The program was started with a brief introduction from all participants. Following this, attendees were familiarized with the initiatives of WRRN and UNDP, along with a project overview. Mrs. Kabita Gaire elaborated on the project’s objectives and its key focus areas within the Community Forestry User Groups (CFUGs).
During the prior visit to CFs, they were asked to explain about the key issues and challenges faced by the CFUG for proper functioning and regularized functioning of CF. During the visit for issue-based discussion, the participants were explained about the areas of concern that will be focused by the team of WRRN in future days for the preparation of Right Based Advocacy (RBA) plan. Along with this, the participants were asked to explain about the issues and some of the key issues were identified and noted down. The issues discussed during the event are enlisted below:
- Encroachment of forest area
- Shortage of raw materials due to management rules of CF
- Provision of triple taxation system
- Rules and regulations barrier for community registration for enterprise establishment
- Documentation of policy enabling condition for strengthening community forest’s resource management.
- Lack of capacity building trainings regarding financial management.
- Changing rules and regulations at national and provincial level acting as a barrier for sustainable forest management.
- Forest fire and lack of safety equipment during such disasters.
- Lack of capacity building trainings regarding forest management.
- Decreasing interest of CFUG members due to less dependency upon forest for their livelihood.
After discussing various issues, Ms. Bharati Pathak expressed her happiness for the gradual success of the Piple Pokhara CFUG in implementing effective forest management techniques, empowering women, and achieving financial stability. Since the establishment of CF and the enterprise group of Piple Pokhara, she has been acting as a witness for its success and was very happy to see how Shramjeevi Mahila Kastha Hastakala Udhyog (श्रमजीवी महिला काष्ठ हस्तकला उद्योग) is growing its market to local and national level. Along with the happiness, she expressed her sorrow for the encroachment of forest area and decrease of CFUG member’s interest towards their CF due to less dependency on forest. Ms. Aarati Pathak, at last shared about her happiness helping the respective CF in every aspect for its sustainable running and expressed her feeling of how much she was pleased with the ongoing improvements and praised all members of the CFUG members and enterprise group for their strong bonding.
