Have you ever heard of the saying “If you want something done right, do it yourself”? It might sound counterintuitive, but the same concept applies when it comes to preserving forests. You might think that the best way to save forests is by having a centralized authority managing it, but in reality, empowering locals to take charge is proving to be an excellent strategy.
“NASA has satellite imagery that demonstrates how forests thrive when placed under the control of local communities.“
Recently, NASA Earth Observatory’s “image of the day” revealed a set of maps that showed the incredible recovery of Nepal’s forests over the past few decades. And the reason behind this success is the plan to put nearby communities in charge of forest conservation. The result? A significant increase in forest cover almost doubling across the country between 1992 and 2016.
It’s no secret that forests are an essential component of our ecosystem. They provide a habitat for animals and play a vital role in maintaining the planet’s health by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen. Yet, deforestation is one of the biggest threats to our environment. This is where community-driven conservation efforts come into play.
The success of Nepal’s forest conservation plan lies in the fact that it gave communities the power to take control of their forests. And as a result, the forests flourished due to natural regeneration. According to Jefferson Fox, deputy director of research at the East-West Center in Hawaii, “Once communities started actively managing the forests, they grew back mainly as a result of natural regeneration.”
This approach to conservation is not only beneficial to the environment, but it also has other benefits such as creating jobs and improving the livelihoods of local communities. By being in charge of their forests, locals can sell the products they harvest and use the profits to improve their lives.
The success of Nepal’s conservation efforts is proof that empowering locals to manage forests is an effective way to preserve them. This approach not only leads to a thriving environment but also has social and economic benefits. So let’s learn from Nepal’s success and start empowering our communities to take care of our planet’s precious forests.
Once upon a time, Nepal’s lush green forests were on the brink of extinction. A World Bank report predicted that by 1990, the forests in Nepal’s hills would have vanished, and by 2000, the plains would be barren. The forests, which were nationalized decades ago, were rapidly declining due to deforestation and clearing for agriculture. But the country turned the situation around in 1978 when it introduced a community forestry program.
The program put local groups in charge of managing large areas of land, and it allowed people to use the forests for their needs, like gathering food or firewood. But these local groups were also given the responsibility of developing plans to ensure that the forests’ resources remained abundant. This approach made them realize that it was in their best interest to keep the forests healthy, leading to a significant shift in how they viewed the environment.
Now, about 22,000 local groups manage 2.3 million hectares of community forests in Nepal, which amounts to roughly one-third of all of Nepal’s forests. And the results have been remarkable. Forest cover in the community-managed area of Devithan has grown from 12 percent to an astounding 92 percent over just a few decades. That’s a staggering 7-fold increase in just a short amount of time.
The success of Nepal’s community forestry program demonstrates that change can happen when people are empowered to make a difference. This program has given locals the power to manage their forests, and as a result, the forests have been able to regenerate and thrive. It’s not just about protecting the environment; it’s about creating sustainable livelihoods for communities and improving their quality of life.
Nepal’s story is proof that if we take the time to invest in people and give them the power to make a difference, we can achieve incredible things. We can save our environment and create sustainable and prosperous communities. The power to make a difference lies within each one of us, and it’s up to us to take action and create a better world for ourselves and future generations.