Methodology

For this case study, the author reviewed relevant reports and documents. Discussions and meetings with project personnel and field implementors in Bhusunde and Phewatal watershed areas and in Palpa and Syangja were held. A Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) was conducted in several villages of the Begnastal Rupatal (BTRT) watershed area to gather information on different aspects of people's participation in watershed management.

The RRA was organized in the following manner:

- informal interviews were conducted with farmers, conservation groups, members of users' groups and CDCCs;

- information gathering from professional project field staff and local leaders;

- issues related to watershed management were discussed with former project managers and other concerned individuals;

- reports, studies, and plans related to the BTRT watershed Project were reviewed;

- information triangulation was done by interviewing farmers on randomly chosen sites; and

- village level meetings were conducted for gathering information in groups.