Formation and development of Natural Resources Policy advocacy Forums at district s and central level is one of the most important achievements of Policy advocacy campaign program. Till now all together 22 district level policy and one national level advocacy forums have been formed, developed and are being effectively mobilized.
An agreement was made between Government of Nepal, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation and FECOFUN on 2063 Ashad 16 (30 June 2006) regarding the forest rights of the users. This agreement guaranteed the community forestry users' rights in some respects regarding double hambering and others. The agreement also declares to dismiss the Collaborative forest management guidelines, 2060 and district forest coordination committee directives, 2062 and to reform the existing collaborative forests according to the spirit of community forest to "Ideal community forest".
After the agreement on 2063 Ashad 16 (30 June, 2006) District Chapters and District Forest Offices have done many agreements according to their own situation and condition.
political parties and CSOs have developed common understanding on the people rights on the NRM including CF and they also prepared a common declaration
The FECOFUN emerged as one of the most effective and influential forum at district level as a people based organization to fight against autocratic King's rule and in favor of people's rights. Political parties and civil society organizations in various districts recognized the role of FECOFUN in establishing civil and political rights of the citizen, which has been considered as prerequisite for rights to natural resources. It was strongly reflected during review workshop in Pokhara.
Political parties including CSOs express deep concerns and solidarity on the forest user's movement connected with forest rights in various public meetings and workshops.
Innovation has been seen in the Terai districts from the users' to involve distant users in community forests to recognize the rights of the distant users foe example the FECOFUN district chapter, Sarlahi facilitated an interaction and sharing meeting between Pipara CFUG and distance users and agreed to include 20 households as distant users. Some political parties in district level have formally decided to advocate in favor of community forestry rather than collaborative forestry
The program has been instrumental to maintain the users' rights and autonomy. The Zonal administrator, Janakpur circulated (September 2005) an instruction to the DFOs to restrict the extraction of timber from the community forests in Jankapur Zone. The illegal order was withdrawn (February 06) after tremendous pressure through demonstrations and public forum discussion by the users, political parties including CSOs.
The program has been creating influences in nearby districts also. The district administrative offices of Papa, Parbat Baglung, Sanjaya restricted entrance in community forest. The FECOFUN districts chapters of the western region delivered their memorandum to administrative offices, DFOs against the illegal move. As a result of the memorandum, the administrative offices of the respective districts withdrawn their order.
The DFO of Lamjung district returned all hammers of the CFUGs in a public meeting that were captured five years ago on April, 2006 as a result of users' advocacy.
Many district chapters assessed good governance. Moreover some district chapters conducted public hearing and public auditing. This process and transparency of FECOFUN inspired other stakeholders to do the similar.
Team spirit, transparency, responsibility and accountability have been increased among the FECOFUN representatives.
In those districts where policy advocacy campaign program is being conducted, the rate of community forestry handing over and operational plan amendment is faster than previous and than other districts where the policy advocacy campaign program has not been conducted.
FECOFUN has facilitated dialogue between political parties, CSOs, and HMG policymakers on policy and its formation and implementation process.
Saptari and Bardiaya DFOs have started handing over forest to the local users as community forestry.
The Advocacy Forum (AF) at district level is emerging as a common dais among different Civil Society Organization (CSOs) to identify priorities and advocate district level issues and also as a forum for common people to made complaints against injustice. For example PAF in Lamjung has initiated to advocate in public issues such as delegation to the Telecom authority at district and Central level to reinstall telephone system which have been closed since three years. The process of reinstallation has been started as a result of PAF pressure. Similarly, this PAF in Lamjung raised voices in favor of disable peoples. As a response, representative from the district Disable Association was included in scholarship distribution committee in the district by District Education Office.PAF in Dolakha and Dhading did advocacy for KHARIDHUNDA and communication system and medicine and transportation rent respectively.
District Chapters Dolakha, Ramechhap and Lamjung decided to unclude one male and one female in district executive committee. This was because Dalits were empowered and claim the positions in the executive committee.
The rate and affiliation and renewal of community forestry user groups in FECOFUN district chapters.
In central and district level the political parties started to give special responsibility to one person for natural resources management and governance.
The AF of Kapilvastu has taken a lead role to reconcile the issue of distant users' rights in CF. The AF initiated dialogues between the CFUGs and the distance users. The commencement is exploring possible model for inclusion and product distribution for the distant users.
After disagreements of the CFUG with District Forest Office (DFO) in extracting Khair (Acacia catechu) from Ajambari CF, Chaulahi–2, Lamahi, Dang. DFO intentionally retain the registration of CFUG with the blame of encroachment. The concerned CFUG including FECOFUN district chapter arranged campaign and complained to Regional Directorate Office Surkhet, against the illegal actions of DFO. Due to the campaign and delegation regional directorate decided in favor of Ajambari CF and canceled the DFO's illegal decision.
Resin tapping is one of the valuable income sources of CFUG in Salyan. The district development committee was collecting 10% tax of resin from the CFUGs since past few years. The FECOFUN district chapter arranged series of the campaigns on the issues. As a result, the DDC has dismissed the decision and agreed to return the collected amount of money to concerned CFUGs.
Rangers of Dhading were illegally imposing NRs. 2500.00 for an Operational Plan review. During the issue based workshop, the issue was emerged and strong voice was raised. As a result, it was agreed to made review of the operational plans without any additional cost from the CFUGs.
According to the Forest Act, selection of auditor for CF fund auditing is under the CFUG's responsibility. The DFO, Kaski imposed mandatory provision in the Operational Plan that auditing should be made by the DFO's accountant. The system has been abolished after advocacy against it.
The DFO, Chitawan gave felling permission to the Timber Corporation of Nepal in proposed CF of Barandabhar forest area without any consultation with local forest users. Local users, FECOFUN district chapter, AF and CSOs demonstrated against the decision and controlled over felled timber and are campaigning to hand over the forest area as CF. The political parties of Chitwan have made commitments and solidarity in users' campaigning.
The Laxmi Resin and Turpentine Company (Nepaljung) was illegally tapping resin in CFs in Chhincu, Surkhet without any agreement with the CFUG. As a result of PAC I activities, the CFUG was able to punish NRs.15,000 for its illegal action.
