EnLiFT 2 Project

The aim of the project is to enhance forest management practices in community forests and private land to improve livelihoods and economic development and facilitate improved social equity. The following are the project objectives:

Objective 1: To enhance adoption and benefits from Active and Equitable Forest Management (AEFM) and improved private forestry practices

Objective 2: To develop and institutionalize community forestry planning, governance and gender equity frameworks within the new local government system

Objective 3: To design and facilitate the establishment of pro-poor small-scale forest enterprises.

The overarching strategy of EnLiFT 2 is action research for development, by engaging in development activities. EnLiFT 2 employs an approach of focused, interdisciplinary action research. It builds on the momentum, lessons and successful partnerships formed in EnLiFT-1. The primary outcome of improved forest management requires coordinated research, and facilitation of on-ground change, in the domains of: improved silviculture; improved institutions of forest planning and governance; and improved market opportunities and mechanisms for forest products, which are the three major themes of the project.

• Active and Equitable Forest Management (AEFM)

The significant activity under the theme is the scaling up of AEFM and the development of local capacity to ensure its continuity beyond the project life. EnLiFT- 2 expands the geographical scope of AEFM practices through participative engagement with a wider range of CFUGs. A Train-the-Trainer program will ensure the knowledge and skills for silvicultural measurement and management become established within the community, with due consideration of women, Dalit, poor and disadvantaged groups to ensure a post- project legacy. Parallel complementary activities under this are: the application of AEFM practices on naturally-revegetated, under-utilized land (UUL); the trialing of fast- growing timber species on relatively clear UUL; and an analysis of the range of socio- ecological values attributable to community and private forests.

• Planning and Governance

EnLift 2 develops tests and institutionalizes models of planning; facilitate partnerships with CFUGs and local government. Nepal is currently undergoing a radical re-structuring under which the planning and governance of forest resources will shift from central to regional and local government administration. This presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-set the institutions around community forest governance.  A particular focus will be on the facilitation of gender equity models in forest management decision- making to improve livelihoods. Together with a science policy interface analysis, the project also helps to mainstream equity, disaster, conservation and climate change concerns into local forest planning and management.

• Forest based enterprises

The project characterizes the nature, actors and linkages of the timber market in central Nepal. The research will deliver knowledge necessary to promote appropriate private- community partnerships in forest enterprises, and pro-poor and gender equitable forest- based enterprises. The work also examines and proposes efficient and administratively feasible regulations that afford a balance between timber extraction and maintenance of forest ecosystems. It will also deliver a research-policy interface approach to tackle continuing regulatory hurdles in forest product marketing.

Major expected outcomes of the project are:

• Enhanced silviculture skills of government foresters/technicians with institutional support for silviculture practice
• Developed skills of men, women and poor households utilise new skills in managing community and private forests to enhance returns from forestry
• Developed knowledge base of forest industry in the central region of Nepal
• Developed skills of men, women and poor households in managing local forest enterprises
• Developed framework for pro-poor and gender equitable governance established
• Developed mechanisms in place for integrated CF and local governance

In the short and medium term, the project impacts will be:

• Improved productivity of various products (timber, fodder, non-timber forest products) of community forests and private forests; which in turn will impact on the efficiency of local forest enterprises
• Improved environmental and social services of community and private forests
• Increased income from value-adding and processing forest products from community forests and private forests
• Increased trade and economic output from forestry sector
• Integrated and inclusive forestry planning and governance at local, province or national level
• Improved forest policy, planning and governance

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