Nawalpur, May 27 – The Gandaki Province government has reintroduced scientific forest management with the release of the Forest Management Directive 2082, ending a five-year hiatus. The directive, along with the Forest Act 2080 and Forest Regulation 2081, was approved in the recent Cabinet meeting, laying the groundwork for sustainable forest utilization and conservation.
The Division Forest Office in Nawalpur has confirmed that all necessary legal frameworks are now in place for implementing forest management strategies. Forest Officer Shishir Lamsal announced that the province aims to produce over seven lakh cubic feet of timber annually under the new directive.
The halt on timber and firewood collection, which began in 2020, had severely impacted forest management and production activities. The ban was imposed following concerns raised by a parliamentary committee about overharvesting in Kailali under the earlier Scientific Forest Management Procedure. The resulting suspension of planned activities led to a rise in illegal logging and a shortfall in meeting user demand.
Under the new directive, Gandaki's forests will be divided into eight compartments, each managed under a 10-year work plan. This approach includes establishing fire lines and expanding water reservoirs to enhance forest conservation and productivity. Division Forest Officer Basant Keshav Adhikari highlighted that Nawalpur district alone houses 213 community forests and 43 scientific forests, underscoring its critical role in the province's forestry sector.
Community forest leaders, such as Bishnu Prasad Bhandari of Durga Community Forest, have welcomed the changes. "The lack of a clear management system left us unable to collect timber to meet user needs, leading to illegal extraction," Bhandari noted. He expressed optimism that the new framework would encourage sustainable use and conservation of forest resources.
Nawalpur continues to lead in forest productivity within Gandaki Province. During the current fiscal year, the district produced 110,000 cubic feet of timber under general management, while selling 202,000 cubic feet from the previous year’s stockpile. The new scientific forest management plan aims to significantly increase production while addressing past shortcomings.
This directive not only marks a milestone for sustainable forestry in Gandaki but also serves as a model for balancing environmental conservation with economic needs in Nepal.
