Management plans

All types of national forests are required to be managed under a management plan. The Department of Forests (DOF) has responsibility for sustainable management of all forest resources, including government managed forests.

The Government of Nepal has particularly recognized that the implementation of improved management systems in the Terai forests could substantially increase revenues derived from these forests. Consequently, the Department of Forests has committed to implementing scientific management plans in all Terai forests. Management plans have been prepared for many districts of the Terai. The absence of adequate funding, along with inadequate technical capacity and a variety of social factors, however, have precluded the implementation of many plans. The Leasehold Forestry Programme requires the leasee(s) to prepare a 5-year operational plan in order to work in the leasehold forest. The Community Forestry Programme has similar requirements for the completion of a Forest Operational Plan. The Operational Plan specifies various protection, utilization and management aspects for each community forest. Plans are prepared by Forest User Groups with assistance from District Forest Office staff. Forest User Groups are allowed to sell forest products, raise funds, and use the income generated for rural development and forest regeneration according to their Operational Plan. More than 7 000 plans have been developed for managing community forests that have been transferred to Forest User Groups.

last updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009