BARDIYA: People of Govindapurb of Thakurbaba in Bardiya district have turned the deserted forest into greenery.
As the people joined hands to for the drive to control deforestation, encroachment, fire, cattle grazing and poaching, the forest started becoming dense. The movement of tigers, rhinos and elephants has increased in the Khodau community forest that is spread over an area of 186.68 hectares. The cameras installed to monitor wildlife have captured movement of two Bengal tigers as well as leopard, bluebuck, hog, rabbit, peacock and other birds and animals.
Khodau community forest is situated along the road between Nepal’s Bardiya National Park and India’s Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary. Only 30 years ago, the Khodau forest, which was home to species of big trees such as Sal and various wildlife and birds, was good. People became aware about conservation of forest and strove to control the growing deforestation triggered by political instability, migration and increasing population.
Bimala Devi Kandel, president of the community forest, informed that conservation began from 1996 by employing a guard. In 2003, the community forest was registered at the district forest office. The community forest was handed over to the users in 2005.
As the users started conserving the forest, the rate of deforestation and encroachment started declining. The forest was awarded with the best community forest of the district by Bardiya District Office. The forest was rewarded for notable conservation of three classes of trees, assistant forest officer Lallan Yadav said. On average, there are 41,967 trees per hectare in Khodau forest.
In order to control the smuggling of forest products, users have been monitoring the forest turn by turn. The local people are benefitted with grass and wood along with increasing forest. People are categorised in three classes on the basis of economic condition, namely good, middle and disadvantaged group. Among 300 households affiliated with the community forest, 70 percent users are from disadvantaged group.
The woods available from the community forest are sold to middle class at a discount rate of 50 percent. Disadvantaged group will get Rs 50 per cube feet while rich people have to pay Rs 150 per cube feet, according to Treasurer Sadhana Tharu. The cost of wood log is Rs 350 per cube feet while poor people will pay only Rs 250 for it.
Working committee of the community forest has been made inclusive with representation from Dalit, women, indigenous and Khas-Arya, among other disadvantaged communities. The chairperson, vice-chairperson and treasure are women. There are nine women and four men in the 13-member working committee. More than 50 percent of women have marked their presence in every meeting.
The woods produced from the community forest are not provided to other people, said Chaudhari. The earnings from the forest are invested in the conservation of forest and wildlife, sanitation, and salary for the guards. Two guards have been employed in the forest. Each of them is paid Rs 7,500 monthly for 14 months in a year.
Home-stay for tourists
The members of user committee have started operation of home-stays for domestic and foreign tourists along with the increase in number of wildlife and their movement. The home-stay was launched on May 6 with slogan of ‘Culture along with nature’, which was inaugurated by Minister for Forests and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet.
After observing the Khodau community forest, Minister Basnet said the locals have promoted not only the forest but also the tourism industry.
A dozen households have been operating home-stay with the support from Tarai Bhuparidhi Program. With the launch of home-stay program, the number of tourists visiting the forest has increased, said treasure Sadhana Chaudhari.
