Perceptions of bioenergy among Nepalese foresters – Survey results and policy implications

Modern bioenergy technologies have been recognized as one of the potential energy sources in Nepal to address the current energy crisis and contribute to the rural development. Nepalese foresters play an important role in the natural resource management sector of Nepal. Their perceptions can be important considering their experiences in the forestry sector and awareness of the local situations especially in the remote and rural areas of Nepal. Therefore, the study through a questionnaire-based survey aimed to explore their perceptions of bioenergy development in Nepal including the policy issues. Total 65 Nepalese foresters were interviewed for the study working for various forestry related government organizations located in Kathmandu, Nepal. The study found that the Nepalese foresters perceived positively the importance of bioenergy development in Nepal for employment and rural income generation, and improving the current energy situation by supplying locally produced and affordable energy sources. The respondents held community participation in the future bioenergy projects as a key to its successful implementation in Nepal. However, there is a strong need, as perceived by the respondents, to formulate a separate bioenergy policy for Nepal. Among various policy interventions formulation of a new bioenergy policy, mobilizing community participation in bioenergy projects, developing bioenergy markets, and implementing new bioenergy projects were considered as urgent for Nepal.

► Perceptions of bioenergy among Nepalese foresters were surveyed.
► Importance of bioenergy was perceived positively for Nepal.
► Need for an integrated and new bioenergy policy was perceived.
► Importance of community participation in bioenergy projects was recognized.