Treading on the trodden path of Community Forest inception in Bhutan

More than a decade ago, with the first gunshot going in the air signifying the bold move by 109 households in Mongar forming Dozam Community Forest Management Group (CFMG), the Community Forest (CF) Programme now has reached all 20 Dzongkhags. The first ever CF in Bhutan was incepted in the year 1996 setting the firm foundation. They’re to be partly attributed for the current popularity of CF porgramme since even at the time when CF plan and policy was at the infant stage, they audaciously set the momentum.

After a halt for almost four years, Dagor Phendey and Gayzor CFMGs from Pemagatshel Dzongkhag in 2001 joined the mainstream in pursuit of not only reaping benefits but also managing forest resources responsibly. The group consisted of 42 and 28 members each claiming the 64 ha & 70 ha. of Government Reserved Forest (GRF) respectively. Other 18 Dzongkhags remained ever cautious and still skeptic of the programme while they’ve still to witness success and learn from mistakes of these first three incumbent CFMGs in the Country.

Following closely on the heels, three other eastern Dzongkhags viz; Trashiyangtse, Tashigang and Lhuentse with single oldies Mongar made the headlines in 2002. The CFs namely; Ngangney under Jarrey gewog in Lhuentse, Namtongphu of Jamkhar geowg in Trashiyangtse, Joensham Lamdoksa of Khaling gewog in Trashigang and Saling’s Masangdaza CF in Mongar were established in a row. The year saw total of 242 hectares of GRF being handed over to 256 households for sustainable management, utilization and forest resource ownership rights.

In 2003, including those from three new Dzongkhags of Samdrup Jongkhar, Haa and Bumthang witnessed communities coming forward to form seven more CF management groups. Lhuentse Dzongkhag in the far-east maintained its flow by incepting three CFs in the same year.

Trongsap and Khengpas in central Bhutan, Ngalops in Chukha and Wangdiphodrang and Lotshampas in the southern fringes of the Country realized the real bounty of CF only in 2004. Inching towards national policy target of handing over 4% of GRF with the belief that forest and its resources are best managed through active participatory manners of adjoining local communities, the total of 9 CFs were incepted. This is an addition to already existed 16 CFs taking total to 25 numbers after its initial footing in 1996.

Punakha Dzongkhag lobbied a seat in the list ruling the year 2005 in terms of no. of CFs establishment. Its entry into the CF programme was marked by aptly initiating 5 CFs. Lhuentse Dzongkhag was the sole partner in the year. The number of CFs in the following year in 2006 steadied in terms of quantity.

The CF programme gained real and considerable pace in 2007 when the Country saw CFs growth almost coming in leaps and bounds. 19 CFs were approved originating from Tashigang in the east, Paro in the west, Samtse in South and Gasa in the north.  Coinciding with the celebration of centenary and coronation of His Majesty the fifth King, H.E. Lyonpo (Dr.) Pema Gyamthso, Minister of Agriculture and Forests inaugurated the Wongbab Community Forest in Punakha in 2008 as the 100^th CF. The year also marked nation-wide coverage with Dagana Dzongkhag being the latest. Subsequent year also saw no lesser number of CFs inceptions.

However, in the history of CF in Bhutan, an all time high of staggering 84 CFs were approved in the year 2010 to experience the real crescendo of CF establishment. Karma Jigme Temphel, head of Social Forestry Section under Department of Forests and Park Services confirmed that increase in number of CFs doesn’t necessarily compromise the quality. He said, “As number of CFs gorws exponentially, DoFPS is ensuring the quality of CFs in Bhutan”.

Today there are 300 Community Forests approved in the Country including 13 CFs approved as of 31^st March 2011. Fita Community Forest in Tendu Gewog under Samtse is the newest one approved in 16 February 2011.