Skip navigation
Skip navigation

Can Evidence and Voice Influence Policy? A Critical Assessment of Nepal's Forestry Sector Strategy, 2014

Ojha, Hemant; Khatri, Dil; Shrestha, Krishna; Bhattarai, Basundhara; Baral, Jagadish; Basnett, Bimbika Sijapati; Goutam, Keshab; Sunam, Ramesh; Banjade, Mani; Jana, Sudeep; Bushley, Bryan; Dhungana, Sindhu Prasad; Paudel, Dinesh

Description

This article examines Nepal’s recently prepared Forestry Sector Strategy (FSS) (as of 2014) in terms of the use of scientific evidence and the quality of stakeholder participation. By reviewing the content and analyzing the context of its development during 2012–2014, we found that the transitional politics and overt influence of international development agencies dominated the process and content of the FSS. Although the FSS was developed through a significant stakeholder engagement, there was...[Show more]

dc.contributor.authorOjha, Hemant
dc.contributor.authorKhatri, Dil
dc.contributor.authorShrestha, Krishna
dc.contributor.authorBhattarai, Basundhara
dc.contributor.authorBaral, Jagadish
dc.contributor.authorBasnett, Bimbika Sijapati
dc.contributor.authorGoutam, Keshab
dc.contributor.authorSunam, Ramesh
dc.contributor.authorBanjade, Mani
dc.contributor.authorJana, Sudeep
dc.contributor.authorBushley, Bryan
dc.contributor.authorDhungana, Sindhu Prasad
dc.contributor.authorPaudel, Dinesh
dc.date.accessioned2016-06-14T23:20:46Z
dc.identifier.issn0894-1920
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/103544
dc.description.abstractThis article examines Nepal’s recently prepared Forestry Sector Strategy (FSS) (as of 2014) in terms of the use of scientific evidence and the quality of stakeholder participation. By reviewing the content and analyzing the context of its development during 2012–2014, we found that the transitional politics and overt influence of international development agencies dominated the process and content of the FSS. Although the FSS was developed through a significant stakeholder engagement, there was limited use of the available scientific evidence. The FSS was narrowly conceived as a deliverable of supporting aid programs, with limited demand for a politically meaningful policy processes. While civil society groups were consulted, they largely failed to present an independent voice due to their dependence on funding agencies. Our assessment calls for rethinking policy development in a way that facilitates assertive and independent participation by a range of actors and make better use of the available research.
dc.publisherTaylor & Francis Group
dc.sourceSociety and Natural Resources
dc.titleCan Evidence and Voice Influence Policy? A Critical Assessment of Nepal's Forestry Sector Strategy, 2014
dc.typeJournal article
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.citationvolume29
dc.date.issued2016
local.identifier.absfor050209 - Natural Resource Management
local.identifier.absfor070504 - Forestry Management and Environment
local.identifier.absfor160507 - Environment Policy
local.identifier.ariespublicationU3488905xPUB8345
local.type.statusPublished Version
local.contributor.affiliationOjha, Hemant, University of New South Wales
local.contributor.affiliationKhatri, Dil, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
local.contributor.affiliationShrestha, Krishna, UNSW
local.contributor.affiliationBhattarai, Basundhara, University of Melbourne,
local.contributor.affiliationBaral, Jagadish, Former Joint Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation
local.contributor.affiliationBasnett, Bimbika Sijapati, Center for International Forestry Research
local.contributor.affiliationGoutam, Keshab, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationSunam, Ramesh, College of Asia and the Pacific, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationBanjade, Mani, The Center for International Forestry Research,
local.contributor.affiliationJana, Sudeep, Curtin University
local.contributor.affiliationBushley, Bryan, University of Hawaii at Manoa
local.contributor.affiliationDhungana, Sindhu Prasad, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation
local.contributor.affiliationPaudel, Dinesh, Appalachian State University
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.bibliographicCitation.issue2016
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage357
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage373
local.identifier.doi10.1080/08941920.2015.1122851
local.identifier.absseo960806 - Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity
dc.date.updated2020-12-06T07:20:59Z
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-84955723927
local.identifier.thomsonID000368552600007
CollectionsANU Research Publications

Download

File Description SizeFormat Image
01_Ojha_Can_Evidence_and_Voice_2016.pdf367.12 kBAdobe PDFThumbnail
    Request a copy


Items in Open Research are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Updated:  17 November 2022/ Responsible Officer:  University Librarian/ Page Contact:  Library Systems & Web Coordinator