Role of Indigenous Peoples in Sustainable Forest Management:: A Case Study from Gurung Community in Lamjung District of Nepal

This paper deals with the role of indigenous peoples in sustainable forest management in Nepal. The indigenous peoples have a symbiotic relationship with forest and other natural resources. These resources, which they have collectively and customarily owned, used and managed since time immemorial, are not only the basis of their livelihoods but are interlinked with their worldview and life systems. They have a very strong social, cultural, spiritual and economic relationship with forest, land and other natural resources. The indigenous peoples rely largely on forest resources for livelihoods and the continued practice of their age-old culture, traditions and religious observances. They use and manage forest resources through customary laws and practices operated in different forms in different parts of the country. The Gurung community has an inalienable relationship with forest resources not only for their livelihoods but also for their cultural and spiritual identity. Due to the symbiotic relationship with their natural environment and resources, they still rely strongly on traditional knowledge, skills and customary laws and practices for the conservation and sustainable management of forest. The Customary practices and traditional knowledge in forest management has been established for generations and these practices are transmitted from generation to generation in the community.