Building a Resilient Churia Region in Nepal (BRCRN) is a project currently being implemented in 11 districts of Koshi, Madhesh and Bagmati provinces.  One of its programs is Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR) implemented in community forests, which emphasizes the maintenance of forests in a way that assists the natural regeneration of the forest. Members of the Community Forest User Groups (CFUGs) clear the bushes in certain areas of the forest, for which they are also paid a daily wage. Only 25-30 people get the opportunity to do this work in one shift, and since the number of CFUG member households is usually more than 30, disputes have arisen in different places over the opportunity to do this work. Harimaya Parajuli, president of the Triveni CFUG in Kerabari Rural Municipality ward number 2 of Morang district,had a simple but effective solution to this problem. She made the provision of two shifts of work, and asked members of 130 CFUG member households to come to work in rotation. All members accepted that rule, and this work was completed in Triveni Community Forest without any dispute regarding opportunity.

Various researches testify to the benefits of female leadership –female leaders are seen as trustworthy and they ensure equitable access to resources. Harimaya, who ensured proportional access to financial resources, has set a good example of leadership, and this incident makes clear the necessity of women's leadership in the forest sector. Before becoming president of the CFUG, Harimayawas the secretary of Triveni Community Forest for three terms, and is now successfully leading the CFUG with 130 member households. During her tenure, she has succeeded in passing the 10-year plan of Triveni Community Forest, and has also resolved the dispute over who can use the forest resources. Harimaya has implemented a rule that only the CFUG members can harvest and sell timber from the community forest. Because the forest has degraded due to uncontrolled grazing, she also implemented the extra rule that the members have to take turns to graze their livestock (goats) in different areas of the forest. She has also arranged for a forest watcher/guard to ensure that this rule is followed.

The need for women's leadership

Women's leadership is considered important for sustainable development. A report by ICIMOD, UNEP and UN Women State of Gender EqualityAnd Climate Change 2021 points out that these findings are even more relevant in the forestry and agriculture sectors, as women are often the primary users of forest and agriculture resources. The presence of women is gradually increasing in the forest sector, but there is less ethnic diversity. On the positive side, the presence of women in senior technical positions in the agricultural sector has increased from 13 % in 2016 to 33 % in 2021. However, women's leadership in these fields is still insufficient in Nepal.

According to Article 42 (8) of the Forest Act 2076 issued by the Government of Nepal and the Forest Regulations 2079 made to implement the Act, there should be at least 50 percent representation of women in the working committee of CFUGs, with at least one key post – chairperson or treasurer, and vice-chair or secretary, filled by a woman. According to CBO profile 2022, 3922 (43%) out of 9000 members of CFUG Working Committees are women. But this appreciable ratio is not seen in the leadership level.

For example, in a Natural Resource Management Field School (NRM FS) run by the BRCRN in Naya Basti, Ward Number 6 of Rupani Rural Municipality in Saptari District, 25 of the 27 members are women and 17 are Indigenous Peoples/Janajati. But the leader of the school is a Chhetriman. When asked why the members chose a man as a leader despite having such a large number of women and Indigenous Peoples, they said, "The reason we do this is because we don't know anything. Even though we know many things we are not able to express it. Therefore, we chose someone who understands things and can speak well." This incident indicates that the gender power relations within the community are affected by various factors, including socio-cultural factors. One of the main barriers to women's leadership is social and cultural values and  practices, which is demonstrated in this incident. In this context, BRCRN has adopted the principle of proportional representation and targeted approach in promoting women's leadership .

Women's leadership in forestry and agriculture

BRCRN has adopted a principle that at least 50% of its beneficiaries should be women.According to the project's Mid-Year Report 2024, BRCRN's beneficiaries consist of 51% women, 51% Indigenous Peoples, 24% Brahmin/Chhetri, 13% Dalits, and 10% Madheshi[D1] [D2]  and 1%Mulsims. The involvement of local residents in the revitalization of the Chure area means that they are involved in mitigating the effects of climate change, and their awareness and skills are increasing.

For example, Devakiwati Chaudhary, 59, resides in Banigama, Surunga Municipality ward number – 5, Saptari. She has three children and three grandchildren.  Chaudhary is an example for the Chaudhary community in Banigama, where she has been leading BRCRN’s NRM Field School for the past six months.

In Nepal, 66 percent of women work in the agriculture sector. However, they are grossly underrepresented in decision-making levels. In Madhesh, where Devakiwati lives, it is still a challenge to get women to participate in the NRM FS itself since many women still wear the ghumto or veil. “One of the biggest challenges is to convince women to actively participate in the Field School. Religious, cultural and social factors are key barriers, where women are limited to household chores,” says Chaudhary. Despite this challenge, a total of 26 women are actively participating in the field school, where they are committed to replicating the climate resilient farm-forest land use practices in their farm and community forest. As leader of the Field School, Chaudhary actively encourages the participation of women. “If any member of the school does not attend the class, then I immediately call her. If their absence continues, then I personally go and meet the members and convince them to continue,” says Chaudhary.

Chaudhary also shares her recent learning with other villagers. In BRCRN’s field school, she learnt to make compost/liquid fertilizer, biochemical pesticides, and grow different cash crops. In the context of increasing usage of chemical fertilizers, Devakiwati has been instrumental in spreading the knowledge of organic fertilizers and pesticides in her

In this context, Devakiwati is a bold, vocal and trustworthy member of the Chaudhary community. This has not happened overnight.  Devakiwati grew up in an enabling environment, where got the opportunity to study up to grade eight. Her father was very supportive of her education. When she passed eighth grade, she was married, which prevented her from going to school. But still, she continued her public engagement through community forest user group, women farmers group, etc. where she advocates for women. She is also the chairperson of the farmers’ group called Shree Sawahini Women Farmers Group, Banigama, Surunga Municipality – 5, Saptari.

The Field School has been a way for her to address harmful practices such as child/early marriage, and encourage the fellow participants to share and present their learnings in the group. “It is still a challenge for women to get out of the veil. This Field School has given women a way to venture out of the veil and reduce some harmful practices. Women are now able to raise their veils and speak, to voice their opinions, share what they know in groups and hold discussions,” says Chaudhary.

Simultaneously reducing pressure on nature and women

BRCRN has been carrying out about 15 different intervention activities to promote adoption of climate resilient land use practices, confront the challenges of deforestation and forest degradation and improve the forest ecosystem of the 26 vulnerable river systems of the Churia region. Establishment of tree nurseries, construction of water recharge ponds, Natural Resource Management Field Schools, climate resilient agriculture practice, agroforestry, biogas plant establishment, agroforestry/on farm nurseries, riverside plantations, are the key interventions being implemented. While carrying out these activities, BRCRN is working to increase the climate resilience of vulnerable peoples  including women, Indigenous Peoples, Dalits, Madheshi , Muslims, and others who are experiencing the impacts of climate change. It reaches them directly through various project interventions of economic empowerment, capacity building, and leadership development. For example, Anar Dhami is a nursery owner/operator of Danuwar Mahila AgriculturalNurseryinDudhauliMunicipality, WardNumber 11 of Sindhulidistrict.Her family has been rearing goats for livelihood for the past 7 years. In the past, she used to graze goats in the forest.

At present, according to BRCRN's ANR program, open grazing in forests is controlled, while plants of fodder grass species have been given to farmers as an alternative to grazing. After participating in BRCRN's agro-forestry nursery program, Anar has been producing healthy plants to make her family and local residents self-sufficient in grass/fodder. 

"Nowadays, there is no need to spend much time gathering fodder, because of the abundance of grass and fodder planted in the fields. I have saved some time as I don't have to take the goats to the forest to graze. My income from goat farming has increased," she says. She also shares her experiences elsewhere. She has also been guiding  Salina Kunwar, another nursery operator of Dudhauli Municipality Ward Number6, about raising fodder, and managing the agroforestry nursery. In this way, BRCRN is helping to empower women, Indigenous Peoples, Dalits, Madheshi,and other marginalized and vulnerable peoples and communities.

The author is a former Gender Specialist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This article is the personal opinion of the author.

 
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