Implementing SDG-15 through community forestry management: A case of Tarpakha community forest, Gorkha, Nepal

Community forestry shifts power of management of forest from government to the community. At the same time, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15(2) aims at sustainable forest management. This study aims at implementing SDG-15 through community forestry management in Nepal. Questionnaire survey method was applied for generating the qualitative data from the members of the Tarpakha Community Forest User Group along with interviews with concerned stakeholders of the forest user groups and field observation for understanding the real scenario of the forest and its surrounding. Out of information acquired from the survey, dependent and independent variables were categorized. For checking the effectiveness of one set of variables for sustainable management of forest, the variables were cross tabulated using Pearson’s Chi square to test association and Phi and Cramer’s V were used for further verification. Inspection of forests, plantation of forest, fire control, imposition of fines has been effective ways for sustainable forest management. Similarly, the conservation and management of forest resources are influenced by socio-economic benefits that are delivered to the people and the inclusive policies that are implemented in management approach. More enhancement in activities of community forestry user groups will surely help in achieving SDG – 15(2) by targeted period.