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Bara forest cover fast depleting
BARA, MAY 29 -
Charkoshe forest in Nijgad and surrounding areas in Bara district has seen rampant logging recently. The failure of the authorities to curb the illegal practice has threatened the existence of many valuable and rare trees in the woods.
Areas such as Tangiabasti, Katgaun, Nijgad, Ratanpuri, Bharatjung Singaul, Hariya, Ramnagar, Madhuwon and Dumarwana have faced excessive deforestation. People who are supposed to conserve the forest are themselves involved in destroying it. “Everyone is after making easy money by selling timber from the forest,” said Sukha Prasad Chaudhary, a civil society leader. “Members of forest partners and users groups are also involved in the crime.”
Illegally-procured timber can be seen on the office premises of many forest user groups, seemingly without the notice of authorities concerned.
A teak forest that once covered around 200 hectares of land at Dumarwana has shrunk by almost two-thirds. “Timber smugglers fell these trees in broad daylight without any fear,” said Ramesh Sapkota. As the authorities allow locals to take away trees that are dead or felled by wind, timber smugglers, aided by forest user groups, enter the forest and cut down trees indiscriminately. The district forest officer said lack of human resource and weapons has kept them from launching an offensive against the culprits.
Posted on: 2010-05-30 08:24
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