Phase II:July 2007 to June 2012 (Final Phase)
Budget: CFH 3.230 million (Source SDC)
Partner: Social Forestry Division, Department of Forests, MoA, Thimphu.
Contact: Kasper Schmidt, kaspar.schmidt ( ) helvetas.org.bt;
Location/Geographic Coverage: From an initial geographic target of 7 Dzongkhags, the project today has a nation-wide coverage.
The first phase of Participatory Forest Management Project (PFMP) started in 2002. The project goal for the current phase is “to contribute to the improvement of rural livelihoods and their natural environment by empowering local communities and strengthen their capacity to manage forest resources on a sustainable basis.”
To achieve the goal and objectives, the project concentrates on the following main outcomes:
An enabling environment to establish 300 CFs throughout the country based on demands received from communities and technical feasibility;
Capacity built at all levels to ensure sustainability;
Community Forestry program contributes to poverty reduction.
Representing a strong paradigm shift in forest resource management the project initially faced significant resistance from the institutions within the Royal Government of Bhutan. In spite of these hurdles substantial progress was achieved leading to visible changes in the recognition of the importance of local participation in resource management. The project saw am emergence of more than 30 Community Forest Management Groups and conducted in-service and tailor made training courses for district forestry extension staff as well as to the communities.
Outlook:
With the experience of positive attitudes towards Community Forestry (CF), the CF program in the current phase will be scaled further. Emphasis will be given more towards the establishment of community forestry and community forest management groups. As the economic incentive to establish CF is still rather weak more attention will be given to the potential of harvesting and marketing of timber and non wood forest products for the benefit of the communities. Capacity needs analysis and the training of trainers for forestry extension staff will also be given priority. Collaboration with the Rural Development Training Institute in Zhemgang will be further explored for in-service training on community/participatory forest management, marketing, processing of timber and non-wood timber products, record keeping and conflict management.
The Community and Private Forestry manuals will be updated and publications will be made available based on case studies which is carried out by the project.