Kathmandu, March 11
Experts have demanded that the government immediately introduce an alternative to the scientific forest management programme as the government recently scrapped it.
In an interaction organised by the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists on Wednesday, they said the scrapping of the programme created a void in the country’s forest management sector and it should not go long.
The Federation of Forest-based Industry and Trade’s Senior Vice-President Dinesh Raj Regmi said the government should also solve challenges seen in the implementation of the scientific forest management programme.
He also demanded that the government immediately resume the sale of wood chopped during the implementation of the programme.
Likewise, Nepal Foresters’ Association’s Vice-President Shee Prasad Baral accused the government of discontinuing the programme without rational thought. Environmentalist Babu Ram Yadav, however, opposed him.
The Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal General Secretary Thakur Bhandari demanded the government ensure people’s participation in forest management.
