A project aimed at enhancing agroforestry and community forestry systems in Nepal, is beginning to see impact, according to a blog by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR).

Tony Bartlett, Forestry Research Program Manager with ACIAR, writes that farmers are being assisted to establish nurseries and work is underway to revitalize a community sawmill.

In response to farmers’ need for access to better germplasm to improve their agroforestry systems, project scientist, Edwin Cedamon from the University of Adelaide is training farmers in raised nursery bed technology. This systems is easy for farmers to construct from locally available materials, it prevents plants from becoming waterlogged and ensures root systems are ‘air pruned’.

Researchers are also looking into how conflict between community forest user groups and bureaucratic problems associated with approvals to harvest timber from the community forests can be overcome so that a viable community forestry enterprise can once more operate at Chaubas in Kabhre Palanchok district. Previously a community sawmill operated here from the mid 1990s to 2011 but closed down due to disputes and bureaucratic issues.

The World Agroforestry Centre is a key collaborator on the ACIAR project.

Read the full story: Creating impacts in forestry research and development projects in Nepal

Find out more about the project: Enhancing livelihoods and food security from agroforestry and community forestry in Nepal