Figure 1
Map of Yarsagumba collection sites in the border area of Uttarakhand State of India and far western Nepal.
Figure 2
Sketch-map of Byas VDC, with grazing areas and Yarsagumba collection sites.
Figure 3
Stakeholders and their issues in the conflict (own source).
Table 1
Relevant policies and regulations related to Yarsagumba management in Darchula District.
| Policies and regulations | Major focus | Line agencies under Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation |
|---|---|---|
| Herbs and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) Development Policy 2004 (HNCC 2004) |
| Department of Plant Resources |
| Government of Nepal Gazette 2016 (GON 2016) |
| Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation |
| Conservation Area Management Rules 1996 (GON 1996) |
| Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation |
| Community Forestry Directive 1995 and Community Forestry Development Programme Guidelines 2008 (DOF 1995; DOF 2008) |
| Department of Forests |
| Forest Act 1993, Forest Regulations 1995, Forest Sector Policy 2000 (GON 1993; GON 1995; GON 2000) |
| Department of Forests |
Figure 4
Sketch-map of Api Nampa Conservation Area with the migratory route of the Shauka (own source).
Table 2
Average number of Yarsagumba specimens collected per family and income from Yarsagumba in Budi and Api-Kuntison over the last 5 years (standard deviation in parentheses).
| 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budi (open to outsiders) | Collection (average number) | 475 (404) | 297 (217) | 230 (169) | 198(174) | 186 (126) |
| Average income (NPR) | 36,000 (26,643) | 36,600 (32,272) | 40,500 (39,700) | 51,700 (51,841) | 58,500 (51,841) | |
| Duration of stay | 50 (11) | 52 (12) | 51(13) | 51 (14) | 53 (19) | |
| Daily income (NPR) | 722 | 709 | 798 | 1014 | 1105 | |
| Price/ piece | 76 | 123 | 176 | 261 | 315 | |
| Api-Kuntison (closed to outsiders) | Collection (average number) | 249 (157) | 231 (132) | 223 (152) | 281 (155) | 283 (177) |
| Average income (NPR) | 41,500 (61,867) | 32,500 (22,802) | 42,100 (36,051) | 62,800 (39,252) | 94,000 (72,692) | |
| Duration of stay | 49 (18) | 50 (18) | 51 (19) | 51 (18) | 55(31) | |
| Daily income (NPR) | 843 | 655 | 820 | 1228 | 1721 | |
| Price/piece | 166 | 141 | 189 | 223 | 332 |
Table 3
Underlying causes for conflicts within ANCA.
| Directly related to Yarsagumba collection | Indirectly related to Yarsagumba collection | |
|---|---|---|
| Socioeconomic | High return of investment on Yarsagumba | High poverty rate in the district forces the communities to look for alternative income sources |
| Policies | Lack of specific policy concerning Yarsagumba in Nepal (it is regulated under the Non Timber Forest Products policy of 2004, which lists Yarsagumba as an open access natural resource) | Participation of distant users and nomads in community forest management |
| The amount to be paid to the government authority for trade changed from NPR 10,000/kg in 2007 GoN Gazette 2007) to NPR 25,000/kg in 2016 | ||
| Government authorities | Limited presence of government authorities in collection sites during the collection period to ensure property rights are obeyed | Various overlapping legal institutions in ANCA without coordination stimulate mistrust between communities and government authorities |
| Institution – Community Forest |
|
|
| Institution – ANCA | VDC-level ANCA Conservation Committees are not yet established or functional | ANCA structures are not yet fully established, functional, or accepted by the local communities |
| Environment |
| Productivity of agricultural land is decreasing which reduces household income and forces population to look for alternative income sources |