Jamuna Adhikari of Namobuddha Municipality-2 cut down a Wild Himalayan Cherry tree (prunus cerasoids) to make a new bed. Then she headed to sawmill with the logs to make a bed and ladder.
A police team caught her on the way during security check and didn’t allow her to take the logs saying that she hasn’t taken permission from the forest office to cut the tree. Police offloaded 5-6 logs on the road. “I am alone woman. My husband has gone abroad to work as a migrant worker. I had no idea that it requires approval from the District Forest Office to carry the logs,” Jamuna told Hakahaki.
She said she has been frustrated with the bureaucratic hassles that restrict her from cutting down the tree and making furniture. So she bought a bed for Rs 15,00 and a ladder for Rs 3000.
“There is no problem for us in rearing goats in our house, grow rice, and corn in our field and sell them according to our wishes. But why can’t we sell the trees we grow in our land?” she questioned.
Jamuna is not the only one; Banmaya Chepang, of Chitwan’s Rapti Municipality-10, has similar complain. She planted asparagus in her arable land. She was dreaming to earn a descent income by selling the asparagus. While she was on the way to market to sell the asparagus, she was stopped by the Chitwan District Administration Office citing her failure to take permission to sell herbs.
“I have been pay tax even for the land with cliff and slopes,” she said. “Why can’t I sell whether it is the asparagus grown in my own land or logs?” she questioned.
She further complained about the compulsion to visit the Division Forest Office to get permission. “What happened to the slogan of ‘power from Singha Durbar to villages?’ It would have been easier for us if they issued authorized document or recommendation from the ward itself,” said Banmaya. “Police personnel, range post officials and ranger give us trouble when we sell the trees from our own house.”
Kiran Poudel, of Nayapul, Kaski district, who came to attend national women forest farmers in Kathmandu last Thursday and Friday, said she is also annoyed by the similar problems faced by Jamuna and Banmaya.
The government’s policy and rules have been nuisance for the people striving to save forest in their own land. Many experts working in forest sector acknowledge that the rule requiring permission from forest office even to cut down the trees in personal land has created practical problem.
Director General at the Department of Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Bijaya Raj Poudel said the people are forced to face unnecessary hassle because of the failure to mention the clauses of forest smuggling.
“It has been troublesome. People are wicked. Deceitful people take advantage and innocent people are at the receiving end,” he said. “People are forced to suffer while carrying logs from one place to another. There are complaints that police are bothering people in the name of search and check though it is not the responsibility of police to look after them.”
Lawmakers are silent even if they are aware about the problems of family and private forest. Lawmaker Parbat Gurung said there is problem in selling and supplying the forest products grown in private land. “We have understood the issue,” he said. “We are trying to resolve the issue.”
Forest and Environment Minister Shakti Basnet said the government’s intention is meant to trouble the people. “The government’s objective is to stop the misuse of forest and the wood and wooden materials are utilized properly,” he said. “If everyone is honest, the common people wouldn’t have to suffer unnecessarily while transporting private wood.”
Minister Basnet said he have understood the problem faced by people while selling or transporting the logs to another place. “As the elected local body is in place, people should be allowed to sell wood and forest productions through recommendation from ward office instead of local division and sub-division office.”
He said the new rule will be implemented soon for transfer and selling of private forest products through recommendation from local bodies.
Chairman of Association of Family Forestry Owners (AFFO) Nepal Jagraj Giri demanded that there should be a provision for approval from local ward to supply forest products. “Ranger should visit the field after preparing the file at Division Forest Office as the issue of area comes for while opening any factory and industry. Laws should be made practical,” said Giri.
Giri said private forests have produced up to 80-90 percent of timber.
AFFO Vice Chairperson Indira Ghimire underscored that federal, province and local bodies should prepare enact policies, laws, regulations, directives and guidelines that will be friendly for the trade and supply of private forest products.
