologies and practices for better livelihood

Way……………………..Up Stream Down stream (holistic approach)sub watershed/scale of management unit approach

• Resource allocate for developing model for Churia conservation (GoN in collaboration with development acters)

• Management of settlement with multiple livelihood options

i i f / l ( h d• Participatory forestry/natural resource management (watershed and land scape level) ‐ based on demand of situation

POLITICAL ISSUE: need to address

Policy

• Valuing and paying environments services (inter institutional linkage such as VDC, DDC)

• Policy enforcement:  Reclamation and

River bank management (field level) Issues in 

T b d ti d t b di d• Trans‐boundary cooperation need to be discussed 

Erosion Control

• Promote Resource Conservation Technology in Agriculture

• Dependency of poor on NR and reduce phood options• ressure to forest providing alternative lively

1

Landscape level conservation approach in the Terai Arc of Nepal: 6NP & 9 IN

The Vision:The Vision: A globally unique landscape where biodiversity is conserved, ecological integrity is safeguarded, and sustainable

livelihoods of its people are secured.

A long-term Strategy

TAL program was initiated by Government of Nepal with the collaboration of WWF Nepal in 2001

2

TAL strategy plan

TAL implementation plan

TAL Second phase document

Laljhadi Basanta

Khata

Corridors

Mahadevpuri

Lamahi Dovan

Bottlenecks

Goal:Goal: To conserve the biodiversity, forests, soils and watersheds of the Teraiand Churia Hills in order to ensure the ecological, economic, and socio-cultural integrity of the region.

• Area: 23199 Sq. Km & 6 PA•Corridors: 4 declared as Protection forest•Churia range with agri/setlement/infrast

Bramedeoi

Barandabhar

Forest restoration in the corridors and bottlenecks

LAMAHI BOTTLENECK

then Now

Elephant Route

Ecosystem services and habitat improvement after the interventions

Year 2001 (ha) 2005 (ha)

Degraded Forest 7783 5900LAMAHI Bottleneck

IMAGE nowIMAGE 2001

Institutions and mechanisms: BZMCs, CFCCs, Eco clubs, CBAPOs

Skills/Capacity:

Sustainable Approach

Technical & organizational

Economic: Self financing mechanism (IGA, biogas, PHE, CBAPO, Eco club, HWC, etc.)

Ownership: Government/community

2

Steering Committee

Project Executive Committee

Program

Chair: Secretary, MFSCMembers: Div. heads , DGs & WWF and major donor organizations

Chair: DGs ( DoF and DNPWC)Members: DDG, CR, Senior officials WWF and Project Managers

DDG & T h i l Di t f WWF

P

L

A

Policy

Project Execution

Coordination and

Implementation Modality

Coordination Committee

District or PA Level

Grass Root Level

Project

Coordination with district level government line agencies including DFOs and DDC and Protected Areas

Coordination with user groups, user group network, BZ Council at grass root level

DDG & Technical Directors of WWF Nepal Program.N

N

I

N

G

Coordination and Monitoring

Implementation

Planning andField Level Coordination

Project Managers : GovernmentProject Co-Managers : WWFF&A officer : WWFProject staff : Local

Partnership in the Landscape

……….and growing

Learning from TAL for way forward

Building local institutions and their capacity – capacity, resource & mandateInterventions at all levels – from policy to grassroots and trans-boundaryF d i t t d i t ti ith lti l f di dFocused integrated interventions with multiple resources for diverse needs Policy enforcement plays a key role – “0” poaching and Basanta/LaljhadiNational Level coordination mechanism – donors, ministries, implementers

9

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Keshav Raj Kanel, Ph.D.Resource Economist and Policy Analyst

keshavkanel@gmail.com

Outline of the Study

Problems and Current Situation in Churia ManagementSome Challenges on Ongoing StrategiesSome Successful InterventionsKey Components of Sustainable ManagementThinking for VisionSuggestions for Strategy Formulation

Problems and Current Situation in Churia Management• Scale

• Very large area Covering about 1.9 million hectares• More than 70 percent of land still under forests.• It covers 27 districts

• Bio-physical ConstraintsChuria is Geologically very Young and Very Fragile, and Vulnerable to Water Induced ErosionVulnerable to Water Induced ErosionHeavy Rainfall occurs during the four months, rest of the year it is dry – Too much and Too little rain fallWater flows from upstream (Churia) to downstream (Bhabar, Dun, and the Terai)- Asymmetrical Relationship and ExternalitiesLoss of Soil and Biodiversity in the Upstream, and Flooding and Sedimentation in Bhabar, Dun and Terai

Problems and Current Sutuation in Churia Management

Geological erosion is inevitable as this process also had led to the formation of Indo-Gangetic plain is South Asia including NepalAccelerated erosion is damaging infrastructures, raising of river beds flooding and Sedimentation in the Bhabar Dunriver beds, flooding and Sedimentation in the Bhabar, Dun, and Terai

• Anthropogenic Factors• About 4 million poor HHs in fragile and marginal areas –

Many more access the resources (mainly forests) from the downstream areas.Problem of Security of Land Tenure-Many HHs do not have land tenure rights

Problems and Current Situation in Churia Management

Access is difficult and Service Provision is absent.Over-exploitation of forests due mainly to illegal activitiesDisorganized and illegal removal of Sand, gravel, and stones from the regionfrom the region

Policies and InstitutionsNo Specific policy for Churia DevelopmentDisjoint between stated polices and political CommitmentOnly DSCWM and DoF are involved in Churia Conservation. No integration with other agencies and Institutions

Some Challenges on Ongoing Strategies

Question of Scale – Can Churia management program be implemented so quickly in such a large area?Question of Integration – Since sustainable Churia management should have an integrated program, can only these two Departments handle the problem in Churia conservation?Question of handling poverty – Can blaming the poor residents lead to reduction of sedimentation in the downstream?Question of Stakeholders’ participation – What are the mechanism for creating various platforms for discussion/sharing, and how are they designed? Land Capability or Local People’s Capacity

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2

Some Successful InterventionsCatchment Ponds in Churia and Beyond

Multiple benefits - water, siltation, and forest; technically appropriate

Pareni Watershed Management in DangRehabilitation by mainly vegetative methods, people’s participation extremely high

Sukhomajri in HaryanaSukhomajri in HaryanaRehabilitation of the watershed through people’s participation and mainly through vegetative methods and by reducing poverty

Churia Forestry Project in 3 eastern districtsFocus on Community Forestry; poverty reduction activities in lowland areas as well.

China’s Loess Plateau ExperienceDemand Driven, and more low tech methods linked to agricultural productivity, mass mobilization

Key Components of Sustainable Management

Integrated use of land, forest and water resources in the Churia hills, since they interact in a watershed;Poverty leads to overexploitation of natural resources in the upland areas. Thus, need to focus on poverty reduction.Unidirectional (Asymmetrical) relationship between upstream and downstream. Hence focus on upstream people and resource management.Multiple Stakeholders are involved in the use and impact of watershed management. Cooperation and coordination among them is very important.No Blueprint Model – Learning by doing or Adaptive Management

Thinking for VisionThink of Galileo about 400 years back and the Paradigm shift in scienceConsider Brundtland Commission report on “Our Common Future” 1987 and shift in thinking on Sustainable developmentReview the experience of 1970s and 1990s Watershed p 97 99management ExperiencesConsider the Impact of Climate Change in Churia ManagementVision could be something like

Balancing the decent livelihood of the people living in Churia against the imperative of conserving it can be the vision for designing Churia Management programs in Nepal

Suggestions for Strategy formulation

Identify the real issue of poverty and their mitigation mechanism- not only the Churia HHs, but also the HHs of the plane that depend on Churia Resources for livingBased on the previous successful practices, initially focus the program in some selected districts only, and expand the program as we learn more through Adaptive Managementprogram as we learn more through Adaptive ManagementInvolve and engage other line agencies – such as Ministry of Local Development, Agriculture, Water Resources, Education, Health as well.Form nested or overlapping Institutions to coordinate program and activities, reduce conflicts and share learning by involving public organizations, civil societies and private entitiesPolicies should be backed by political commitments.

Thank You forfor 

Your Patience

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1

Rastrapati Churia Conservation Program :

History and Efforts

Prem Paudel, Ph. D.Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation

DSCWM/RCCPCU2012.02.27

Churia is one of the major Physiographic

region and is extending East West as a

contiguous landscape,

LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE

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2

340m

70m

680m

2007

570m

Jalad-Chamainiya Confluence

1992

Increased from 310m in 1954 to 416m in 1996, whereas in the fan zone it increased

From 770m in 1954 to 1187m in 1999.

In the Middle Terai, the width of the river channel increased From 414m in 1954 to 623m in 1996.

Similarly, the width of the river channel has increased fromFrom 159m in 1992 to 222m in 1996.

ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Rich in Biodiversity,(1570 floral species are recorded)

• Bhawar is the Water Recharge Zone of Terai,

• The hills stretching between Mechi & Mahakalig

• Conjoining high mountains and lowland Tara

• Covering 12.7% of the total land but containing the highest percentage of land under forest (76%) of any physiographic zone in Nepal,

• Biological corridor for wildlife movement.

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3

POPULATION AND LANDHOLDING

It is estimated that about 4 million people (17% of total population of Nepal) reside in the Churia hills, While the CAPS (2008) mentions only 7% of total population of Nepal.

Most of the residents have recently migrated after the eradication of malaria, and the construction of east-west high way. A study conducted by a local NGO (BIKALPA) showed that hill indigenous people (Janajati), and socially deprived people (Dalit) comprise about 68 and 16 percent of the total population of the Churia,about 68 and 16 percent of the total population of the Churia,

However, more than 80 percents of these households do not have any ownership certificate of the land on which they depend.

Average ‘ownership’ of the land is about 0.3 hectare (9 Katta) per household, which is not enough to feed the family members even for nine months (CSRC, 2007)

STATISTICAL SITUATIONType  Situation 

Forest cover  75.6% of total forest area

Soil erosion  780‐20,000 Ton/km2/yr.

Deforestation  rate 1.7%/yr.

Land use change  Forest area 75. 7% to 70.4 % during 16 yrs. (1978‐94)

Ecosystem types  13 different types

Census report  (preliminary

2068) 

Below poverty line  (%)      23.44

Foreign Migration (%)       42.3 (out of 1.92 million)

Population cover   (%)          50.2

Population increment ratio   1.75 % (Entire Nepal 1.4%)

Population density (no/km2)    392 (Highest)

Nepal 181/km2)

ISSUE 1: SOCIAL CONDITIONS

Photo : Poor people living inside forest since past 5 years

ISSUE 2: MASS WASTING (EROSION)

Photo Severe erosion along the Churia landscape(Rate is estimated to be 780-20000 ton/km2/yr (Mishra and Bista, 1998)

ISSUE 3: DEFORESTATION AND SETTLEMENT ISSUE 4: EXCESSIVE EXTRACTION OF SAND, BOULDERS

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4

ISSUE 5: RIVER BED EXPANSION

Photo : River Bed expansion due to its change in flow course

Before 26 years River width was crossed by local people

710m, 1996

Chheripokhar

138m

840m 2005

Chheripokhar

351m

Chheripokhar

351m

840m, 2005840m, 2005

Land use

1958 1978 1992

Area (Km2) % Area (Km2) % Area (Km2)

%

Forest 631.55 81.0 568.02 72.9 477.23 61.2

Agriculture 101.84 13.1 138.14 17.7 221.71 28.5

ISSUE 6 : LAND USE CHANGE

Shrubs 4.96 0.6 18.70 2.4 11.52 1.5

Grazing 5.27 0.7 3.56 0.5 10.87 1.4

Others 35.62 4.6 50.82 6.5 53.12 6.8

District Problems/issues Possible solution Remarks

Dhanusha/Mahottari

Unemployment, Illegal settlement,Bad intention of community forestry users committees, buying TV/solar by selling timber,Lack of strong law and weak reinforcementof existing laws/regulations, Becoming political matters, Lack of environmental conservation policy, lack of adaptive co-management strategies, deforestation, Lack of awareness, excessive extraction of sand/debris, personal interest (parties/individual), poverty, severe erosion, flood, declining water table, heavy grazing,

declare community managed protected watershed area, amendment in soil conservation/ forest acts/regulations, strong beaurocratic commitment/laws, regulation, and coordination, provision of strongpunishment/reward, massive plantation scheme, honesty of all stakeholders, livelihood options, restriction on illegal settlement, deforestation, control forest fire, easy timber/firewood supply

Strong coordination among different development institution, political parties, and local communities

PEOPLES VOICES IN EASTERN CHURIA

lack of political commitment, internal migration, becoming shortage of water, crusher machine are installing closed to Churia range (although legally ok however practically generating problems),No land tenure ship, lacking coordination among development agencies.

system,develop private forestry scheme, implementation of integrated activities, management of migration system,

Udayapur Lack of strong strategy, continuously deteriorating, lack of information/study, export of debris materials/sand etc, to India, poverty, corruption at different levels, migration and haphazard settlement, excessive timber cutting, excessive grazing,

Employment opportunity, skill training, awareness campaign, forest fire control, law/regulations amendment, clear strategy and its implementation, integrated land/forest/settlement management programs are needed, no community forestry handover for next 10 years

Strong coordination among forest, soil conservation, DDC, administration, political parties and other related line agenecies.

District Problems/issues Possible solution Remarks

Jhapa Haphazard Road construction, Uses of DozerUnmanaged Sand/Debris collection extraction, No monitoring, EIA, IEEIllegal timber trade,Low environmental awareness among local communities,Lack of integrated actions due to poor coordination of different institutions,Contradictory governmental policiesInappropriate land use

Prohibited uses of dozers,Stop forest cutting,Manage migration settlement Law enforcement,Coordinated actions,Integrated landscape management approach,Uses of alternative energy,Concrete action plan,Political commitment

District soil conservation office, District Forest office, DDC, VDC should act in coordinated way by involving other agencies like political parties and local communities

District Problems/issues Causes Solutions

Dang/Surkhet

Free grazingin large numbers,

Uncontrolled forest fire

Encroachment

Unproductive livestock

For juvenile grass, for killing snakes, scorpions, their eggs

Migration, flood hazard victims,

poverty, unemployment

Introduction of productive/ improved variety LS,dairyCooperative promotion,

grass/fodder plantation

Settlement policy,

PEOPLES VOICES IN WESTERN CHURIA

Haphazard settlement

Haphazard development

Quarrying (Stone, sand and gravel) Using Churia resources but no responsive about Churia problems at local level (e.g. only focus on revenue

Lack of proper land use policy and plan

Lack of coordination

dual policy/authority, No benefit cost analysis,

Land use zoning

Public private

partnership (PPP)

Strict IEE, EIA guidelines ,Collected revenue used

for Churia

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5

District Problems/issues Causes Solutions

Dang/Surkhet Landslides/ flood damages

Drought

River/stream bed rising

Ground water level is low

Massive erosion

Run off harvesting dams,

ISSUE 7: IMPACTS IN DOWNSTREAM

2010…..Rt. Honorable President’s address to Legislative-Parliament on “Policy and Program of Government of Nepal” in F.Y. 2066/67, stressed the degradation problem in Churia region, and its conservation

2010. 04Request from the office of the president to carry out the research, project concept approved.

INITIATION OF RCCP

research, project concept approved.

2010.05 Initiation of the study (four thematic areas) in 7 pilot districts (Terrain analysis, Policy analysis, Past efforts and gap, Local voices) (5 eastern and 2 western)

2010.07National seminar and briefing to President about contents2011. 02National Planning Commission approved the budget of

Budget breakdown (2067/068)Institutions Budget (NRS)

Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (Mechi Mahakali Churia Action Plan team)

15,00,000/-

Department of Forests 7,20,00,000/-p , , ,

Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management

13,50,00,000/-

Department of Plant Resources 5,00,000/-

Total 20,90,00,000/-

Budget breakdownO67/068

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6/26/2012

7

Joint Monitoring Report

Joint Monitoring was conducted in different districts,Main suggestions were:P tt dProgram were scattered,Inadequate coordination among district offices,

Current efforts• Prepared Implementation Guideline• Last-RCCPCU Marganirdesika-2068.doc• Departmental guidelines• Wider participation and• Building Coordinated efforts and expecting

partnership with relevant institutions.

ExpectationsInstitutions Expectations

Ministry of Local Development Sustainable regulation of sand, silt, stone extraction, local level ownership building mechanisms

Ministry of Environment Interagency coordination mechanisms for effective EIA/IEE regulationsg

INGO/NGOS/Donors/Projects Integrating the scattered activities, collaborative actions, Hybrid management systems

Media Ground realities, Advocacy,

MOAC, DWIDP, OtherProfessional institutions

Linking the activities, looking collaborative efforts

Co-ordinated by MFSC

Expected outcome

Activity level = Output

Ecosystem level = Outcome

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CHURIA CONSERVATION:A CHALLENGE

CHURIA CONSERVATION:

A CHALLENGE

Uday R. Sharma, PhDFebruary 2012

UDAY SHARMA, PhDFEB, 2012

Issues of Conservation• Degradation of Forests and loss of soils

– Natural– Man-made: Improper use of land, timber theft,

cultivation in steep slopes, overgrazing, forest fires• Over exploitation of Resourcesp

– Trees/grasses/NTFPs– Stones, boulders, pebbles, Crusher Industries

• Livelihood Related– Unsettled land rights– Encroachments– Poverty

Attempts to Conserve

• Creation of community forests in Churia– Protection of hill sides, reforestation,

controlled grazing, restrained harvest– Riverside protection plantationRiverside protection, plantation– Catchments ponds at the foothills

• Infrastructure– River embankments, Check dams

• Protected Areas and TAL corridors

Means to Resolve

• Conduct Land use survey• Propose land use plan after rigorous

consultation• Enforce land use plan in forest landEnforce land use plan in forest land

through the Committee provisioned in the Forest Act (Art 9): CDO the chair

• Each 33 districts declares forests in Churia as protected and publishes their details in Nepal Gazette

Resolve …

• Identify Red-inked areas in each district• Formulate strategy to enforce land use

plan• Committee (Art 9/Forest Act) formulatesCommittee (Art 9/Forest Act) formulates

activity plans, timelines and proposes budget

• Ag/settlements on unsuitable lands but having land rights should be duly compensated in cash or land

Resolve …

• Ag/settlements on unsuitable land but long-time settlers should be offered alternative plan to vacate the land

• Ag/settlements on unsuitable land but• Ag/settlements on unsuitable land but recent settlers should be forcibly evicted

• All crushers within the forest boundaries including on the riverbeds should be closed by the Committee

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Resolve…

• Work on forest demarcation• Land with rights that need to be taken over

should be duly compensatedF t l d ill ll i t d h ld b• Forest land illegally registered should be cancelled

• Clear guidelines on the sale of forest resources (including stones, gravels) be developed and adopted

Resolve…

• Remove inconsistencies in the law, examples:– Remove provision in the LDAct 2056 (Art 218) which

allows DDC to raise funds by the sale of sand, stones, slates in its district. Forest resources from forest land should be sold by DFOs; and only anforest land should be sold by DFOs; and only an agreed share of the proceed of the royalty should go to the DDC

– Crusher industries should be brought to the EIA Annex of the EP Regulations (currently in IEE Annex)

Resolve..

– EIA Annex of the EPR should include all development work leading to excavation in the protected forests in Churia

– EIA Annex should include all mining activities gto be licensed from the Department of Mines under its Act for any such activities in the Protected Forests in Churia (currently in IEE Annex)

Thank you

6/26/2012

1

Role of Media in Role of Media in ChureChure ConservationConservation

LaxmanLaxman UpretiUpretiPresident, NEFEJPresident, NEFEJMarch 27, 2012. March 27, 2012.

Siwalik Range

Siwalik Range

Causes of Destruction:

• Poverty

• Corruption

• Migration 

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2

• Lack of Management

• Crosser industries/Exports

Causes of Destruction: Causes of Destruction:

• Encroachment of Forest 

• Less awareness

Causes of Destruction: Media Scenario• Less (No) coverage during the last decade 

• Coverage but only when the incident happens‐Plain reporting without any investigation and no follow ups 

Media Scenario• Unable to link with the larger scenario‐ i.e. overall importance of Chure area 

Media Scenario

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3

Media Scenario

• Biodiversity, link to the livelihood, 

But during the last 5 years• Media regularly breaks the news of corruption and other nexus of politicians, timber mafia, leaders of community forest users groups and government officials.

What NEFEJ did through limited resources…..

Coordination with President Office to highlights the issue. (two Audiences granted by The Rt. Honorable President to the  group of 

Environmental journalists on 2011/12)

What NEFEJ did through limited resources…..

Coordination with President Office to highlights the issue. (two Audiences granted by The Rt. Honorable President to the  group of 

Environmental journalists on 2011/12)

What NEFEJ did through limited resources…..

60 special episodes and 100s of reports on Aankhijhyal

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What NEFEJ did through limited resources…..

Discussion (Radio Sagarmatha and other radio programme)

What NEFEJ did through limited resources…..

Print (Haka-Haki, Wall newspaper)

• Highlighted not only the destruction and but also the success stories  

• Some level of awareness among the journalists, people and 

Results

the policy makers

• Inspire to replicate the success stories

• New policy 

• Ownership

Larger level of media intervention Larger level of media intervention is needed is needed 

•• Training/workshop/ regular watchTraining/workshop/ regular watch

•• MultiMulti‐‐media campaign media campaign –– through print, through print, radio, TV and new medium (web, radio, TV and new medium (web, facebookfacebook, , , ( ,, ( , ff ,,twitter etc) twitter etc) 

•• Network of journalistsNetwork of journalists‐‐ from districts to from districts to central level . central level . 

•• Exchange of journalistsExchange of journalists‐‐ for cross border for cross border issue  issue  

25 years of experience of multi media campaign on the issues related to 

i t l d t i bl

WHY NEFEJ???WHY NEFEJ???

environmental and sustainable development. 

• Audio Visual Department

• Production of Documentaries 

• Aankhijhyal

• Narrow casting and broadcasting of Video documentaries 

• Radio Sagarmatha and network of FM Radios

• Print‐HKHK and F2F, Wall newspapers

• Trainings‐journalists 

• Interactions with stakeholders and journalists 

• Resource Generation  

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5

A time to do moreA time to do moreA time to do moreA time to do more

xl/of] xl/of] jgjg, g], g]kfnsfkfnsf] ] wgwg

klxnklxn] =====] =====

g]g]kfnsfkfnsf] ] jgjg, xl/of] , xl/of] wgwg

clxnclxn] ======= ] =======

Thank You!Thank You!www.nefej.org

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1

Strategic vision on 

CHURIA  AREA Conservation 

BR Paudyal

Content

• Forestry sector and other sector involved in resource management 

• Issues• Way forward

Forestry Sector and  other sector resource  management 

Forestry Sector• Government forest‐government managed forestry• Community Forestry‐ Community managed• Collaborative forestry‐community, local body and government 

managed • Religious forestry group managed• Religious forestry‐group managed• Leasehold forestry‐ entrepreneur managed • Protected forest –community/ council managed• Protected Area –government managed• Buffer zone forest‐community managed• Soil conservation/infrastructure protection ‐ group managed• Botanical garden –government managed• Medicinal plant cultivation‐individual/group managed

Forestry Sector and  other sector involved in resource management 

Other Sector• Forest land distribution‐ land reform ministry, commissions, Cabinet 

decisions• Sand, gravel, stone collection‐DDC /DoF managed• River training‐Janatako tatbandha/Jal utpanna• Agricultural road‐ DDC/VDC• Hulaki road –DDC/NPC• Irrigation canal‐Central departmental• Goat farming‐ Livestock Service Department• Seed, chemical fertilizer supply‐Agriculture input offices• Tourism area development(lake/pond) ‐VDC/DDC• Others (telephone towers, electricity line, Radio tower)• Religious organisations

Issues

• Information :  scattered and no access at field level  for planning  Churia area, it is   due to  various authorities working thru various line agencies/NGOs/INGOS, lack of coordination and entry point,  no CHURE  MIS established

• Plan: sub sector wise plan prepared and only strategic plan, easy to prepare thru consultancy by desktop study and  keep at central library no integration and understandable planlibrary, no integration and understandable plan

• District planning: General plan,  which could not address the issues of remote areas  of the district and fragile chure area

• All sector common agenda: Not fixed , looks each institution is successful but government is failure, projects are extending their phases…

Issues

• Group mobilization: poor linkage for natural resources management, beneficiaries of one forestry program are not linked with forest protection and government program, eg biogas program, capacity building program

• Funding mechanism: individual project approach, duplication program and heavy input in one village , zero input in next village,  no synergic effectno synergic effect

• Service centre: least priority (seeds, seedling nursery, timber /firewood depot, alternate energy supply, awareness and training/resource centre, )

• Monitoring: not linked with yearly reports and performance evaluation, looks  week institution and poor performance

• Infrastructure and logistics support: not properly  supported  according to TOR

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Way forward

Forestry Sector  program• Community Forest development program‐ landscape level plan, 

program and utilization, forest product use for maintenance of forests and run administration. Stop recurrent cost  and establish revolving fund

• Collaborative forest management‐ forest product use for forest  maintenance and administration, Stop recurrent cost  and establish revolving fundrevolving fund

• National Forest Management program‐ declare Protected forest for all remaining government forest and prepare management plan, operate thru council, 

• Prepare plan for Botanical garden and implement • Prepare Protected Area Plan and BZ plan • carry Soil conservation/infrastructure protection activities thru forest 

user  and PA/BZ groups • Medicinal plant cultivation‐private landholders

way forward

Other Sector• Forest land distribution‐ stop • Sand, gravel, stone collection‐ sensitive area declaration and one door system

• River training‐ Integrated  and operational plan and TORTOR

• Road and irrigation master plan• Goat farming policy review • DoF and VDC/DDC‐pond management• Road side encroachment evacuation by road department 

Way forward…• Information:  scattered and no access at field

Establish MIS  and Resource centre at regional and district level (GIS mapping, Database , plans)

• District planning: General Prepare DDC sub‐plan /cluster and landscape level plan on the basis of  River system / sub ‐watershed level

• Plan: Separate and strategic plan• Plan: Separate and strategic planPrepare Integrated and operational level  plan (where, what, how much, who, how, when ..)

• common agenda: Not fixed  Develop Code of conduct (forest utilization, forest enterprises, livestock farming, basis of DDC’s financial sustainability, construction materials,  infrastructure development, revolving fund for plan preparation, sivicultural operation, plantation , pond )

Way forward

• Group mobilization: poor linkage to natural resources management

Link  with CFUG/ BZUC/CFM/PFMC and private forestry group who works in churia areas

• Funding: individual project‐wise

Establish Basket funding  mechanism

• Monitoring: not based on yearly report and performance evaluation

Link with yearly report and make basis for performance evaluation and  conduct group visit and joint monitoring

• Service centre: least priority (agro‐forest nursery, forest depot, alternate energy, awareness and training/resource centre ) 

Establish service centre based on  demand of local people

• Infrastructure and logistics: not properly   supported  according to TOR

Provide Infrastructure  and logistics facilities by linking  TOR