Community forestry has helped restore much of degraded forest land in Nepal. It has also increased the greenery and bio-diversity and the supply of forest resources

Nepal’s community forest management programme has proved to be successful. Nepal has been commended for the implementation of this. The programme seeks to achieve sustainable management of the abundant forest resources it possesses by converting the forests of the nation into Community Forests. This is being done presently in a phase-wise manner by handing over forest areas as Community Forests to the Forest User Groups who would see to it that this resource is used and managed.  Bilateral donors are also involved in this endeavor who contribute as much as 60 per cent of the funds to it. It is estimated that about 35 per cent of the people are participating in the programme.

There are around 14,000   Community Forestry User Groups (CFUGs) composed of women  committee members. A substantial number of national forests have been provided as community forests benefitting numerous households. Nepal has proposed that all the SAARC member states also take up similar programmes during the regional grouping’s meeting in Pokhara. Due to the community forestry programme the environment of Nepal has been protected to a substantial degree and also the ecosystem as it has succeeded in generating income and praise. The programme has helped restore much of the degraded forest land. It has also increased the greenery and bio-diversity and the supply of forest resources.   Women are empowered and the impoverished disadvantaged groups stand to benefit from it too. Overall it has given rise to income generation and community development activities which ultimately result in the enhancement of the living standard of the people. SAARC observer countries - China, the European Union, the United States and South Korea - could also be part of the whole exercise.

Nepal has expressed its willingness to share its know-how and experience in the community forest management programme. In the meet participated in by the SAARC joint-secretaries in Pokhara Nepal urged that this project be expanded to encompass the entire region. This  should be taken up seriously as the threat of desertification of much of the SAARC region is there due to rampant deforestation that is taking place. Environmental concerns leading to such threats as climate change are real. The most effective way to do so is to protect the depleting forest resources in many regions worldwide. As such, this Nepali proposal should be taken as a gift that Nepal could provide to the other SAARC countries that are feeling the ill-effects of environmental degradation. Now is no time to sit back when these are taking place. No doubt, there were people who were skeptical of the whole programme, but they now realize that it works. What better example could it be as is happening in Nepal which is utilizing community forests management to its advantage. Meanwhile, Nepal should be grateful to the countries assisting it to make the programme successful. Now everyone has realized the benefits that could accrue through the successful implementation of the community forest programme. Nepal is in the forefront of countries with community forest programme which is something all Nepalese should be proud of.

Fake victims

After the government issued a public notice warning that it would take legal action against those who had received cash as earthquake victims preparing false documents as many as 25 families from three municipalities in the valley have so far returned the amount and the ID cards to the district administration office (DAO). The families who claimed to be the quake victims hail from Tarkeshwor, Nagarjun and Gokarneshwor municipalities. They had received Rs. 15,000 each from the government as immediate relief assistance.

It is a crime in itself to seek government support even when one has not suffered from the natural disaster. The amount was offered by the government to those who need it the most. Representatives of the concerned political parties who were helping the victims are responsible for this mess. They should have verified and let the government agencies know whether a family is really a quake victim. The VDC and municipality officials must launch a fresh investigation in all districts to ensure that not even a single fake quake family has received the cash meant for the genuine victims.