KATHMANDU, JUNE 12
Minister of Forest and Environment Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav has urged the province and local governments to incorporate climate change and environment conservation-related programmes in their policies and programmes and implement them.
Inaugurating the seventh national seminar of the Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal here today, Minister Yadav directed subordinate bodies to gear up for effective implementation of forest and environment-related programmes announced by the government through its new budget. He expressed hope of getting collective support and cooperation to meet the goals of the 15th plan and realise Nepal's commitments to COP-26. He assessed that the practice of community forests in Nepal had contributed to forest conservation and enhancement of biological diversity. President of Agriculture, Cooperative and Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Purna Kumari Subedi was of the view that focus should be on the utilisation of forest products along with conservation efforts.
National Assembly member Bimala Poudyal Rai acknowledged the role of community forest in forest conservation, underlining the need to connect its use to people's needs and economic prosperity. Likewise, lawmaker Parbat Gurung sought a discussion on utilising green forest as a means of income generation.
ICIMOD Director General Pema Gyamtsho, Bagmati Province forest and environment minister Bishal Khadka, Nation Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission's Chair Balananda Poudel, FECO- FUN Chair Bharati Pathak and National Trust for Nature Conservation Chair Krishna Prasad Oli suggested that government bodies devise a new course of action in forest conservation efforts. He applauded the contribution of community forests in the promotion of greenery programmes.
The three-day event kicked off with the theme of 'Five decades of community forests: Opportunities in changing context'. It was attended by community forest activists, forest experts, and related government and non-government organisations. The gathering is expected to analyse five decades of community forests in the changing context, assessing opportunities and challenges.
A version of this article appears in the print on June 13, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.