NACRMLP

Reports & Publications

NACRMP

External Publications   Discussion Papers   Technical Notes   Workshop Papers   Training Manuals   Extension Notes

NACFP 4

External Notes   Discussion Papers   Technical Notes   Workshop Papers   Training Films   Unpublished    Consultancy Reports   Other   Reference Materials

NAFP ( 1 - 3 )

External Publications   Information     Pamphlets   Discussion Papers   Technical Notes   Workshop Papers   Occasional Papers   Training Films   Reports

Summary:

A workshop was held on May 27, 1998 in order to identify a set of criteria for establishment and support of FUGs in the two project districts. Representatives from the MFSC, DFO, FECOFUN, local NGOs, FUGs and NACRMP participated in the workshop.

The workshop participants defined the vision as to where FUGs should be heading and discussed the problems identified by the FUG survey of 1996/97 as well as the findings of a study on the factors influencing the establishment of FUGs. The changing scenarios regarding the objectives of community forestry and the status of FUGs were discussed. The participants reached a consensus that criteria for providing pre-formation support need to be defined and prioritized because on the one hand, many problems faced by FUGs had their roots at the pre-formation stage, while on the other hand, the resources available for providing support were limited.

The participants came up with the following criteria for pre-establishment support to FUGs:

•	Deteriorating forest conditions requiring protection by local people.
•	High local interest, demand and participation in community forestry.
•	Higher level of gender sensitivity and women’s participation.
•	Participation and benefit-sharing by disadvantaged groups.
•	Handing over of community forests that are less time-consuming, controversial or cumbersome.
•	Peoples’ interest in using community forest for community development.
•	Appropriateness for action research, demonstration and publicity.
•	Regional balance.
•	Manageable group size and forest area.

The following were the main recommendations developed during the workshop:

•	The above criteria should be discussed with field workers and refined accordingly.
•	They should be tested in a few cases prior to wider-scale application.
•	They should be applied right away to the requests already received by the Rangers.
•	These criteria should be disseminated to FUGs as well as to support agencies.
•	FUGs need to be prepared to meet the criteria.
•	Area-specific planning and databases need to be developed for the verification of the criteria.
•	Separate sets of criteria need to be developed for application in demonstration areas and upper slopes.
•	Existing operational guidelines need to be revised to address the requirements for pre-and post-formation support separately.
•	Participatory and gender sensitive approaches need to be promoted from the beginning and conflicts need to be resolved internally within FUGs.