Rautahat: The programme on sustainable forest management is gaining pace in Rautahat of late, the forest officials said. During an interaction organized by a local forest users’ group on sustainable forest management, the chief of the sub-divisional forest office at Chandrapur, Anil Mahato, asserted that the Hatemalo community forest users’ group had played a vital role in promoting community forest linking to sustainable management.
According to National News Agency Nepal, of the total 282 hectares of community forest coverage, 274 hectares were identified as productive areas. Protecting the forest, a plan of agro-forestry was prepared to be put in place. In the intervention area, 272 old trees out of a total of 1,697 trees are kept protected, while the remaining trees are recommended for regeneration and clearing under the scheme. Ten sections are managed for this purpose.
Chief of Division Forest Office in Rautahat, Hemant Kumar Sah, informed that the sustainable forest management programme was launched in three community forests and one partnership forest. The programme aligns several groups under its initiative, including the Tileshwornath Community Forest Users’ Group, Bhorleni Community Forest Users’ Group, Hatemalo Community Forest Group, and Rangapur Partnership Forest Users’ Group.
Chairman of the Federation of Community Forest User’s Groups in Rautahat, Bedhari Dahal, informed that the users could reap significant benefits from the programme once it is enforced sincerely.