Abstract ID: 3.10966 | Accepted as Talk | Talk/Oral | TBA | TBA

Transhumant herders in Nepal seasonally migrate at different altitudinal ranges to graze their animals- a local knowledge-based strategy to adapt to climatic conditions, fragile ecosystems, and remoteness. In summer, they migrate to pastures with sheep and goat at higher elevations, while move at lower elevations in winter. The herders are experiencing various impacts of climate change, infrastructure development and participatory forest governance. Multiple factors have led to conflicts with community forest user groups, who have excluded herders from accessing forests for grazing their animals. In this context, this study analyses how transhumance herding practice have evolved in the context of climate and socio-economic changes and their implications on forest governance in Nepal. The study was conducted in Bajhang district, focusing on transhumant herders of Saipal Rural Municipality. Using Google Earth, we mapped migration route of the herders and major three community forests were identified as key hotspots of conflicts with sedentary community. Data were collected through focus group discussions and interviews with herders and community forest user groups. Climate change has both positive and negative impacts on herding practice. For instance, their access to forest in winter have improved, while unpalatable invasive species have spread in summer pastures. With extension of roads and market, herders have shifted their focus from using animals for transporting goods to raising them for meat production. This shift has soured the once reciprocal relation between sedentary community and herders, now characterized by conflicts. The sedentary community forest user groups blamed herders for causing forest fire, killing wildlife and harvesting and damaging forest trees. Though herders deny these allegations, they accept adverse impacts of animals on forest soil and regeneration. Despite restrictions for grazing livestock in community forests, herders have been accessing forests by adopting different strategies, including bribing local leaders, paying the community forest user groups and forming partnership with local herders. An incentive-based mechanism, engaging herders, community forest users and other stakeholders, is essential to ensure sustainable flow of ecosystem services as well as fair and equitable access of the services to the users.