Nepal's Ministry of Forest Unveils 34-Point Action Plan for Swift Reforms in Environment and Conservation

Kathmandu. The Ministry of Forest and Environment has unveiled a 34-point 'Activities for Swift Reforms' for the current fiscal year 2082. The Ministry publicized these reform activities on Monday.

This plan aims to bring significant changes in the country's forest, environment, and biodiversity conservation. According to the publicized reform activities, the use of indigenous timber will now be mandatory in the construction of government (federal, provincial, and local) buildings. The ministry stated that this will promote the sustainable use of forest resources and national production.

In terms of environmental improvement, the use of plastic bottles will be discouraged in the Singha Durbar complex and central offices, and national standards related to air quality will be approved.

For climate change and economic benefits, the ministry has given high priority to carbon trading. The action plan mentions signing a carbon credit purchase agreement with Emergent for the sale of forest sector carbon and approving the implementation action plan for the Third National Determined Contribution.

Furthermore, the ministry is preparing to discourage the use of plastic bottles in the Singha Durbar complex and sign an agreement on carbon trading with the Government of South Korea. The action plan also includes approving an action plan for forest fire control and arranging collective accident and life insurance for consumers deployed to extinguish fires.

The ministry is also preparing to declare the Rhesus macaque and wild boar as agriculture-damaging wildlife. The action plan expresses confidence that this will help reduce crop damage.

Submitting a proposal to the Ministry of Finance to provide relief funds to those killed or injured in human-wildlife conflict, and approving the action plan for the Phewa Protected Watershed Area are also among the priorities.

The ministry has also publicized important plans such as starting laboratory testing for the promotion of the medicinal herbs sector and implementing a one-door system for research and study permits.