Meeting Household Energy Needs through Community Forestry: A Systematic Review of Evidence from Nepal
Prem Bahadur Giri1, Hari Prasad Ghimire2, Bijay Raj Giri3, Trilochana Pokhrel4
1Prem Bahadur Giri, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, 90112 Thailand. and Wisdom Academy and Research Centre, Kathmandu, 44600 Nepal.
2Dr. Hari Prasad Ghimire, Scholar, Faculty of Environmental Management, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkla, 90112 Thailand. and Everest Centre for Research and Development Partners, Kathmandu, 44600 Nepal.
3Bijay Raj Giri, Researcher, Wisdom Academy and Research Centre, Kathmandu, 44600 Nepal.
5Trilochana Pokhrel, Researcher, Wisdom Academy and Research Centre, Kathmandu, 44600 Nepal.
Manuscript received on 07 October 2025 | First Revised Manuscript received on 31 October 2025 | Second Revised Manuscript received on 09 November 2025 | Manuscript Accepted on 15 November 2025 | Manuscript published on 30 November 2025 | PP: 1-8 | Volume-5 Issue-1, November 2025 | Retrieval Number: 100.1/ijeer.A105205011125 | DOI: 10.54105/ijeer.A1052.05011125
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© The Authors. Published by Lattice Science Publication (LSP). This is an open-access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: The availability of clean and affordable household energy has been long-standing in rural Nepal, with household biomass sources taking over the household consumption. This paper examines the role of community forestry in providing households with energy security, promoting social inclusion, and sustaining the environment. The review uses a systematic approach guided by the PRISMA 2020 standards and synthesises the evidence from 92 empirical studies on the issue published since 2004. Web of Science, Scopus, and NepJOL were used to gather data based on inclusion criteria for community forestry, household access to energy, and participatory governance. The conceptual framework used to evaluate the interaction between human, natural, social, financial, and physical capitals and governance systems to determine household energy outcomes was the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA). Results indicate that community forests are the primary source of fuelwood and other forest products for 6090 per cent of rural households, cut household energy costs by up to 18 per cent, and enhance forest restoration in 85 per cent of the studies examined. This improves transparency and meaningful representation, as well as forest conditions and biodiversity. Nevertheless, inequities include elite capture, the underrepresentation of women and marginalised groups, and poor uptake of cleaner technologies, which hinder equal gains. The findings highlight that community forestry contributes substantially to the welfare of rural communities. Still, sustainable energy transitions require reforming policies to set energy targets in forestry strategies, advance alternative energy technologies, and enhance intergovernmental coordination under federal governance. The study finds that incorporating household energy objectives into community forestry policies is essential for achieving the Nepal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7, 13, and 15). It suggests an adaptive governance system, participatory governance, and technology-based interventions to fast-track the transition of the rural energy system toward cleaner, more equitable systems.
Keywords: Community Forestry, Household Energy, Rural Livelihoods, Participatory Governance, Nepal.
Scope of the Article: Energy Policy and Planning