FECOFUN with the support of USAID Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) is going to implement the project “Enhancing community participation in Natural Resource Management” from May, 2024 at CHAL, TAL, KCL and KSL Landscape, Nepal with the major objective of capacity strengthening of Community Forest Users Groups (CFUGs); enhancing community participation in forest management; revision and preparation of community forest operational plan (CFOP) and constitution of CFUGs; reducing human-wildlife conflict; environmental crime control and increasing climate resilience of communities and ecosystems. Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal, (FECOFUN) is convening the different activities like CFOP revision and institutional and capacity strengthening of CFUGs. Moreover, FECOFUN will develop various awareness materials (hoarding boards, printing wildlife damage relief distribution guidelines etc.) in consultation with USAID Biodiversity (Jal Jangal) and disseminate them in areas with high conflict prone areas including areas with human casualties.

Objectives

• To improve management of CFUG through revision/update of CFOP
• To increase institutional capacity of CFUGs and train CFUG members in sustainable NRM and/or biodiversity conservation, HWC mitigation measures, wildlife crime control, climate resilience, and GESI in NRM.
• To sensitize policy maker, executives, community, and relevant stakeholders through policy dialogue on Environmental and Natural Resource Safeguard
• To create mass awareness on forest fire control and human behavior change for human wildlife conflict mitigation

Program Activities and Methodology

Activity 1  : Revision of Community Forest Operational Plan

• Training to the technical project staffs on NFSS
• CF with the Backlog OP will be identified at the project
• Consultation meeting with CFUG members will be convened to discuss on the provisions on CFOP based on the forest act and regulation.
• Orientation to CFUG members regarding NFSS
• Participatory mapping, resource mapping and inventory will be convened at the CF.
• Made a common consensus with CFUGs members regarding the provisions to be incorporated at CFOP.
• CFOP draft will be prepared and endorsed through the general assembly of
• Submission of OP to DFO for
• The activity will be carried out in collaboration with respective Department of Forest and Environment, Provincial Forest Ministries and Division Forest

 

Activity 2  : Institutional Capacity Strengthening

• Office tables will be provided to support a total of 50 CFUGs for the purpose of collaboration with the respective Provincial Forest Ministries and Division Forest Offices.
• Steel office cupboard will be provided to support a total of 50 CFUGs.
• Revolving net chair will be provided to support a total of 50 CFUGs.

 

Activity 3:  Capacity Strengthening of CFUG members

3.1: Conduct orientation training for CFUG members on forest management, provisions of CFOP, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation

• One day training on forest management, provisions of CFOP, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation targeting to CFUGs members will be conducted.
• A facilitator who has the robust knowledge and experience on forest management, provisions of CFOP, climate change adaptation, and biodiversity conservation will be hired.
• Total 300 events on climate change adaptation and biodiversity conservation will be conducted, with a total of 50 participants in each training.

       Tools that will be used:

• Presentations,
• Brainstorming sessions,
• Participatory Group discussions

 

• : Conduct training for local communities on wildlife behavior and community response including the provisions of Wildlife Damage Relief Distribution Guideline (WDRDG), 2080 (2023 AD)

• Areas with the high human wildlife conflict incidence will be identified.
• One day training will be convened for the local communities of the identified CF regarding the wildlife behavior, community response and legal provisions mentioned in Wildlife Damage Relief Distribution Guideline, 2080.
• A facilitator who has the robust knowledge and experience on wildlife behavior and community response including the provisions of Wildlife Damage Relief Distribution Guideline will be hired.
• A one-day training will be held, with a total 40 participants in each training and total of 25 training orientations.
• For the wildlife damage relief distribution guideline, a total of 10,000 pages will be printed and disseminated in the project working area to communities, local government, and relevant stakeholders.

                Tools that will be used:

• Presentations,
• Brainstorming

 

3.3: Conduct training for CFUG members on biodiversity, wildlife crime control, climate resilience, and GESI in NRM.

• A one-day training on biodiversity, wildlife crime control, climate resilience, and GESI in NRM targeting to CFUGs will be convened at total of 60 CFUGs.
• For each training session, a facilitator robust knowledge and experience on biodiversity, wildlife crime control, climate resilience, and GESI in NRM will be hired.
• Total of 40 participants will be benefitted from each CFUG.

Tools that will be used:

• Presentations
• Brainstorming sessions
• Reflexivity exercises,

Participatory Group discussions

Activity 4: Mass Awareness – installation of hoarding boards

• Install 60 hoarding boards related to forest fire and human behavior change for HWC mitigation
• Hoarding board size: 5 feet*8 feet
• Hoarding Board Material: Poly vinyl board with metal stand

Activity 5: Policy Dialogue on Environmental and Natural Resource Safeguard

• Identification of the issues on haphazard infrastructure development and safeguards; Fire Insurance, enterprises development, promotion, and sustainability; youth engagement in biodiversity conservation; and Climate change.
• Consultant will be hired for policy dialogues on environment and natural resource safeguard.
• Develop 4 policy briefs on the mentioned theme.
• Convene one day dialogue on each policy brief.
• A total of 4 events will be held. For each policy dialogue, a consultant will be responsible for completion as per the provided agreement.

 

Expected Outcomes:

FECOFUN grant activities will contribute to the following results and outcomes:

• Revised Community Forest Operational Plan (CFOP) and strengthening the institutional capacity of the Community Forest User’ Group (CFUG).
• Enhanced capacity of CFUGs in forest fire control and management
• Created awareness on animal behavior and human behavior change
• Capacitated CFUG members on biodiversity, wildlife crime control, climate resilience, and gender equality and social inclusion in natural resource management and policy dialogues.