Back | Programme Area: Environment, Sustainable Development and Social Change
The Social Dynamics of Deforestation: A Case Study from Nepal
Nepal has seen a rapid decline in its forest resources in recent decades, although the scale and impact of deteriorating forest resources vary greatly by region and according to the population density, population mobility and natural resource use patterns. The authors use case studies from the hills and the plain to analyze the relationship between deforestation and the evolution of local production systems. They also identify the external forces that affect the rate of deforestation and possibilities for forest management such as national development programmes, especially road building; urbanization; and commercial ventures (including often illegal, cross-border trade in forest products). The concluding discussion analyses the effectiveness of the community forest approach currently being implemented in Nepal and outlines possible future forestry policies.