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Summary:

In 1995, four FUGs in Chaubas established the Chaubas Bhumlu Community Sawmill in order to improve utilisation and increase the benefits communities were receiving from the well-stocked, high quality pine plantations they had established more than two decades earlier. Prior to the start of the operation of the sawmill in 1996, a socio-economic baseline of the communities was conducted. During the period 1996 to 2000, the sawmill operated for 2 complete, and one part season.

A study was conducted in September 2000 to measure the socio-economic effects of the sawmill on the communities. The socio-economic status of households was measured and compared with their status in 1995. The same households interviewed in 1995 were again measured in 2000, using a shorter, adapted version of the questionnaire used earlier.

The following general conclusions were made:

•	A significant number of households had earned modest cash incomes through employment of household members as wage labour for sawmill related activities. Although this income did not form the major source of cash income for any household, it did contribute significantly to overall household income.
•	While overall migration out of the area showed an increasing trend, the sawmill did, to a small extent, contribute to reducing migration out of Chaubas.
•	There was an increased availability of fuel wood for household cooking and heating, taking less time to collect and bring to the home than it did before the establishment and operation of the sawmill.
•	Preferred forest management objectives of the communities had changed from maximisation of fodder production to timber production and surplus sales.
•	There was a striking increase in education levels of the population of Chaubas between 1995 and 2000. While households seemed to give much more importance to sending children to school than was the case previously, the sawmill contributed to the trend by generating the funds for the FUGs to invest in the school in Chaubas. Forest generated funds were utilised to develop the school and its grounds, to upgrade the school from primary to mid-secondary and subsequently to secondary level and to pay salaries for two teachers teaching at the secondary level.
•	There were adequate levels of participation of households, as judged from the number of households which (had) had members on FUG and Sawmill committees, and the number of households which participated and showed an overall involvement in FUG and sawmill affairs.

The above indicated that the sawmill had an overall positive effect on a sizeable number of households, in a variety of different ways. It was particularly interesting to compare this conclusion with one of the results of the 1995 study, in which many respondents had stated that they supported the establishment of a sawmill but at the same time expressed doubts as to whether this could benefit them directly.

While the conclusions indicated a number of positive changes in the communities, further investigation of the data showed that there were, sometimes significant, differences between households and people from different ethnic groups as well as between men and women in terms of representation, participation and benefits. Some of the challenges now facing the Chaubas communities include:

•	Increasing sawmill-related wage labour opportunities for women and disadvantaged groups. Although there is a “natural selection” of members from poorer households to engage in wage labour, it is felt that additional equity considerations could help in targeting the poorest and most disadvantaged amongst and within these households.
•	Promoting representation and participation of women, Sarki/Damai and Pahari groups on FUG and Sawmill committees and in FUG and sawmill meetings.
•	Promoting participation of Sarki/Damai and Pahari groups and women in education programs, in order to bring their education levels up to par with other segments of the population, thereby increasing opportunities for fuller and more meaningful participation at the community level.

Each of these challenges is related to equity and requires awareness as well as the will, and skills, especially of the FUG and sawmill leadership to change existing socio-cultural patterns and habits, leading to a fairer, more just and sustainable advancement of their communities. A workshop to discuss the results of this socio-economic survey could be a starting point to renewing discussions on equity in the FUGs and with the Sawmill management, and to identify possible mechanisms of external support if the communities are interested.