27 August 2003

Royalty being reviewed

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"HMG/N has already initiated the review of the provision to levy 40 percent royalty on the sales of NTFPs by Community Forest Users Groups", said Dr.Keshav Kandel, Deputy Director General at Department of Forest. Dispelling the doubts that the government is not serious to take the initial success of Community Forest Users Groups, he said HMG is committed to make community forest program a model for the whole world. He made this statement at GCP Enterprise Based Bio-resources, Review and Planning Workshop organized by Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio-resources (ANSAB) at Nepalgunj today.

Addressing the program, Mr. Bhishma P. Subedi, Executive Director, ANSAB, thanked all the stakeholders making the enterprise based sustainable bio-resources conservation program a success, despite several hardships. "The GCP program has developed itself as a role model", he said. He further added, "Sustainable Bio-resources Conservation and enterprise development through participation of the community is indeed a major accomplishment".

The five years long GCP program is implemented by ANSAB in Mugu, Humla, Jumla, Dolpa and Bhajang, and is running in the fourth year. About six thousand households directly get benefit from the natural resource based enterprises. Furthermore, the program has helped to develop capacity of 53 community forest users groups covering 30,000 hac.

On the occasion, Regional Forest Director, Diwakar Pandey commended the achievements made by CGP program in sustainable bio-resource conservation and improving the livelihoods of the rural people in the Himalyan region.

USAID representative Mr. Shree Bindu Bajhracharya stressed the need of the participation of I/NGOs for the continuance of such programs in the future.

Former MP Arjun Jung Badhur Singh and Mr. Gagan Badhur Singh, chairperson of FECOFUN Bajgang District also highlighted the role of community participation for sustainable bio-resource conservation.

70 participants including former MPs, former DDC chairpersons representatives from FEOFUN, HJSS and I/NGOs attended the program.

The workshop reviewed and approved work plan for the GCP implemented districts for next year.

Nepaljung August 27, 2003 Information and Communication Unit Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio-resources (ANSAB) Ph: 449 7547, 447 841 Fax: 447 6586