There are more women than men in the working committee and leadership of community forests, but the decisions are made by men, men sit and make decisions, women only sign them.
There was no meeting for a long time in the 6 community forests of Rupandehi, which were supposed to be completed by last October. The reason for that was the dispute over the post of chairman and secretary. Some people with forest access wanted to give both posts to men. However, the Forest Rules 2079 have made a mandatory provision that one of the positions of chairman and secretary should be given to a woman. Following this arrangement, other members of the group boycotted the session. This series continued till Pus. Although the Community Forest Federation has tried several times to facilitate it, it has not worked.
On December 14, the federation submitted a letter of attention to the Divisional Forest Office Rupandehi, informing the Ministry of Forest and Environment and the Forest Directorate of Lumbini Province. On December 19, Division Forest Office Rupandehi instructed to form a working committee to ensure 50 percent women including one woman as the chairman and secretary as per the rules. Only then the convention was held in the forest where the convention was stopped to prevent women from leading. A woman also got one of the positions of secretary or president.
41.69 percent of Nepal's total land area is forested. 23 thousand 26 of these are community forests managed by forest communities. 1 thousand 72 community forests are managed only by women. There is only 33 percent participation in every organ of the state. However, since 2052, 50 percent of women has been mandated in the Community Forest Act. The law provides for equal participation of women and men from ordinary members to working committees. When writing the name of the housekeeper in the statute of the community forest, it should be written both male and female. One female and one male representative from each household should participate in the general meeting of the group. At least 35 percent of the group's income should be mobilized in programs targeting women and the underprivileged. Nepal's Forest Act and its regulations, made following community forestry, are also commendable for women's leadership. However, women are still not given leadership in some community forests. However, the main role in the decision-making process is played by men. It is necessary to improve both trends of not keeping women and not having roles according to official responsibilities.
According to Forest Regulations 2079, one woman should be the chairman or secretary and one woman must be the vice-chairman or treasurer in the working committee of the community forest. In the 15-member working committee, at least 50 percent women with 2 officers are mandatory. In this way, there are more women than men in the working committee of community forests. There are women in leadership. There are also women in decisive roles. However, practically they do not decide. In many forests, leadership, protection and management are women, but decisions are made by men. Men sit and decide, women sign it. Women who are always ahead in resource conservation and management are always behind in resource management and profit taking. For example, where to plant trees, how to protect forests, how to cut forest bushes, what to do to prevent fire and how to stop it if there is a fire, many women do the work. How much wood to sell? What kind of wood to sell? Where to sell? Men are more involved than women in the decision-making process of how much to sell and what to do with the proceeds. Women only sign. It is necessary to stop such practice.
There are many women in rural areas who connect with natural resources in the morning and evening in the forest. From fetching water from the forest, fetching firewood, searching for roots, grazing animals, women do many jobs. Women also play an active role in planting saplings in the forest, protecting them, raising the planted saplings as well as their children. That is why women's participation and activism in conservation in Hola community forest is more than in other areas. Some women involved in forest conservation are associated with forest enterprises. This, in turn, has strengthened their personal and family ties. Now women engaged in forest conservation and leadership should engage in forest enterprise or tourism. Where has 35 percent of the community income to be mobilized in programs targeted at women and underprivileged groups been spent? Investing in women's income generation and skill development is essential. Skills learned should be linked to production.
At first glance, community activism, mobilization and leadership in community forestry is appealing. Ordinary women also practice full democracy like men, sitting in groups, debating, discussing and making decisions. Women who have managed forests have become people's representatives at the local level, state and federal government. According to the statistics of the Community Forest Federation, about 1,500 women who have led community forests have become people's representatives in three levels of government. Women who have worked in community forests have been able to understand the joys, sorrows and needs of the locals. They have learned the art of expanding relationships with society and immersing themselves in the community. He has also succeeded in politics by using this art. Despite this, there is a tendency not to give leadership to women who have leadership and decision-making ability to work in forest protection. There is a tendency in many forests to give positions to those who obey rather than to those who know, and to give leadership to women when husbands or male members of the family do not. In this case, men make decisions by giving work to women. This should not happen.
