Inequality and Forest Dependence on Community Forest Resources in Kaski, Nepal

Abstract

"This paper examines the importance of community forest income, and how such income affects the overall income inequality in the community. Analyses are based on a household survey of 176 respondents in five selected forest user groups in Kaski District, Nepal. Overall, community forest income contributed an average of 7.4% of the total household income, which covers 56% of the total forest income of the user households. The main sources of community forest income were fuelwood, fodder, ground grass, timber and leafliter. The poor households derived as much as 17.7% of their total household income from community forests, compared to only 3.9% for the rich households. The community forest income had some equalizing effect on local income distribution: 100% increase in community forest income, other things being equal, would decrease 6.4% in overall income inequality. The high importance of community forest for the poor underscores the importance of securing their access into the resources."