Against the recommendation made by the 17 members Task Force created by MFSC, the Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation Mr. Kiran Gurung has decided to allow handing over the CF to the limited users in Terai and inner Madesh (Kantipur Daily, 6 October). The decision making style is similar of Ex. King Gyanendra. It has been made just one day before the longest government vacation (Dashain Festival) with poor thinking that the directly affected people will forget about the issue and forgive the minister. The decision is against the norms of inclusion and democratization of forestry sector. The CF which totally failed to address the issues of Terai forest is no more applicable in context of Terai and inner Madesh. The Minister's decision only can create agitation among the people of Terai, which are deprived from the forest resources due to the application of CF.

The initial reaction has been seen in Terai. The Association of Collaborative Forest Users of Nepal (ACOFUN) has announced threaten against the Minister's decision in its press release. It is really a stupid decision and came without consulting the real users of Terai forest. It is clear from the migration pattern of Nepal that people who are defined as users on the basis of CF are the new settlers (even encroachers) and the real users of the forest are in southern part of the Terai districts. Please go through the attachment (Press release of ACOFUN) which indicates the upcoming situation in arena of Nepalese Forestry Sector.