Commercial Management of Non-Timber Forest Products in Nepal's Community Forest Users Groups: Who Benefits?

Forest policies in Nepal encourage community forest users to commercialise non-timber forest products for income generation. This study sought to understand the ability of forest users to increase their household income benefit through commercial non-timber forest product management by conducting a multiple linear regression analysis. Furthermore it compares the income generation potential of traditional to enterprise-oriented approaches. Results indicate that, in the enterprise-oriented approach, low wealth category households derived income benefits only when they had equitable access to forests and a reliable market. The findings also show that, under the traditional approach, income benefits are the highest for rich households and the least for female-headed poor households. In contrast, the enterprise-oriented approach strengthens the role of disadvantaged poor households. The study concludes that commercialisation of non-timber forest products does not automatically result in equitable income benefits for everyone, whereas, locally- crafted rules and norms do.