Forest User Groups Threaten Province-Wide Protests Over Policy Stagnation

Dhangadhi. Consumer groups, who have been protecting forests for years, have warned of a strict protest that could bring the province to a standstill if their demands are not addressed.

A joint meeting of various federations and coordination committees dedicated to forest conservation has drawn the attention of the provincial government and announced a series of street protests.

The primary dissatisfaction among forest consumers centers on the government's apathy toward implementing sustainable forest management procedures. In a 24-point memorandum submitted to the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment, consumers stated that delays in implementing the Forest Act and regulations are harming forest groups. Due to the lack of procedures, they are unable to collect deadwood, causing valuable timber to rot in the forest.

While domestic timber is rotting in the forests, the country is forced to spend billions of rupees importing wood from abroad. This policy failure has left consumers feeling neglected.

Another cause of dissatisfaction is the triple taxation system. Complaints have been raised that the imposition of taxes on forest products by the federal, provincial, and local levels has made forest management burdensome.

According to Yadav Prasad Bhandari, General Secretary of the Partnership Forest Consumer Federation, double and triple taxation strikes at the very purpose of forest conservation. Therefore, consumers have demanded the abolition of the multi-layered tax system, ease in the collection and distribution of timber and firewood, and the right for forest consumer groups to independently set prices. They also insist on a policy mandating the use of domestic timber and the provision of concessional loans for operating forest-based industries.

Dandi Raj Subedi, Central General Secretary of FECOFUN, has warned that if the government ignores their demands, they will launch a protest.

According to him, the protest will begin with the submission of a memorandum on Chait 30. If demands are not met, they have planned peaceful sit-ins from Baishakh 10 to 16, and partial transport strikes from Baishakh 17 to 25. If the government remains unresponsive, the consumers are prepared for a decisive battle, including locking down government offices starting Baishakh 28 until their demands are fulfilled.

These groups, who have been advocating for clearing forest encroachments and achieving economic prosperity through sustainable forest use, have urged the government to come to the negotiating table immediately.