Community forest enhances beauty and tourism

Deforestation has come to a standstill as the use of gas stoves is increasing in the village and the number of farmers engaged in animal husbandry is declining.

According to the locals, the community forests of Myagdi have become green after the villagers stopped going to the forest for firewood, grass and sawdust. According to the District Forest Division Office, Myagdi, 64 community forests including Bagarphant Community Forest, Gauswara Community Forest, Bhakimli, Arman and Baranja are now green.

According to the Community Forest Users Federation, Myagdi, community forest user groups have been making significant contribution to the growth of forest employment and upliftment of the deprived communities after the protection of forests at the community level. Khadga Bahadur Thapa of Beni Municipality-2 said that the locals are happy that Nanga Danda, Khola Bagar and public land have been turned into dense forest till a decade and a half ago. "When we used to conserve it, it was like a desert. There was no vegetation. Now it is impossible to enter the forest," Thapa said. When I think of that now, I find myself amazed. We didn't even think of such a dense forest so soon, but now everyone is happy to hear what a wonderful forest it is. ”

 Before the conservation started under his leadership in 2054 BS, the vacant lot of Bagarphant Community Forest has now developed into the strongest community forest in the area. Due to the contribution made by the community in conservation, the forest is being developed as a green and tourist destination. Dil Bahadur Ghimire, chairman of Bagarphant Community Forest, said that the villagers have stopped going to the forest and the construction of concrete houses has increased in the village. "In the past, everyone depended on the forest. Grass, firewood, sawdust and timber had to be brought from the forest, so the previously thinned forest has now grown after the villagers stopped clearing it," he said.

According to Chairman Ghimire, the Bagarphant Community Forest has provided an example of how dense forest can be created by planting trees on the vacant land. He said, "I had made a plan for the protection of the forest 20 years ago today. The villagers did not understand that plan but later the forest itself started to be protected. Now I am happy."

The same is true of Gauswara Community Forest. The forest that used to be cleared overnight is now green. There is a lot of wild animals in the forest. "People are scared to enter the forest," said Ratna Bam Malla, a local. All the community forests in the district have banned grazing. Shyam Humen of Bhakimli said that the forest has become green naturally after the villagers stopped entering the forest for firewood.

According to the Community Forest Users Federation, Myagdi, the condition of more than 300 community forests in the district is improving. Stating that the income of community forest has been playing an important role in social responsibility, Chandra Mani Sapkota of District Forest Division Office, Myagdi, stressed on the need to provide subsidy to those who help in the promotion of nursery forest.

"Community forests are moving forward as a basis of prosperity after being handed over to the community," he said. Through model work, community forest areas are being established as a strong foundation for prosperity. ”

According to the federation, the community forest user groups in the district have been emphasizing on the proper use of natural resources by including all the consumers near and far from the forest. Secretary General of the Federation, Thakur Bhandari, said that it is an excellent and successful practice of the community forest to ensure 50 percent participation of women, poor, deprived, indigenous and minority communities in the decisive positions of the federation and consumer groups.

He said that the government has so far handed over 22,222 forest groups in all the seven states as per the concept of community forest which was started in 2051 BS. About 30 percent of the total community forest groups in the country are economically weak. Despite the international practice of making 17 percent of the total forest area as conservation area, about 40 percent of forest area is in Nepal.

Community forests are becoming a source of income for rural women and poor communities. Forest-based herbs and forest products have become a major source of income for the impoverished community. Secretary Bhandari said that it has become easier to make women self-reliant as most of the community forests in the district cultivate herbs and grass.