A side event was held at the Eighth Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF8) by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation of Nepal on 28th April, 2009 to launch the Nepal Nature Conservation Year, 2009. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Forests and Soil Conservation of Nepal, Hon. Kiran Gurung.
In his opening remarks the Hon. Gurung shared the experience of Nepal in the conservation and restoration of forests. He stated that Nepal was in the process of socioeconomic changes despite its recent challenges. He indicated that Nepal was in the process of making peace permanent in the country and informed the meeting that there was significant improvement in law and order during the transition phase. In reviewing progress in the Nepal forest sector, Hon Gurung stated that the country was making efforts to conserve its natural resources and that it had been able to commit 40% of its land to forests in line with their new slogan of “New Nepal Green Nepal”. Hon. Gurung informed the meeting that 2009 had been declared as the Nepal Nature Conservation Year. Hon Gurung acknowledged the support Nepal had received from donors and invited member states and participants to visit Nepal. Earlier on April 20, 2009, Minister Gurung addressed the opening session of the plenery of UNFF8.
There was a presentation by Dr. D.C. Devkota, of the National Planning Committee on Forest in a Changing Context: Nepal Nature Conservation. Dr. Devkota reviewed the status of forests in Nepal highlighting the challenges of the Nepalese forestry sector. Some of the challenges included bringing sustainable reforms to the development of the forest sector and how to optimise benefits from the sector. Threats he stated included pressure on forests and the competition with agriculture for land use. He indicated a key industry related challenge was to promote forest based micro industries. Dr. Devkota indicated there were opportunities to protect biodiversity and develop economic activity through culture and eco-tourism.
A second presentation on “Make poverty history through Community Forestry” was made by Mr. G.S. Pandey of the Federation of Community Forest Users of Nepal (FECOFUN). He acknowledged the work and support he had received from the Government of Nepal and the UNFF Secretariat. He stated there was increased cooperation between the
Government and civil society. He indicated that the relation was a test of democracy working in Nepal. Mr. Pandey explained that poverty in Nepal was persisting because there was no access to natural resources (water, land and Forest) for a majority of the people. The lack of tenure and property rights did not help the situation. He said the lack of poor people’s organisation and the lack of critical mass of poor people did not allow for their empowerment and policies were not supportive of the poor. He provided suggestions as to how to eradicate poverty in Nepal. These he said included the following activities:
- Empowerment of poor people and their organisations – creating green organisations and green governments.
- Developing and implementing good policies in support of forestry such as the New forest policy
- Development of critical mass. This would involve engaging the rural communities in policy development and forest activities
- He said community forestry can help reduce poverty in Nepal through strong networks, strong green movement and the introduction of poverty reduction strategies.
During discussions the lack of active involvement of women in the forest sector in Nepal was raised. This was acknowledged by the presenters who indicated that women were however engaged through the civil society. The Nepalese delegation expressed their desire to better engage women in the process.
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