Report On Community Forest “Godavari Kunda”

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Acknowledgement:

"We would like to thank Mr. Ram Puri for guiding and providing us all the required information of Godavari Kunda Forest. The valuable time and advice he has given us in the writing of this report. We would also like to thank our teacher Mr. Indresh Sharma for his encouragement and guidance. We offer our sincere appreciation for the learning opportunities provided by our Teacher. Our completion of this project could not have been accomplished without the support of our group members, Rajan, Kamala, Kopila, Mamata, Sumitra, Sabina, Shrijana and Ananta.

Methodology:-

* Mr.Ganesh Bd. Silwal (President Of Committee)

* Mr.Ram Puri

* Google (Link:- http://www.trekking-world.com/regional/nepal/kathmanduvalley/godawari)

Content Page:-

Section Page No. * Methodology…………………………………………3 * Introduction…………………………………………….5 * Background……………………………………………..6 * Objective………………………………………………...7 * Findings/Result……………………………………………8 * Conclusion and Recommendation………………………..8-11 * Annexes……………………………………………………11

Introduction:-

Nepal was the country once renowned for the richness in forest resources. But with the flow of time and change in situation, population started growing in an alarming rate that led to deforestation. Ultimately, deforestation brought about various problems including natural disasters. As a result, the concept of community forest came into a rise.
Now, community forests exist in various parts of Nepal. So, in order to know about the community forest, investigate its situation, identify its problems and analyze its impacts on the environment and also to find out the solutions the problems, we the group of some students decided to visit one of the community forests of Nepal. Thus, we happened to choose Godawari Kunda community forest as the best place to conduct our research.
Godavari lays 10 km sealed road from Kathmandu, Nepal. Godavari is a village which attracts many local people and tourists every year. Royal Botanic Garden is the most popular among the Nepali people because it is quiet and peaceful spot for a walk or just for a picnic. Visitors can have a look on the Nepal's flora here at Godavari.
Godavari Kunda is a place to visit. Godavari has a sacred spring and the hill behind this spring is covered by praying flags. Every 12 years thousands of pilgrims come here to bathe and gain merit.

Background:-
Godawari Kunda community forest, located at the heart of Godawari, ward no. 5 of Lalitpur district was established in 2052 B.S. according to the Forest Law of Nepal and has been handed over a local committee named by “Gowari Kund Community Forest User Group. In present days, there are 130 members and 11 representatives in the committee. Also, 2 people have been separately elected to watch out the activities of the forest area.
Spreading through 147 hectares area, this community forest is 1500-2000 meters above the sea level. Currently, at least 600 individual of Godawari V.D.C. from ward no. 5, 2 and 3 are benefitted from this forest.This community forest is divided into four blocks (1, 2, 3 & 4).The whole area has also been divided in three levels i.e. Lower level, Middle Level and higher level. As per the nature and condition of the forest, the forest is also been divided two parts as Improved area and Non-improved area.
Here, various types of flora and fauna including trees, animals, birds, butterflies and medicinal herbs are found according to the climatic situation of each block. Rich in at least 6o varieties of medicinal herbs, this place built a medicinal herbs showroom in 2059 B.S. in order to attract internal and external tourists as well as those who are keeps a special interest in the study of herbs. Similarly, this place is also being developed as a picnic spot. Godawari Kunda community forest is totally in control of the local people. The local people engage themselves in the protection and promotion of the forest area. Also, the organization like ICIMOD contributes in the matter of conservation of the forest by providing important ideas, advices and suggestions.

Objectives:- * To know about the present status of forest. * To know the sequential development of forest. * To deal with the socio-economic and ecological aspect of forest and community. * To know the involvement and commitment of community people towards the forest preservation program. * To analyze the national and international value of the forest. * To know the history and present status of the forest. * To know the benefits of the community forest towards the environment and people. * To know about the different organizations involved in the preservation of the forest and their contribution. * To know about the tourism possibility.

Result/Findings:-
When the forest was just a forest not a community forest, there were only bushes and few numbers of trees. Due to the lack of awareness people used to cut down the trees randomly. But, when it was converted into community forest in 2052 B.S. people began to preserve it. The whole forest is divided into 4 blocks (1, 2, 3 & 4). Also, it has been categorized as improved and non-improved area. After knowing the history and present status of forest, we can find many improvements in the socio-economic and ecological aspects of the forest. People are seriously involved and strongly committed towards the protection of forest. Due the effort of public people, the forest has been home for different types of wild animals and birds. 512 species of angiosperms and more than 50 species of medical herbs are found in this forest.
Many governmental and non-governmental organization are been helping for the conduction of awareness program in public and also in conservation of forest. ICIMOD is the main international organization which has been involved for all the activities to conserve the forest from long period of time. Although many organizations are involved in the conservation of this forest, they have not helped the committee financially. So, for the financial support, they collect RS.100 from each household annually and they have also tried to raise fund from picnic spots.
This community forest has high value nationally and internationally. It can be a beautiful tourism area. The committee has also been trying to develop this community forest as a tourism area. They have made some picnic spots, resting area and also bird observation spot for the promotion of tourism. Many national as well as international students have visited this forest for the purpose of thesis writing and research project. Moreover many international ecologists visit this forest to learn about the different species of plants, animals and herbs. This has increased the value of forest nationally and internationally.

Conclusion and recommendation:- * Moving on to the forest area we have learnt many aspects of the community and the forest. Present status of forest is vast different to that of past. For many years this forest was left carefree, but when the local people were made aware by some of the nongovernmental organization, they have sincerely involve in the forest conservation. Even, the forest department has helped their initiatives. At present the forest has drastically changed its appearances from scattered herbs coverage in past to a dense beautiful jungle. In fact the locals’ value towards the jungle also proves that this jungle is of great importance. 1. Strengthening national, state and local processes of implementation Information gathering system needs major improvements Regular progress reports by districts and states should also be made publicly available. * 1. Work in cooperation * Social welfare departments and civil society networks, needs to launch a fresh CFR campaign on the forest area in collaboration with the community. Community conservation must be governed by a contract between the community holding the forest rights and any organizations wishing to support them in this. * 2. Institutional support from central government and concerned authorities * It includes mass awareness programs using mass media, training sessions for Forest resource conservation members. Both local and government authorities should involve in making development planning. Development plan should encounter the income generated by community conservation, emphasize in community needs and conservation objectives. Community forests will need to acquire legal personality from the district authorities. It enables access to services, in particular financial services, but would also reinforce communities negotiating power and their capacity to interact with other subjects of national and international law. Forest committee themselves work voluntarily for the forest conservation. From the committee, a member has been selected to look after forest and report what actually happen in the forest. But this is not enough, the committee need to acquire legal personality from the district authorities. It enables access to services, in particular financial services, but would also reinforce communities negotiating power and their capacity to interact with other subjects of national and international law. * 3. Facilitating community forest governance * Working plan should be prepared by participatory involvement of community, forest department and other government agencies. Forest department should give some authority to the forest conservation committee under certain terms and condition. * 4. Transparency building mechanisms * Regular public consultations and hearings, at various locations accessible to maximum number of forest‐dwelling communities should be held. Regular updates on status of implementation should be put into public domain. * 5. Economic benefit from the forest * The main income of this forest includes selling of timber, medicinal herbs, Park visit and picnic spot charge. Besides this, the committee annually raises Rs 100 from each household. This forest is found to have sufficient funding. The income from community conservation will need to be channeled into vital sectors such as health, education, housing, water supply and the financing of income-generating activities at the local level. * 6. Increase in participation * Once people are made aware of the gain they received from forest conservation, they will give attention towards the forest conservation. Government has been directly or indirectly benefitted from this forest. As Godavari botanical Garden is famous across nation and abroad, many students and viewers across the globe visit there with interest. And while visiting the botanical garden they even set to visit the community forest. It seems that the Godavari Kund Community cant able to make mass acknowledgement and independent identity. For these, constant activities should be conducted for the local population and city-dwellers to participate in forest management. Also it would be best to organize public hearings on projects related to the use of forest resources. Citizens should be assured that their efforts for sustainable forest management will be worthwhile. Only in this case will the population’s participation in forest management become active and permanent.
Godavari Kund Community forest can be a sample of forest conservation .It should work with different governmental and nongovernmental organization so as to know its value and importance in the international arena too. Proper plan, policies, attention and participation of government, locals and all concerned individuals can help our country to gain a lot from this community forest.
Annexes:-