FECOFUN’s concern over Forest Act

Kathmandu : The Federation of Community Forest Users’ Nepal (FECOFUN) has been concerned over some provisions in the new Forest Act 2076. It has said some provisions were against the community forest, so the government needs to come up with clear arrangement through the regulation.

During an interaction with the media persons, the FECOFUN viewed that though most of the demands were incorporated in the Act, some provisions were still against the development of community forest. Chairperson of the organization, Bharati Pathak, said the strategic plan of forest sector was not defined in the Act.

The discretionary power would be misused with the provision that division forest officer having power to monitor community forest while endorsing work plan, Pathak added.

FECOFUN General Secretary Brish Bahadur Shahi said although the consultation and coordination with the local levels was imperative for the users of community forest for the forest management, the Act failed to come up with clear provision on it. It would result in clash between the local level and forest users, he added.