Leasehold Forestry and Livestock Programme (LFLP) is being implemented in 22 mid-hill districts of Nepal, which is the continuation and extension of the Hills Leasehold Forestry and Forage Development Project (HLFFDP) implemented in 10 hill districts of Nepal during 1992-2002 A.D. with the assistance of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The overall goal of the programme is a sustained reduction in the poverty of the 44 300 poor households who are allocated leasehold forestry plots in 22 districts through increased production of forest products and livestock.

The Food and Agriculture Organization has been providing technical assistance for the effective implementation of the Leasehold Forestry since the inception of the programme in 1992. FAO had provided TA component in two phases, the first phase was designed for the first five years (1992-1997) and extended in 1997 and ended with cessation of HLFFDP in 2002. A second phase on further Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project was implemented during 2007-2009.
As third phase, currently  FAO has been implementing "Technical Assistance Project for LFLP" since August 2009 with financial support of the government of Finland.  The main functions of the technical project are to provide technical backstopping for effective implementation of LFLP and to extend the programme in five new districts.

As of July 2010, there are altogether 6041 Leasehold Forest User Groups (LFUGs) of which 1767 were formed during the first phase (HLFFDP), 3439 have been formed by LFLP and remaining by other projects like WUPAP (Western Upland Poverty Alleviation Project-IFAD funded), BISEP-ST (Biodiversity Sector Program for Siwaliks and Terai-SNV funded) and LFP (Livelihoods and Forestry Programme - DFID funded).

 

Rationale of TA Project

Leasehold Forestry has become priority programme for the government of Nepal due its potential for contributing towards reducing poverty as well as ensuring environmental amelioration. These bi-fold potentials justify its continuous and long-term implementation since 1992. As socio-economic, biophysical and political contexts are dynamic and change by time, technical innovations, piloting, researches, studies and extensions become obvious and essentials. Such technical supports and innovations characterize TA project. Many new issues and challenges are emerging which require additional support and guidance. In the past also, technical assistance played a significant role on the success of the community based leasehold forestry project in Nepal. Thus,  this TA project was launched to to fully develop and institutionalize the concept of leasehold forestry by assisting the counterpart agencies and user groups in better integration of different technical activities, improving quality of the various outputs and delivery mechanisms towards achievement of the development goals of the project

Objectives

The main objective of the TA is to support the Leasehold forestry and Livestock Program to improve effectiveness and building up appropriate institutional and technical capacities at field, district and central levels to support institutionalization and scaling up of the leasehold forestry in the country

 

Project Budget

Government of Finland has provided grant support of US$ 3.5 million to be executed directly by FAO for four years.

Target Groups

Poor households under LFLP are the target groups for TA as well. In addition, people living below poverty line are the target groups for the extended districts where TA implements directly for formation and post formation supports to LFUGs.

Programme Coverage:

TA is basically supporting LFLP and in addition, implementing activities directly in five new districts, thus, TA working districts are altogether 27:
Eastern Development Region: Panchthar, Tehrathum, Bhojpur, Khotang and Okhaldhunga
Central Development Region: Sindhuli, Dolakha, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Makawanpur, Chitwan, and Dhading.
Western Development Region: Gorkha, Lamjung and Tanahun. TA pilot districts: Palpa, Nawalparasi, Syangja, Gulmi and Arghakhanchi.
Mid-Western Development Region: Pyuthan and Salyan
Far-Western Development Region: Achham, Doti, Baitadi and Dadeldhura.

 

Project Implementation Mechanism

Institutional Set-Up: TA consists of technical experts and field officers based at centre as well as at field level. Team leader with thematic specialists are based at centre together with LFLP central. Six Hub Offices across the country are established to deliver technical services to all of 27 districts. Specifically, Palpa Hub is only for implementing intensive activities at field level in five new districts where leasehold forestry is being piloted.
Planning: TA's planning is basically based for the augmentation technically on the plans and programmes of LFLP. Hub Offices in coordination with the respective DFOs and DLSOs prepare plan of activities. Besides, LFLP documents, TA project documents, GoN priorities guide TA planning process.
Implementation:
TA's AWPB activities are carried out partly through Hub Offices and partly through service providers/vendors. In addition, proposals from respective DFOs/DLSOs on innovative activities are also implemented.

Key Areas of Support:

TA is basically providing technical supports to LFLP in its effective implementation. The key areas of support are:
•    Technical backstopping to LFLP  in thematic areas: forestry, livestock, rural finance, and coordination and collaboration. These themes are being well supported by cross-cutting themes: gender and social inclusion, governance, monitoring and evaluation, ,capacity growth of staffs and users.
•    Piloting Leasehold Forestry (in 5 new districts)
•    Piloting for activation of old and passive groupsResearches, Studies and Demonstrations
•    Policy reviews, piloting and recommendations
•    Extension: Documentations, Publications and disseminations
  

Key Achievements

In addition to TA's technical supports in implementation of LFLP activities, there are following key achievement of the project to date:

•    50 LFUGs formed within Palpa Hub by handing over 498 ha of forests to 562 HHs.
•    Coordination with other programmes and projects has been resulted into resource pooling of Rs. 50 lakhs.
•    District Forestry Sector Plan (DFSPs) of Panchthar, Sindhupalchowk, Dhading, Tanahun and Dadeldhura prepared.
•    LIP guidelines developed and about 115 staff were trained which resulted into preparation of household level LIP for 1589 groups.
•    Operational guidelines for activating passive LFUGs, integrating CF and LF, managing LFs inside Buffer zone are under process.
•    More than 1500 persons (staff + users, with 50% female) were trained by delivering different trainings.
•    MIS Software of LFLP devised and being piloted for its effectiveness.
•    First Outcome Study for LFLP carried out.
•    A Booklet on sustainable forage production and utilization has been prepared.
•    15 Forage Resource Centers have been established to raise and extend genetic materials of a variety of grasses.
•    Portable dipping tank for control of external parasites on goats demonstrated at field level.
•    18 Goat Resource Centres were assessed for further strengthening and empowerment.
•    Rural Finance Institutions were assessed and being empowered.



Kauledanda Leasehold Forest User Inter-Groups could win the "NRs 200 thousands Mountain Development Award-2010" for their contribution for sustainable mountain development.