Chitwan, June 15: In the scorching heat on Tuesday afternoon, a group of women were busy ploughing, turning, mixing and packing compost manure made from invasive plant species collected from the Thaan Khola Community Forest in Kalika Municipality-3.
What was once a wild spread of invasive weeds choking the forest floor is now slowly being transformed into dark, crumbly compost. It is not a scene most people would associate with a forest. But in Thaan Khola, the forest is not only being protected, it is also being put to productive use.
“This is the first batch of fertiliser produced from invasive plant species collected from the community forest,” said Ram Bahadur Karki, chairperson of the community forest user group.
For years, invasive plant species such as Mikania, Asuro, nettle, broom grass and other fast-spreading shrubs had overtaken large sections of the community forest. They restricted the regeneration of native species, increased the risk of forest fires and made forest management an uphill task.
“Removing them was routine work, but deciding what to do with the heaps of biomass was always a challenge,” Karki said.
The initiative supported by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal and a local NGO Sahamati under Nature Based Solution Programme Project, the community forest has successfully transformed invasive plant species and forest waste into organic compost fertiliser, offering a model that could be replicated nationally.
The initiative has been implemented in the forest, covering around 169 hectares of forest area with nearly 2,000 registered user households.
Karki, who previously worked for 22 years at the District Forest Office before retiring and joining the community forestry sector, said the forest once faced heavy invasion of unwanted shrubs and species.
“Instead of only clearing and discarding them, we adopted a new approach-converting the biomass into organic fertilizer,” he added.
Under the project, invasive plants are first cut and collected manually by local users. The biomass is then transported by tractor to a processing site within the forest. There, it is chopped using machines and arranged in layered compost pits.
Around 10 per cent forest soil and water are mixed with the plant material to support decomposition. The mixture is left to ferment in layers (“dams”) for about 15 days, during which temperature is closely monitored to maintain an optimal range of 50 to 60 degrees Celsius.
If the temperature rises above the required level, water is added and the material is turned to control heat and maintain microbial activity. After 15 days, the compost is turned again, mixed, and left for another cycle of decomposition. The full process takes around three months before the material is ready for laboratory testing and packaging, Kaki said.
Production and use The first batch of compost has recently been completed, and around 5 to 7 tonnes of fertiliser are expected from the pilot cycle. The product is being packaged in 5 kg and 25 kg bags for distribution.
The fertiliser is primarily distributed to community forest user households at a subsidised rate, while it is also sold to external buyers at a higher price. Users within the community receive it at around Rs 25 per kg, while external buyers pay approximately Rs 50 per kg.
The project has also created local employment opportunities, especially for women and low-income households within the community forest. Around 35 users, mostly women, have received training on compost production. A core group of 8 to 10 trained individuals can now independently train others and manage production.
Bindu Maya Tamang of Bijaya Tole in the Municipality-3 started working in the community forest started working to pack the manure for the last 20 days. Earlier, she only used to work sometimes when she get called but now she has a regular job and get paid healthy. “I am happy to be working here as I will not have to spend my time in unnecessary chores,” she said.
“Earlier I used to spend my days cutting grass or doing household work,” said another participant from Bajya Tole. “Now I come here and earn wages. I have learned something new as well.”
The work is flexible, with daily wage labour engaged as needed, sometimes five workers, sometimes more, depending on the workload.
It has created a small but steady source of income for households that previously depended on seasonal and uncertain earnings. Daily wage workers are engaged based on need, with flexible labour arrangements depending on the workload, according to Karki.
A model for forest management
According to the committee, the initiative was developed as an alternative to traditional forest management practices that relied heavily on timber extraction. The aim is to reduce invasive species, prevent forest fires by clearing dry biomass, and promote organic agriculture.
The committee believed the model can help address broader environmental and public health concerns linked to chemical fertilisers and pesticide use.
While the project is still in its early phase, Karki said laboratory testing results will be crucial in determining market acceptance. Farmers in nearby areas, including large-scale vegetable growers, are being engaged to assess effectiveness.
If successful, the model is expected to be replicated in other community forests across Nepal as a sustainable approach to invasive species management and organic fertiliser production, said Karun Dewan of WWF. #nepal
