Kathmandu, November 9

The Federation of Community Forest Users’ Nepal has been concerned about some provisions in the new Forest Act 2019.

It has said some provisions were against the community forest, so the government needs to come up with clear arrangement through regulation. During an interaction with mediapersons, FECOFUN said though most of the demands were incorporated in the Act, some provisions were still against the development of community forests.

FECOFUN Chair Bharati Pathak said the strategic plan of forest sector was not defined in the Act. Discretionary power would be misused with the provision that division forest officer having power to monitor community forest while endorsing work plan, Pathak added.

FECOFUN General Secretary Brish Bahadur Shahi said although consultation and coordination with local levels was imperative for the users of community forest for forest management, the Act failed to come up with a clear provision regarding it.