Intro -- Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- 1.1 Background -- 1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Book -- 1.3 Rationale for Selecting the Nepalese Context -- 1.4 Key Contributions of the Book -- 1.5 Outline of the Book -- References -- Chapter 2: Gender Perspective in Forestry and Feminist Institutionalism -- 2.1 The Concept of Gender -- 2.2 Gender and the Environment -- 2.2.1 Ecofeminism -- 2.2.2 Feminist Environmentalism -- 2.2.3 Feminist Political Ecology -- 2.2.4 Examples of the Role of the Women's Environmental Movement -- 2.3 Male Dominance in Forestry 2.4 Initiatives for the Inclusion of Women in Forestry -- 2.5 The Representation of Women in the Forestry Profession -- 2.6 Reasons for Women's Under-Representation in Professional Forestry Roles -- 2.7 Challenges for Women Professionals in the Forestry Sector -- 2.8 Effectiveness of Gender Mainstreaming Policies and Practices in Forestry: An International Perspective -- 2.9 Scope for Contribution in the Area of Gender Perspectives in Forestry -- 2.10 Institutionalism -- 2.11 The Feminist Perspective Within Historical Institutionalism 2.12 The Feminist Perspective Within Normative or Sociological Institutionalism -- 2.13 Feminist Perspectives in Rational Choice Institutionalism -- 2.14 Features of New Institutionalism -- 2.15 Feminist Perspectives Within New Institutionalism -- 2.15.1 Formal and Informal Institutions -- 2.15.2 Power -- 2.15.3 Institutional Change -- 2.15.4 Structure and Agency -- 2.16 The Necessity of the Development of Feminist Institutional Approaches -- 2.17 Strengthening Feminist Institutionalism -- 2.17.1 Gendered Institutions -- 2.17.2 Formal and Informal Institutions 2.17.3 Institutional Change and Continuity -- 2.17.4 Structure and Agency -- 2.17.5 Gendered Culture and Power Relations -- 2.17.6 Gendered Knowledge -- References -- Chapter 3: The History of Nepalese Forest Management and the Roles of Women -- 3.1 The Interdependence of Forests and People in Nepal -- 3.2 History of Legislative Measures and Institutional Practices in Nepalese Forest Management -- 3.2.1 Pre-nationalization of Forests (Before 1957) -- 3.2.2 Nationalization of Forests (1957-1976) -- 3.2.3 Decentralization of Forestry Governance (1976-to Present) 3.3 Major Forestry Institutions Involved in Forest Governance in Nepal -- 3.3.1 Government Institutions -- 3.3.2 Community-Based Forestry Institutions -- 3.3.3 Civil Society Organizations -- The Federation of Community Forest Users -- The Himalayan Grassroots Women's Natural Resource Management Association -- 3.3.4 Private Sector Organizations and Development Partners -- 3.4 The Inclusion of Women in Nepalese Forestry Organizations -- 3.4.1 Women in Community Forest User Groups -- Social and Cultural Factors Affecting the Participation of Nepalese Women in Community Forestry

This book examines the processes for the inclusion of women, and the role of women employees in Nepal's forestry bureaucracy. The book adopts a "gender lens" drawn from feminist institutionalism and is framed around the following four objectives: evaluating the effectiveness of current legislative and policy frameworks for the inclusion of women in the Nepalese forest bureaucracy; examining the dynamics of organizational culture, formal and informal institutions, and structure and agency in and around forest bureaucracy in Nepal; assessing power relations in forestry institutions focusing on influential participation of women forestry professionals in the bureaucratic structure; and gaining insights about the alternative space of feminist institutionalism in connection with women inclusive forest bureaucracy. Findings in the book inform and extend feminist institutionalism perspectives by applying it to a context which remains under explored, providing insider perspectives on the efficacy of public sector cultural change, especially as it relates to those areas within bureaucracies less in a position to adopt the changes mandated by society and principles of good governance. Radha Wagle is Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Environment in Kathmandu, Nepal. Soma Pillay is senior lecturer and researcher at Federation University Australia. Wendy Wright is Associate Professor of Conservation Biology at the School of Health and Life Sciences and Associate Dean of Research Training at the Graduate Research School at Federation University Australia