Water Management in Community forestry: Case study of Lamatar VDC, Nepal By PRATISTHA LAXMI TAMRAKAR A thesis submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Philosophy FACULTY OF SCIENCE SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES NSW 2052, AUSTRALIA APRIL 2015 PLEASE TYPE THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW SOUTH WALES Thesis/Dissertation Sheet Surname or Family name: Tamrakar First name: Pratistha Other name/s: Abbreviation for degree as given in the University calendar: MPhil School: Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty: Institute of Environmental Studies Title: Water Management in Community Forestry Abstract 350 words maximum: (PLEASE TYPE) The connection between forest and watershed has been well studied in the field of forestry science. However, the social facet of this field is yet to be thoroughly understood and studied. In Nepal, community forestry is playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of watersheds which act as a crucial source of water in the mid hills. Managing these watersheds and rivers is fundamental towards providing quality water to the community. Despite a growing body of knowledge on forest and water, the needs and concerns of managing these resources remain largely unaddressed. An important question then to emerge from this is - can community that is effectively managing forests, manage the water resources emerging from the forests? This thesis aims to investigate opportunities and challenges of water management in community forestry system. Specifically, it analyses whether and how water in the community forests is being managed at present. The study was designed using a mixed methods approach of qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative data collection included a questionnaire survey (99 completed the questionnaire), conducting semi-structured interviews (20 interviews), attending community workshops and initiating informal discussions. The quantitative data collection also involved conducting a water quality analysis on two water streams within the Lamtar catchment. The analysis of the data indicated that the community manages water in Lamatar in a number of different ways, and with some hierarchies and different roles affecting access. User groups manage water on a small scale providing water to the community. However, within community forestry, water management is not a prime responsibility. This is because a) there is no legislation to require water management within community forestry, b) no concrete knowledge as to how water management can be done through community forestry; c) unlike other forest products such as timber, herbs, fodder, water does not belong to the FUGs, it belongs to the state, and d) there is no legislative or institutional linkage between forest and water. This thesis emphasises that community forestry users manage water on a small scale and informally-based on local norms, but they do not have legislative support or ownership for management to do so. This is leading to issues of inadequate water supply and water quality. There is a need for co-ordinated policy for integrated natural resource management to enhance sustainable resource conservation. Declaration relating to disposition of project thesis/dissertation I hereby grant to the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or in part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all property rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstracts International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). The University recognises that there may be exceptional circumstances requiring restrictions on copying or conditions on use. Requests for restriction for a period of up to 2 years must be made in writing. Requests for a longer period of restriction may be considered in exceptional circumstances and require the approval of the Dean of Graduate Research. FOR OFFICE USE ONLY Date of completion of requirements for Award: COPYRIGHT STATEMENT ‘I hereby grant the University of New South Wales or its agents the right to archive and to make available my thesis or dissertation in whole or part in the University libraries in all forms of media, now or here after known, subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968. I retain all proprietary rights, such as patent rights. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis or dissertation. I also authorise University Microfilms to use the 350 word abstract of my thesis in Dissertation Abstract International (this is applicable to doctoral theses only). I have either used no substantial portions of copyright material in my thesis or I have obtained permission to use copyright material; where permission has not been granted I have applied/will apply for a partial restriction of the digital copy of my thesis or dissertation.' Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... AUTHENTICITY STATEMENT ‘I certify that the Library deposit digital copy is a direct equivalent of the final officially approved version of my thesis. No emendation of content has occurred and if there are any minor variations in formatting, they are the result of the conversion to digital format.’ Signed ……………………………………………........................... Date ……………………………………………........................... ORIGINALITY STATEMENT ‘I hereby declare that this submission is my own work and to the best of my knowledge it contains no materials previously published or written by another person, or substantial proportions of material which have been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma at UNSW or any other educational institution, except where due acknowledgement is made in the thesis. Any contribution made to the research by others, with whom I have worked at UNSW or elsewhere, is explicitly acknowledged in the thesis. I also declare that the intellectual content of this thesis is the product of my own work, except to the extent that assistance from others in the project's design and conception or in style, presentation and linguistic expression is acknowledged.’ Signed …………………………………………….............. Date …………………………………………….............. ABSTRACT The connection between forest and watershed has been well studied in the field of forestry science. However, the social facet of this field is yet to be thoroughly understood and studied. In Nepal, community forestry is playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of watersheds which act as a crucial source of water in the mid hills. Managing these watersheds and rivers is fundamental towards providing quality water to the community. Despite a growing body of knowledge on forest and water, the needs and concerns of managing these resources remain largely unaddressed. An important question then to emerge from this is - can community that is effectively managing forests, manage the water resources emerging from the forests? This thesis aims to investigate opportunities and challenges of water management in community forestry system. Specifically, it analyses whether and how water in the community forests is being managed at present. The study was designed using a mixed methods approach of qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative data collection included a questionnaire survey (99 completed the questionnaire), conducting semi-structured interviews (20 interviews), attending community workshops and initiating informal discussions. The quantitative data collection also involved conducting a water quality analysis on two water streams within the Lamtar catchment. The analysis of the data indicated that the community manages water in Lamatar in a number of different ways, and with some hierarchies and different roles affecting access. User groups manage water on a small scale providing water to the community. However, within community forestry, water management is not a prime responsibility. This is because a) there is no legislation to require water management within community forestry, b) no concrete knowledge as to how water management can be done through community forestry; c) unlike other forest products such as timber, herbs, fodder, water does not belong to the FUGs, it belongs to the state, and d) there is no legislative or institutional linkage between forest and water. This thesis emphasises that ii community forestry users manage water on a small scale and informally-based on local norms, but they do not have legislative support or ownership for management to do so. This is leading to issues of inadequate water supply and water quality. There is a need for co- ordinated policy for integrated natural resource management to enhance sustainable resource conservation. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I would like to thank both of my supervisors, Dr. Daniel Robinson and Dr. Krishna Shrestha for the continuous support of my study and research; for their patience, motivation, and enthusiasm. Many thanks for the encouragement when I was ready to give up and guiding me when I was seemingly lost. They have been the best supervisors I could have asked for. Additional thanks go to Govinda Poudel from Forest