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In the remote Himalayan districts of Pithoragarh, India and Baitadi, Nepal, households are dependent on agriculture and forests for their livelihood
. In this paper, we examine poverty–forest linkages by examining data from a survey of 652 households from these districts, who live on either side of the Mahakali River. Per capita income in Nepal is half of that in India. Yet, in the Himalayas, where households live in a similar geographic terrain, we find that households in Nepal are much better off in terms of assets and income relative to their Indian counterparts. Per capita, Nepalese also collect less than half the fuelwood collected by Indians. Remittances, economic diversification and better water and sanitation infrastructure may contribute to improved livelihood outcomes in Nepal. Forests are intrinsic to life in both districts, and institutional or technological differences may be responsible for disparities in forest use
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In the remote Himalayan districts of Pithoragarh, India and Baitadi, Nepal, households are dependent on agriculture and forests for their livelihood
. In this paper, we examine poverty–forest linkages by examining data from a survey of 652 households from these districts, who live on either side of the Mahakali River. Per capita income in Nepal is half of that in India. Yet, in the Himalayas, where households live in a similar geographic terrain, we find that households in Nepal are much better off in terms of assets and income relative to their Indian counterparts. Per capita, Nepalese also collect less than half the fuelwood collected by Indians. Remittances, economic diversification and better water and sanitation infrastructure may contribute to improved livelihood outcomes in Nepal. Forests are intrinsic to life in both districts, and institutional or technological differences may be responsible for disparities in forest use
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We examine the role of subnational institutions in carbon sequestration and assess whether community forest user groups can meet both existing forest needs and international carbon demand
. By conducting a qualitative evaluation of a pilot program in Nepal that made carbon payments to forest user groups, we examine if community forestry institutions can be effective, efficient, and equitable in implementing Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)+. Our evaluation relies on focus group discussions, meetings, and community and program documents of forestry user groups that participated in the REDD+ pilot and matched groups that did not. Compared to control groups, REDD+ user groups appear to be more effective in carbon sequestration, perhaps because of increased prevention of forest fires and grazing, nursery establishment, and other forest management. REDD+ user groups report a larger number of forest conservation, forest utilization, and community development activities relative to control groups. Participating communities bear transaction costs of US$4.5/hectare and implementation costs of US$2.5/hectare on average (or NPR 50,000 (US$600) per year). The mean REDD+ rent per ton of additional carbon sequestered was US$1.3. Targeting of benefits improves partly because some marginalized groups, particularly women, participate more in the planning and management. In terms of equity, microcredit and capacity development activities were skewed to the poorest households, whereas alternate fuel and carbon monitoring were more advantageous to middle or high income households. Overall, our analyses suggest that REDD+ activities can be successfully executed, if communities receive technical and capacity building support for institutional strengthening, in addition to carbon payments
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Paying communities to preserve and manage their local forest resources using the internationally recognized REDD+ approach can be a practical and effective way to combat climate change
. A ‘before-and-after’ and ‘with-and-without’ evaluation of a pilot program in Nepal indicates that REDD+ can contribute to carbon sequestration and improve forest management without hurting local livelihoods. Thus, policy makers should begin the process of scaling up REDD+ with a strong emphasis on supporting communities to shift to bio-gas as an alternative to fuelwood
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This study estimates the economic value of ecosystem services generated from the management of community forests at sub-watershed level
. A total 300 households were surveyed in Jhikhu khola watershed of Kavrepalanchok district. We used discrete choice experiment method to estimate the value of ecosystem services generated from ecosystem management at watershed level. Random parameter logit model was used to analyze choice responses. Three data sets were generated to analyze the data including pool, upstream and downstream. The results indicate that drinking water, irrigation water, forest litter and fuelwood are the locally important ecosystem services. Forest users are keen to contribute to management activities through their community forest user groups. On average, forest users are willing to pay NPR 29 per year for one additional liter of drinking water per household per day during the dry season. They are willing to pay more than NPR 1,444 per year for an additional month of irrigation. Respondents are willing to pay approximately NPR 1,300 for an additional 30 baskets of leaf litter per month or NPR 43 per basket. This reflects the value of leaf litter as a substitute for chemical fertilizers. Respondents are willing to pay approximately NPR. 117 per bhari or head load fuelwood. The estimated average annual household willingness-to-pay is NPR. 3,136 for the specific community forest management scenario. In addition, up-stream community member are willing-to-pay 1.37 times more for watershed services relative to downstream members. In addition, drinking water demand, irrigated land holding size and sex of respondents are main demographic characteristics to determine willingness-to-pay of forest users. The study suggests that choice experiment is useful tools to mainstream biodiversity into community forest management
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This study was undertaken in the Sardukhola sub-watershed of eastern Nepal to illustrate how local policy instruments can be used to supplement government water supply
. We discuss a strategy for using Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) to meet water demand in Dharan Municipality in Nepal. A rigorous process was followed in designing the PES scheme. Following focus group discussions, a Choice Experiment was carried out to determine the preferences of municipal water users. In addition, upstream households were interviewed to understand their requirements to participate in a watershed management program. Finally, we used a series of formal and informal stakeholder consultations to help validate household survey findings and develop an institutional framework for implementing PES. Our analysis indicates that water quality is the most important attribute preferred by water users and that upstream households require incentives to decrease domestic livestock grazing, change agricultural practices and reduce open defecation. Results suggest that developing a PES scheme would be socially acceptable and financially feasible and may contribute to a flow of USD 118,000 per year from water users for watershed management. In concurrence with local stakeholders, we propose a tri-partite institutional structure to implement PES. We note that a national PES policy would make it easier to initiate such integrated and market-oriented approaches for enhancing drinking water supply
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Paying communities to preserve and manage their local forest resources using the internationally recognized REDD+ approach can be a practical and effective way to combat climate change
. A ‘before-and-after’ and ‘with-and-without’ evaluation of a pilot program in Nepal indicates that REDD+ can contribute to carbon sequestration and improve forest management without hurting local livelihoods. Thus, policy makers should begin the process of scaling up REDD+ with a strong emphasis on supporting communities to shift to bio-gas as an alternative to fuelwood
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This paper examines the role of national and sub-national institutions in managing carbon sequestration and trade in Nepal
. It first asks whether it is feasible and advantageous to implement REDD+ in Nepal’s community managed forests. Then, using a pilot experimental program, it assesses whether community institutions can serve both existing needs and meet international demand for carbon. The review of secondary evidence suggests that community forestry can effectively and equitably manage REDD+ activity. However, there may be higher carbons returns to converting forests currently directly managed by the government to more efficient regimes. At the sub-national level, available evidence suggests that REDD+ activities can be successfully implemented, if, in addition to rent, communities receive technical mentoring that contributes to institutional strengthening
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Community Forests in Nepal can be utilized to reduce carbon emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD)
. However, if REDD+ activities are to be effective and equitable, communities need to receive technical support and mentoring that contributes to institutional strengthening, in addition to any monetary payments for carbon sequestration. Policy makers should also look into the potential for capturing carbon by making government-managed forests more sustainable. Carbons sequestration may be higher if forests currently directly managed by the government can be converted to more efficient regimes through scientific forestry
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Ecosystem services make important contributions to human wellbeing
. South Asia is witnessing a rapid deterioration of local and regional ecosystems. Many of these ecosystems are exploited beyond what is socially optimal because they exist in either open access or common property regimes. With emerging concerns about climate change, there is further disquiet about the loss of natural areas and their services. This note discusses research priorities for managing South Asia's ecosystem services, as identified by a group of scientists and practitioners who gathered in Bengaluru, India, to address these concerns
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