Community Forestry
Background
Community Forest is a State Reserved Forest land handed over to the group of people for sustainable management by delegating forest management rights and responsibilities to the people facilitated by the Department of Forests and Park Services.
Community Forestry program in Bhutan was initiated in line with the vision of The Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck. In 1979, The Great Fourth said “the participation of the local community is the key to conservation and utilization of forest resources”. This proclamation is considered as foundation-stone for the Community Forestry program in Bhutan.
Community Forestry program legally came into effect after enactment of Forest and Nature Conservation Act which was passed by the National Assembly. And In 1995, Her Royal Highness, Ashi Sonam Choden Wangchuck stated that community forestry: “builds on existing local knowledge and traditional forest management systems, and develops means to devolve management responsibility for forest areas to the people that actually depend on the forest for their sustenance”. Since then, the community forestry program was made as national program starting from the 10th Five Year Plan (2008-2013).
Community Forest management is now considered as one of the sustainable forest management regimes of Bhutan. In fact, community forest management can be proven as one of the best management regimes in Bhutan.
Community forestry program benefits the people and their generations through easy access in utilization of natural resources, enhance capacity building, and income generation. The Community Forestry program also benefits the nation as a whole through reducing the forest fire incidences, reduction in illegal activities in the forests, environmental conservation, habitat improvement for wildlife, contribute in maintaining carbon neutrality and contribute in constitutional mandate of maintaining 60% forest cover.
Community Forest Data
Conclusion
In sustainable forest management regimes, community forest management regimes in Bhutan can be considered as one of the best management regimes. However, community forestry program is becoming complex, as it deals with trees, climate, people, governance, institutions, and many more. Community forest management means managing the people working for the community forest. When we manage the people, we are directly or indirectly managing the forests as they are part of the forest who depends on the forest for their livelihood. People are managed through rule of laws and policies. Those rule of laws and policies needs to be framed in such a way that peoples’ livelihoods are not affected, their source of income are enhanced, their happiness is not distorted. In community forestry concept, people are the key in natural resource management and they are considered as the natural resource managers.
