The APFNet-sponsored project “Demonstration of Sustainable Forest Management with community participation in Nepal” initiated an exposure visit to Lin'an County and Anji County of Zhejiang Province as well as She County of Anhui Province on 31 October -11 November 2011 to investigate sustainable forest management model and enterprise operation. The delegation, which was composed of 8 members representing project staffs, FECOFUN steering committee member, community forestry user group and partner organizations, had participated in this learning experience.
During their stay in Zhejiang Province, the delegation visited the Forestry Bureau of Lin'an City, Forestry Bureau of Anji County, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University, listened to local forestry officials and researchers’ introduction of their experiences in collective forest management and forest tenure reform, development and utilization of bamboo and other non-timber forest resources, forest eco-tourism as well as agro-forestry management. On the basis of which, with the accompany of the local forestry staff, the delegation also visited the bamboo production line in the Hangzhou Zen Bamboo& Hardwood Products Co.Ltd, bamboo cultivation in Tai Huyuan Ten thousand-ha. Praecox Bamboo Base, bamboo shoot processing in the Zhejiang Vegetables Basket Food Co., Ltd., bamboo resource collection, protection, seed breeding and bamboo bonsai production in the Tai Huyuan Ornamental Bamboo Seed Garden, and winter whip bamboo shoots cultivation bases and dual-use of bamboo for bamboo shoot and structural use in the Modern Science and Technology Park, as well as a glimpse of Anji Bamboo Expo Park.
China-German Financial Cooperation Project on "Ecological Afforestation to Alleviate the Poor in Southern Anhui Province"
After their visit in the Zhejiang Province, the delegation went to Anhui on 4-6 November with the accompany of local staff at the foreign funded forestry projects office of She County. The delegation visited the forest management spot in Shengdu and Zhengkou to investigate the collective forest management model. Also the delegation learned the implementation of the China-German Financial Cooperation Project on “Ecological Afforestation to Alleviate the Poor in Southern Anhui Province” (hereinafter referred to as the China-German project). Both sides actively exchanged their experiences in collective forest sustainable management by heat discussing on how to improve the quality of the forest stand, protect the ecological environment, improve the benefits and yield per unit area etc.
In addition, the delegation also participated in the second session of the Asia-Pacific Forestry Week in Beijing, disseminating the project progress and achievement.
The delegation said the exposure visit was instructive for future project activities, it was obvious that China's collective forest management model and collective forest tenure reform played a critical role in increasing forest area, improving forest quality, promoting forestry industry, developing and utilizing non-timber forest products and improving the livelihood of farmers etc. The management of community forestry in Nepal was somehow similar to that of collective forest management in China. Therefore learning the experience of China's collective forest management, was a strong impetus for community participation in sustainable forestry management in Nepal, especially true for community-based small-scale forestry enterprise, which integrate the production, supply and business into its whole management. In addition, during the exposure visit, the representatives of project partners in the delegation, including Ms. Prabha Pokhrel, Chairman of integrated development of communities of Nepal (IDS) , Mr. Parbat Gurung, Managing Director of Himalayan Bio Trade P. Ltd., and Mr. Sanjay Nath Khanal, professor at Environment Engineering Faculty, Institute of Technology of Kathmandu University, pointed out that the exposure visit was of far-reaching impact for protecting the interests of the marginalized people, increasing employment opportunities, developing forest economy and alleviating poverty through the community forest management.
The APFNet-Nepal project “Demonstration of Sustainable Forest Management with community participation in Nepal” was designed to establish the community-based cooperatives and enterprises, conduct the sustainable forest management and biodiversity conservation in order to create the job opportunity, increase the local income and influence the National Forest Policy and Strategic Planning of Nepal. The project was implemented by Federation of Community Forestry Users, Nepal (FECOFUN) over a period of 24 months with total funding $ 577,159, among which $ 500,479was contributed by APFNet.
