| dc.description.abstract | The central importance of forests to global ecological and social systems is scientifically and morally indisputable. They harbour some of the richest ecosystems of the planet, regulate climate systems, sequester vast amounts of carbon-dioxide and support the livelihoods of billions. It is remarkable then, that despite widespread recognition of value, forests remain exposed to degradation. This work explores community-based reforestation (CBR) in Nepal as an attempt to align the traditionally divergent objectives of environmental-conservation and community-development. Through CBR, communities are empowered to restore forests and are positioned as the chief beneficiaries of doing so. However, knowledge on the topic is limited, which prevents an accurate case being constructed for further development. This work adopts the resilience perspective as a means of analysis for CBR.
By integrating CBR and the resilience perspective this work has both practical and theoretical implications. Practically, results feed into deepening understandings of CBR impacts for communities, with social, environmental and economic dimensions. Theoretically, results support the development of the resilience perspective debate and contribute to an emerging portfolio of studies that can reflect an effectiveness and flexibility for community analysis.
To explore CBR from the resilience perspective, an adapted community-based resilience analysis (CoBRA) methodology has been utilised. The CoBRA is a qualitative community-level assessment of resilience, that explores the contextual landscape of challenges before assessing resilience. Two case- study communities, in central and eastern Nepal, have been studied to produce three primary findings. First, both communities face portfolios of shifting and exacerbated hazards. Second, CBR has aided community development and contributed to the components of resilience as defined in this work. Third, significant barriers to the approach exist at local and national levels. These findings are an indication of potential, and hope to encourage future research on the topic. However, discerning the global relevance of the approach remains an area requiring attention and is yet to be determined.
The work concludes that CBR is an effective conservation-development approach, which equips communities to more effectively cope with uncertain futures. However, the work has uncovered some key areas through which the approach could enhance its impact on resilience. It is therefore an encouraging indicator of potential which warrants further exploration. | |
