Ms. Aarati Pathak officially started the program my welcoming all the participants and handing over the printouts listing all the suggestions collected from the various stakeholders that were presented to parliamentarians in previous dialogue programs. She then explained each suggestion, along with the context behind its inclusion. She also shared additional suggestions from the member of Provincial Assembly with the journalists present. The program was organized with the intention that journalists could amplify the voices of stakeholders and help foster broader discussions on the subject in relevant forums.
Ms. Aarati Pathak emphasized the key points that should be communicated to both the public and lawmakers in order to further stimulate discussion on this issue. She noted that this dialogue will hopefully contribute to the development of a Forest Act that truly benefits local communities. Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, who live near forests both conserve and utilize these resources in a sustainable manner. However, in doing so, they must comply with numerous laws and regulations. While these laws are often supportive, at times they create challenges in the operation and management of Community Forests and forest-based enterprises. Stakeholders have therefore expressed concern that the Forest Act contains several unnecessary provisions, which should be carefully reviewed and filtered out during the amendment process.
After Ms. Aarati Pathak finished the explanations, program went in interactive course where journalists were freely sharing their opinions and asking related questions. Mr. Bibash Adhikari shared his experience from a conversation with a community forest member, where he learned that many community forests are currently inactive, as they have not been renewing their Community Forest Operational Plans. He further noted that the relevant organizations appear indifferent to whether these forests remain functional or not. At present, neither the Community Forest User Groups nor the relevant organizations, have been actively addressing this issue, and there is little to no communication between the two. As a result, a significant number of community forests, out of roughly 200, are in an inactive state. He emphasized that the responsibility lies not only with the government but also with the user groups, both of whom have shown a lack of initiative and concern in this matter. During his conversation with a CFUG representative, he learned that timber sales were very low. He then questioned whether the current sales modality might be creating difficulties in this regard.
After, Mr. Bibash Adhikari shared his thoughts and experience, Ms. Aarati Pathak brought up a topic of discussion that had come up at the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The problem was that people from wards without community forests wanted to join CFUGs in other wards. The Ministry viewed this as a good practice, but CFUG members opposed it. This is now a conflicting topic that requires explicit treatment in the Forest Act.
Finally, Chairperson of Federation of Nepali Journalists, Makwanpur, Mr. Baal Krishna Adhikari, expressed his thoughts on the subject. He emphasized the importance of enacting laws that benefit targeted groups, particularly IPLCs, and praised WRRN’s outstanding work in this area. Referring to the newly presented Bagmati Province Forest Bill, he emphasized that the Forest Act should be practical, ensuring both forest protection and sustainable use. He emphasized the importance of listening to all stakeholders, including disadvantaged groups, and ensuring their inclusion in leadership positions. Mr. Adhikari also advocated for women’s leadership. However, based on his community experience, he discovered that women are frequently given positions but do not actively participate in discussions or decision-making. He advised against imposing such provisions firmly, instead arguing that leadership positions should be filled by people who are both capable and genuinely interested, regardless of gender or social class.
He, then, concluded his remarks by pledging to continue advocating and writing about these issues. All of the participants agreed that the suggestions were valid and that more action was required.
