Social inclusion and deliberation in response to REDD plus in Nepal's community forestry

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD +) in developing countries is an emerging policy instrument with potential for sustainable use of forest resources and livelihoods, and improved forest governance. This study explores how REDD + through the principle of social inclusion enhances deliberation of the less powerful and disadvantaged users and stipulates responsiveness in local leaders of community forests. The study is based on in-depth interviews conducted with the users of two community forests in Nepal's Terai region. After the implementation of REDD +, disadvantaged groups such as the poor, Dalits, women and indigenous groups have secured their position in decision making structures. The implementation of REDD + has resulted in positive changes in community forestry governance, but the institutional and social benefits of REDD + have not trickled down to the expected users of community forests. Though participation of poor, Dalits, women and indigenous communities in key decision-making position has increased, it is still far from influencing decisions in their favor based on social justice. Deliberation without the facilitation of the local political leaders has not taken space. Local politics is highly influential in community forest user groups and dominates the formal decision-making structure of community forestry. To overcome these issues, disadvantaged groups should be empowered and the criteria of selecting representatives in a quota system should be based on the users' dependency on the forest. Only such criteria can stimulate responsiveness in local leaders.