Nepal, a country in South Asia, hosted WSF2024 in the city of Kathmandu. Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN), an umbrella organization of  22,760 Community Forest Users Groups (CFUGs) from all over Nepal, was established in July 1995 with the goal of promoting and protecting the forest users’ rights through capacity strengthening, economic empowerment, sustainable natural resource management, technical support, policy advocacy, good governance and learning sharing of best practices. FECOFUN had served under the Resources and Mobilization Sub-committee of the Nepal Organizing Committee, linking to the world-scale WSF and APSF regional processes facilitated by the International Council and the Asia Pacific Social Forum. FECOFUN facilitated the thematic panel entitled “People's Rights to Natural Resources: Global Assembly on Community Forest”.

People’s Rights to Natural Resources: Global Assembly on Community Forest

Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN) organized a mass of 300 and participated in a big rally of WSF Nepal 2024 on the inauguration day on 15th of February 2024 and organized the World Social Forum Program on People's Rights to Natural Resources: Global Assembly on Community Forestry on 16th February 2024 at Mardi Hall of Bhrikutimandap.

Mr. Birkha Bahadur Shahi, Senior Vice Chairperson of FECOFUN, presented on People’s Rights to Natural Resources in the context of Community covering the broad topics on FECOFUN background, structure, objective, achievements, Land restoration by the local communities. Biodiversity conservation, Climate Change mitigation and adaptation, Rights of Local Communities, Self-instituted and independent governing body, recognised by the Government, Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) , 50% women in all communities and at least 2 women representing key positions, Inclusion of all Benefit-sharing in Community Forestry, At least 25% for forest development; 50 % of the remaining amount for the empowerment of women and marginalized communities, livelihood support, and enterprise development in coordination with local government, and the remaining amount on community and institutional development, not exceeding more than 10 % for administrative expense.

Mr. Ghan Shyam Pandey, Advisor of FECOFUN, facliliated the program among the panelists and participants. Panelist Mrs. Shweta Tripathi, Director of Society of Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative (SRUTI), India presented her view on the issues related to natural resources (land, forest, and water). Dr. Popular Gentle Bhusal, Climate Change Expert presented his view on the role of Local communities and Indigenous peoples in climate change mitigation and reduction through Community Forestry. Dr. Bharat Pokharel, Forestry Expert presented his view on the tenure rights of local communities in Community Forestry. Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal, Member of National Assembly presented her view on the Economy and GESI issues in Community Forestry. Bharati Pathak, Member of General Assembly, Bagmati Province, presented her view on the role of women and community forest. After the panelist view, the floor was open to the participants who shared their experiences on community forestry movement and raised questions of issues of people's rights on natural resources. Mr. Thakur Prasad Bhandari, Chairperson of FECOFUN, summarised the queries of participants in his closing remarks and committed to continue the voices for community people's rights on natural resources access and management. 

More than 300 participants from local CFUGs, FECOFUN central, provincial and district chapters, stakeholders, national and international stakeholders, CF activists, Forestry experts, and students, Forestry officials and experts, NGOs and stakeholders, Universities, International platforms from Nepal, India, Netherlands, Italy and other parts of the world participated in the program. From the world social forum 2024 platform and from the global assembly on community forestry advocated the global issues related to climate injustice, gender equality and social inclusion issues, tenure rights issues, environmental injustice, natural resources injustices, injustice to the rights of local communities, IPs and women over forest and natural resources. The global assembly on community forestry constituted great support for the development of the power of people’s movement and civil society organization, who have been working for the sake of the rights of the community forestry. The program was live broadcasted nationwide in the TV channel called TVtoday.

Square of Statements

Statement S023

Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal (FECOFUN), an umbrella organization of Community Forest Users Groups (CFUGs) from all over Nepal, was established in July 1995 with the goal of promoting and protecting the forest users’ rights through capacity strengthening, economic empowerment, sustainable natural resource management, technical support, policy advocacy, good governance and learning sharing of best practices. A total of 22,760 CFUGs are managing 23,18,811.09 ha of community forest area by 31,68,439 Households. In sum, 35% of total forest area is managed by CFUGs with 50% women involvement in Nepal.

We are facing severe challenges of Rights to Natural Resources, tenures, and ownership issues related to natural resources utilization by the Community Forestry User Groups (CFUGs) including women, marginalized groups, indigenous peoples, and local communities (IP & LCs) who play vital roles in their conservation and development. Nevertheless, amidst such plight, a spirit of resistance and an unwavering pursuit of solutions persists. Together with a belief that another world is possible and necessary, we must fight through a mesh of alliances for the rights to natural resources and for the protection of nature and our planet. FECOFUN is determined to facilitate the exchange of thoughts and experiences globally, making impactful decisions by developing the collective power of people’s movement and civil society organizations across the globe, uniting against injustices in environment, natural resources, climate change, and Community Forest user groups through rights-based policy advocacy campaigns. In this context, FECOFUN has following declarations:

• Government should be responsible to collaborate, coordinate and facilitate Community Forestry Users Groups.  
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• National Parks, Wildlife reserves, Conservation areas, buffer zones and Chure Conservation area in Nepal are violating human rights, so conservation areas should be Human-Community Friendly.
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• Biodiversity conservation, promotion and consumption by Community Forestry Users Groups (CFUGs) for forest and environment conservation should be understood as Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECM).
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• Natural Resources Management (Forests and Biodiversity) globally should be handed over and managed by local communities.
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• Community Forest User’s Groups should be with land tenure rights.
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• The community forests had achieved a lot in greenery promotion and biodiversity conservation, and now government policies and relevant stakeholders should link it with community led entrepreneurships.
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• Due to Human wildlife conflict, there is a huge loss in cattle and human lives, crops damage affecting the livelihood of poor and marginalized peoples. So, wildlife should be properly managed, limiting the number as per habitat space.
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• Due to Climate Change, Forest fire and Disasters are increasing affecting CFUGs, IP and LCs. So, insurance and relief funds to CFUGs should be provisioned.
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• Ensure 50% women to be addressed and capacitated to achieve the gender equality and social inclusion in the natural resource management.
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• Clear directives need to be formulated and governance aspect should be strengthened rather than playing the world politics in the management of NRM and rights of CFUGs.
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• Corporate intervention should be totally dismissed in the NRM sector.
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• Capitalism is the root cause of inequality, so for the just society, socialism should be an alternative for another world with equality.