January 30, 2002

Kathmandu: Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Gopal Man Shrestha inaugurated a national workshop on community forestry operational guidelines here today.

The district forest officers, the community forest experts and the representatives from national and international non-governmental organisations are taking part in the two-day workshop organised with the objective of refining the community forestry operational guidelines-2052 for its effective implementation.

The Department of Forest has completed formulation of the new guidelines-2058 for forest users’ groups, the technicians of government and non-government organisations involved in the field work and the people.

In his inaugural address, Minister Shrestha noted that the community forests have succeeded in getting two-third of rural population involved in its expansion in the last two decades as a result of the success such forests have achieved in serving their needs.

Community forest, a model of indigenous technique, has not only helped to bring about advancements in social and economic fronts but also reduce widespread poverty, he said.

Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Surendra Hamal expressed confidence that with the introduction of community forest operational guidelines, confusions plaguing this sector can easily be sorted out.

Community forest is not a programme of just a handful of families, but a national programme, secretary at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation Chandi Prasad Shrestha said, adding that it is a medium for the conservation of environment and an alternative source for extra income.