Social Capital, REDD+ and rural communities in Nepal

Project at a glance

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation + enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forests) can be seen as one of the largest experiments of payment for ecosystem services (PES). This agreed policy approach very well recognizes the need to encourage participation of the forest communities in REDD+ project design and implementation. However, literature indicates that equitable participation is remarkably difficult to achieve in practice. This may result in increased vulnerability for elite capture, inequitable benefit sharing and other related threats for forest-dependent communities.

In the literature, a multidisciplinary, multi-dimensional construct called Social Capital has been considered important for promoting formal and informal community participation. And, participation in groups and networks can increase community access to other forms of capital thus presenting people and groups with greater development options.

In this research, companion modeling approach is used to specifically investigate how community attributes most importantly participation behavior and social capital, comprising of socio-institutional factors mainly social relations, trustworthiness of the social environment and institutions, may assist forest-dependent people to receive equitable benefits from the PES. The research will be conducted in Nepal because the country demonstrates effective engagement in community based forest resource management, which is currently involved in designing and implementing REDD+ strategies.

This research will offer useful inputs for REDD+ policy-makers in their efforts to make REDD+ projects more inclusive and effective towards achieving the goal of sustainable development. In addition, role playing game developed as a part of this research will contribute towards shared learning and representation of the role of social capital in achieving access to and control of livelihood assets for forest-dependent communities.

Objectives

1. First objective of the research is to develop a role playing game (RPG) using Companion Modeling (ComMod) approach for shared learning and representation of the socio-institutional factors, which constitute social capital in managing socially effective REDD+ projects within community forestry regime in Nepal.
2. Second objective of the study is to explore and empirically analyze the link between social capital and equitable participation that may have a reinforcing impact on effectiveness of REDD+ policy outcome.

Expected results

• A functional table-top game for a wide range of stakeholders  involved in community forestry and carbon forestry projects to enhance and build shared understanding of the socio-institutional factors, which constitute social capital in managing socially effective REDD+ projects.
• The project is expected to deliver specific results showing empirical relationship of REDD+ mechanism with the community participation and social capital dynamics of the forest communities in Nepal. This will fill the gap in the literature of community based resource management, also informing the REDD+ policy on its potential for socially sustainable outcome.

Methods

Data collection for the study will employ multiple methods such as household surveys, key informant interviews, focused group discussions, participatory exercises such as wealth ranking , resource mapping; PARDI (Problem, Actor, Resources, Dynamics and Interactions),  which is a method for complex system conceptualization will be undertaken for the companion modeling component.

Partners

• Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), Indonesia
• International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

Funders

Research Fellow Partnership Programme (RFPP), ETH Global

Duration of the project

September 2013-August 2016