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Abstract:
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"In many areas with community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) systems, local communities are the owners as well as managers of natural resources. Often they have developed these CBNRM systems as a result of their own efforts, experiences, knowledge and customary practices for the management of their natural resources.
"In Nepal it has taken many decades for the state to recognize these systems and the rights of communities over their natural resources. The decentralized legal system of Nepal allows for legal recognition of Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) and other CBNRM groups for natural resource management at the local level. The rights of these communities is not limited only to the management of natural resources, but also to contributing to local development and enhancing the livelihoods and justice for local people.
"Unfortunately, armed conflict in various parts of South Asia, including Nepal, has been creating enormous impacts on people's lives, communities, and the environment. In the context of Nepal, armed conflict was started for political reasons 10 years ago and ever since it has been had immense impacts on CBNRM systems.
"Large amounts of financial resources and valuable forest products generated in CBNRM groups have been captured by Maoist revolutionary groups. The military administration has also imposed a government order to close the bank accounts and ban the marketing of forest products of these CFUGs. As a result, both conflicting parties are preventing the exercise of democracy at the community level and additionally they are both violating community rights over natural resources. The revolutionary groups and the militarized government are also demanding financial resources from CBNRM groups in the form of donation and taxes respectively.
"The strategies and activities of both conflicting groups have had enormous impacts on CBNRM systems and its direct and indirect impacts are connected with the disturbances and negative impacts on local development and livelihoods, particularly of ethnic groups, poor people and women. Armed Conflicts have also affected the marketing of forest products and other natural resources on local, national as well as international levels.
"As the result of armed conflict in Nepal, CBNRM systems are deteriorating and less able to meet their goals of sustainable management of natural resources at local levels; it creates economic crisis, environmental degradation and violation of rights of local communities over their natural resources. This paper is analyzed the impacts of armed conflict on CF/CFUGs and others CBNRM systems in Nepal and the result of these impacts on human life and environment."
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