The expansion of community forestry practices since the late 1970s and, recently, outmigration have led forest cover to increase in Nepal's mid-hills catchments (>52% of the 4.3 million ha). The catchments traditionally provide food and income for local communities, and they are increasingly important for ecological functions, particularly downstream water use. While the hydrological effects of increasing forest cover are generally unclear in the mid-hills region, mismatched perceptions of forest–water relationships between sections of Nepalese society and scientists challenge the management of the catchments in meeting traditional community needs and growing water demand sustainably. This paper shows the prevalence of the culturally formed notion of “more forest–more water” within broader Nepalese society and the conservation-centric attitude of forest policymakers, who focus on reforestation and afforestation. These perceptions contradict general scientific evidence that shows forest development reduces catchment water yield. Conversely, the results of semistructured interviews (n =150) conducted among members of community forest user groups (CFUGs) in the Roshi Khola catchment of the mid-hills district Kavre showed that 44% of respondents consider that forests contribute to increased water quantity, and 37% think forests decrease it. Furthermore, the respondents that viewed forests as reducing water quantity disliked pine forests because these allegedly caused the reduction. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between the duration of membership in the CFUG and the perception that forests increase water. Thus, while there is a high research need to understand the forest–water relationships in the mid-hills, extensive communication of research results and deliberation about them are crucial to developing widely acceptable plans for managing the catchments. This is particularly important in the context of expanding community forestry practices and the current debate on scientific forestry presented by Nepal's key forestry documents, including the Forestry Sector Strategy 2016–2025 and Forest Policy 2019.

中文翻译：

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在森林-水关系认知不一致的情况下管理尼泊尔中山森林集水区：挑战与机遇

自 1970 年代后期以来社区林业实践的扩大以及最近的外迁导致尼泊尔中山集水区的森林覆盖率增加（430 万公顷的 52% 以上）。集水区传统上为当地社区提供食物和收入，它们对生态功能，尤其是下游用水的重要性日益增加。虽然在中山地区增加森林覆盖率的水文影响通常不清楚，但尼泊尔社会各阶层和科学家之间对森林-水关系的不匹配看法对集水区的管理提出了挑战，以满足传统社区需求和可持续增长的用水需求。本文展示了在更广泛的尼泊尔社会中文化形成的“更多森林 - 更多水”概念的盛行，以及专注于重新造林和植树造林的森林政策制定者以保护为中心的态度。这些看法与一般科学证据相矛盾，这些证据表明森林开发会降低集水区的水产量。相反，在 Kavre 中山地区 Roshi Khola 流域的社区森林用户组 (CFUG) 成员中进行的半结构式访谈 (n = 150) 的结果表明，44% 的受访者认为森林有助于增加水量， 37% 的人认为森林减少了它。此外，认为森林会减少水量的受访者不喜欢松林，因为据称松林会导致水量减少。有趣的是，CFUG 成员资格的持续时间与森林增加水资源的看法之间存在正相关关系。因此，虽然对了解中山林水关系的研究需求很高，但广泛交流研究结果并对其进行审议对于制定广泛接受的集水区管理计划至关重要。在扩大社区林业实践和当前尼泊尔主要林业文件（包括 2016-2025 年林业部门战略和 2019 年森林政策）提出的科学林业辩论的背景下，这一点尤为重要。研究结果的广泛交流和审议对于制定广泛接受的流域管理计划至关重要。在扩大社区林业实践和当前尼泊尔主要林业文件（包括 2016-2025 年林业部门战略和 2019 年森林政策）提出的科学林业辩论的背景下，这一点尤为重要。研究结果的广泛交流和审议对于制定广泛接受的流域管理计划至关重要。这在扩大社区林业实践和当前尼泊尔主要林业文件（包括 2016-2025 年林业部门战略和 2019 年森林政策）提出的科学林业辩论的背景下尤为重要。