Minister Basnet for wise use of natural resources

Minister for Forest and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet has said natural resources should be conserved and utilized by keeping in centre the human being and environment.
During a programme organized on the occasion of the Community Forest National Day here Friday, Minister Basnet said, “The programmes on environment conservation should be continued being accountable to people, so that they could be benefitted much.”
According to him, good governance is the first condition in the process of environment conservation. As per the changed context, structural and policy arrangements can be reconsidered, he underscored.
Ministry Secretary Dr Bishwanath Oli opined that the Ministry was planning to amend the forest policy, and the demands raised by the community forest users’ groups would be incorporated in it.
He further informed that national forest policy was being devised. It will act as a guideline to the forest officers of all three levels of governments.
Director General at Forest and Soil Conservation Department, Dr Ram Prasad Lamsal, said community forest, which is being practiced in the country for four decades, has played a significant role on forest conservation.
On the occasion, the Ganeshman Singh Community Forest National Award was conferred on Andheri Chharchhare Community Forest Users’ Group of Palpa, (first), Dhirikhola Community Forest Users’ Group of Arghakhanchi (second) and Janakalyan Community Forest Users’ Group (third). The first got the cashe prize of Rs 100,000 while the second received Rs 75,000 and the third Rs 50,000.
Similarly, the Leasehold Forest National Award has been given to the Thadonaghi Leasehold Forest Group of Panchthar (first), Shital Pokhari Leasehold Forest Group (second) and Harbungdeep Leasehold Forest (third). The first, second and third got the cash prizes of Rs 100,000, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively.
There are a total of 22,266 community forests in Nepal which is being used and conserved by 2.9 million households. The concept of community forest had begun in Nepal from Tokharpa forest of Sindhupalchowk since 2030 BS.
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