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First forest verification gets underway

PARBAT, NOV 05 - Keeping in view the viability of Nepali forest produce finding a place in the international market and the need to maintain the verified certificate and label of these products in order to gain access to forest markets, forest verification process as the first of its endeavour is underway.
It is learnt that the Ekikrit Manab Paristhitikiya Project (EMPP) is employing this verification process at the moment to the Salleri Community Forest in DURLUNG VDC in this district.
According to international standard for a well-maintained forest, preparation for the formulation of local set standards and rules is underway, informed EMPP. In the process of collection of resin from pine trees and its possible export to other countries, test work was conducted in this forest.
According to the project, it is not possible to implement all the 10 principles and 58 criteria set by an International organisation, Forest Stewardship Council, to the forests of Nepal.
However, according to information provided by the team leader of this project, Pushkarnath Khanal, they can, none-the -less formulate a basis for the sustainable forest management, incorporating three of the above principles and criteria into the local rules. Such measures hold significance against the backdrop of Nepal gaining access to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Work plans for Sustainable Forest Management with regard to the community forests are about to be implemented on these forests in Nepal, informed sources at the EMPP.
Such sustainable forest management concept is learnt to have been successfully employed in vast stretches of forestland in America and Europe. . "More emphasis will be laid on the work plans with regard to income generation and sustainable sources," observed Khanal.
While formulating the plans and criteria, due attention will be given to the growth-standard, sustainable management of the herbal growth and quality production, though in foreign countries more emphasis is laid on the bulk of the timber production, Khanal
contended.
Attention will be given to forest management, ownership of forestland and its real utilisation, and to the conservation of the environment and bio-diversity, he contended. Forming community forest management and free organisations will be worked out, he further added.
According to Ganesh Raya, the District Forest Officer (DFO), the implementation of verification of the forest and its product has become of great importance as only the products from the verified forest under the sustainable forest management scheme can gain easy access into the world market. It is learnt that of the total revenue collection in Nepal, 10 percent comes from forest products.Posted on: 2003-11-04 09:20

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