Kathmandu

President opens woodcraft festival to mark World Wood Day

President opens woodcraft festival to mark World Wood Day

By Nasana

President Bidya Devi Bhandari planting a tree to inaugurate the 4th Woodcraft Festival held in the premises of the National Academy Hall on the occasion of World Wood Day, Kamaladi, on Monday, March 21, 2016. Photo: RSS

KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the Fourth Woodcraft Festival in the capital city with prime focus lent to the nature and culture. Hundreds of countries from around the world are taking part in the festival on the occasion of the World Wood Day, observed every year on March 21 as declared by the United Nations 67th General Assembly. The first Woodcraft Festival took place in Tanzania in 2013, the second was held in China where as the third festival was held in Turkey. President Bhandari stressed putting an end to deforestation to achieve the sustainable development goal and avoid hunger. She coined a term 'Jahan Jungle, Tyahan Mangal' (where there is jungle, there is welfare) and said that culture and nature were complimentary subjects of nature. On the occasion, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation, Agni Prasad Sapkota, said the development of forest area is directly linked with human life and pledged determination from the government to conserve it. The week-long festival taking place at the Nepal Academy in Kamaladi will showcase a total of 90 stalls. Nepal has put on display around 9,000 renderings of temples that were created in the memory of the people killed in April 25 earthquake in the festival. The 2016 World Wood Day themed 'Nature and Culture' will conclude on Saturday with plantation of saplings of various plants at the Godavari Botanical Garden.