The world’s poorest people can contribute to regenerating degraded forests if land tenure is secured. This was the experience in Nepal. An IFAD-supported project led to a significant rise in tree and plant species when groups of the poorest people in highland villages obtained access to degraded forest areas through long-term leases. The project also provided technical and financial assistance in support of reforestation.

Using 40-year renewable leases, the project transferred small blocks of public forest land to groups of poor households. The households regenerated, managed and protected the land.

The project focused on developing the feed and fodder base for livestock, both because poor people rely on these resources for their sustenance and because the environmental balance in the hills depends on them.

Specific sites were designated as leasehold forest, and leasehold forestry cooperative groups were formed to prevent resources being expropriated by local elites. The groups supported people in such activities as cleaning up village environments, improving forest trails and constructing water systems. They also contributed to conflict resolution.

Once the degraded forest land was handed over to the groups, members felt a sense of security and of ownership of the land.

Grazing was stopped on designated areas and grasses, legumes and trees were planted. From 1994 to 2000, there was a 57 per cent increase in the number of plant species in Makwanpur, and an 86 per cent increase in Kavrepalanchok. There has also been an impressive rehabilitation of multilayered forest, and biodiversity has increased significantly.