Not seeing the trees for the forest: a re-appraisal of the deforestation crisis in two hill districts of Nepal

The commonly accepted orthodoxy of widespread and disastrous deforestation in the hills of Nepal is challenged. It is argued that most investigators have concentrated on documenting the decline of the hill forests and have overlooked the changing tree cover on private farmland. Oral history records from Sindhu Palchok and Kabhre Palanchok, Central Nepal, are used to illustrate the way in which the hill peasant farmers have steadily increased the tree cover on their land during at least the last 20 yr. While there is probably still a substantial net loss of tree cover, it is concluded that the 'crisis' is less severe than often portrayed.