Forests Minister stresses on utilizing forest resources for nation’s economic prosperity

Kathmandu- Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi Thakuri, has said his ministry is working actively to link forests with country’s prosperity.

Addressing the National Policy Dialogue organized here today, he said efforts are on to connect people to prosperity by amending the laws that are an impediment to issues of public concern. The Policy Dialogue is organized in coordination of the Ministry of Forests and Environment, and with support of the Food and Agriculture Organization.

“The management of the country’s community forests with the active participation of the local people is a matter of inspiration for us,” the Forests and Environment Minister said, adding that the utilization of resources of more than 23 thousand community forests in the country has helped lift the local communities out of poverty.

He opined that the country’s journey towards economic prosperity can be made easier by increasing forest-related activities like sustainable forest management, development of forest-based enterprises, promotion of eco-tourism and carbon trading, among others.

He also stressed on ensuring the proportional representation of women, indigenous nationalities, dalits and other marginalized communities in the management and utilization of resources of the community forests.