©FAO/Bibek Dulal
In the serene woodlands of Nepal’s Nawalpur District, forest women are unfolding an unexpected transformation driven by simple yet powerful tools—cutters and compost piles. A collective of women in Binayi Triveni is converting what was once a significant danger in the area into a valuable economic asset.
As dawn breaks, Meena Poudel, 41, crouches beneath the delicate branches of Sal and Beech trees, her fingers sifting through a carpet of crisp, bronze-hued leaves on the forest floor. These leaves, brittle and sun-bleached, curl inward like dormant insects.
Nearby, other women work in harmonious silence, cutting through the thickets and deadwood with blades worn from daily labour. With each stroke, the forest seems to exhale, as the once fire-prone underbrush is repurposed into organic fertiliser.
Meena’s efforts have not only fostered a flourishing local economy but have also led to a remarkable 70 per cent decrease in forest fires over the past year. What started as a means of survival has evolved into a commitment to stewardship, cultivating a local economy one leaf at a time.
“By removing unnecessary material from the forest floor, we have significantly reduced the risk of fires,” she says. “With fewer fires, the environment has become cleaner, which has also had a direct positive impact on human health. Additionally, the bio-fertilisers we produce after processing the material are ‘organically pure,’ making them safer for human health and more suitable and environmentally friendly.”
As Secretary, Meena oversees the daily functions of the Binayi Community Forest User Group, a collective focused on the responsible management of the forest. The work she and her peers are undertaking signifies a pivotal change in how communities confront environmental challenges.
Instead of viewing forest fire prevention solely as a defensive tactic, they have developed an innovative business model that turns potential risks into valuable opportunities. Currently, their operation produces over 60,000 kilograms annually, with ambitious goals to increase production to 125,000 kilograms. The branches, either collected by the team or sourced from local women for a mere two rupees, undergo a meticulously managed processing cycle. After collection, the biomass is shredded into smaller pieces, which accelerates the decomposition process. Following shredding, the biomass is carefully layered, balancing dry and green materials to create ideal conditions, and arranged into long, narrow piles known as windrows. These windrows allow the organic material to decompose naturally in the open air.
The piles are regularly turned to introduce oxygen, while moisture and temperature are monitored to sustain microbial activity, ensuring efficient breakdown over approximately 90 days. To further enhance the process, beneficial native microorganisms are introduced, transforming the compost into an eco-friendly biofertiliser. This final product not only supplies essential nutrients to plants but also aids in restoring soil health and microbial diversity, which are crucial for long-term soil fertility.
This seemingly straightforward process has significant implications; the organic fertiliser produced supports local farmers in moving away from chemical inputs, thereby improving soil health and crop yields throughout the region. Most importantly, this initiative has created income opportunities for 400 individuals in an area where employment, especially for women, has been limited.
The shift from forest fire risk to a thriving enterprise began with grassroots action and gained momentum through collaborative support, with local municipality investments matching the group’s initial capital.
In 2023, the Forest and Farm Facility (FFF) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) provided USD 25,000 in catalytic funding. The FFF began by conducting a readiness exercise to assess the group’s potential, then supported training in forest management, composting techniques and market-based value addition. These steps helped ensure the enterprise was not only environmentally sound but also economically viable.
They received support to draft a business plan, conduct market analysis and meet product quality standards. Participation in cross-sectoral meetings helped the women navigate local bureaucracy and build alliances with nearby communities. These combined efforts transformed the group from informal volunteers into credible entrepreneurs.
Farmers in the region, increasingly wary of the long-term effects of chemical inputs, have turned to Binayi’s organic alternative. Many report not only healthier crops, but also better soil texture and fewer plant diseases. One farmer tested three different fertilisers on the same plot—only Binayi’s compost produced consistent, vigorous growth throughout the season.
The enterprise’s impact ripples beyond the forest. Women who once depended on others now fund their children’s education. Meena now pays for her son’s bachelor’s degree in Kathmandu, while continuing to manage her household and lead the business from home.
Now, Meena says, their work is not just about building their own capacity, but lifting others. “It is not just about developing our own capabilities but also about teaching and empowering others,” she says. “We are actively working to enhance their skills, connect them to the industry and bring more women into leadership positions.”
They are not finished. The forest stretches far beyond their community, and they are not yet immune to fire. But each day, their movement grows—one handful of forest debris at a time, one more neighbour trained, one more nursery nourished. A women’s movement that started in one forest now touches six. Soon, they plan to work across 42, reducing forest fires and building economies along the way.
Source: The FAO News And Media Office, Rome.
– global bihari bureau
