Journal of Forest Economics

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This study aimed to clarify the role of Community forest (CF) and Leasehold forest (LHF) in terms of local users collecting forest resources, by examining the actual use conditions of both forests in a D village of Chitwan. Households were categorized into A, B, C, D rank based on socioeconomic characteristics, and we interviewed 51 households (30% of the total). The LHF program was introduced to alleviate poverty and is convenient for users in terms of forest resource collection. However, our results revealed that A-ranked households (wealthiest) had the highest LHF holding, while D-ranked (poorest) were lowest. In wealthy households, the sale of livestock was the main source of income and with a large number of livestock, LHF was a necessary resource collection place, while the poorest households collected required resources from CF. Almost all households interviewed could collect resources from either forest and were satisfied with collected resources. However, considering that the original objective of the LHF program was to assist the poor, there is concern that the distribution of LHF is biased toward the richest households which will widen the gap between rich and poor. Therefore, the government should consider the economic situation of each household and redistribute LHF accordingly.

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