ANSAB
Meeting Hall
June 5, 2006
Minutes
Agenda:
Participants:
Name
Organization
Designation
Dr. Udaya Raj Sharma
Department of Forest
Director General
Dr. Hari Krishna Saiju
Department Plant Resources
Director General
Dr. Keshav Kanel
Department of Forest
Deputy Director General
Dr. Bhishma Subedi
ANSAB
Executive Director
Mr. Surya Binayee
ANSAB
Program Manager
Mr. Parbat Gurung
HBTL
Managing Director
Mr. Ram H. Subedi
ANSAB
Business Development Manager
Mr. Dinesh Paudel
NSCFP/SDC
Forestry Enterprise Expert
Ms. Dibya Gurung
SDC
Senior Program Officer
Mr. Deepak D. Khadka
BDS-MaPS
Deputy Team Leader
Mr. Bhawani Pokharel
IUCN
Senior Program Officer
Dr. Nirmal Bhattarai
ICIMOD
Consultant
Mr. Govinda Ghimire
AHP
Managing Director
Mr. Sharad Rai
Practical Action Nepal
Project Officer
Mr. Indu B. Sapkota
ANSAB
NRM/CF Manager
Mr. Rajendra Lamichhane
FECOFUN
Member-National Executive Committee
Mr. Prahlad Thapa
CECI-Sahakarya
Senior Program Coordinator
Mr. Ram Mani Dhotel
MoFSC
Planning Officer
Ms. Shova Adhikari
ANSAB
Information Officer
Mr. Shyam Badan Shrestha
Nepal Knotcraft Centre
Managing Director
Mr. Amrit L. Joshi
Forester
Mr. Rakesh Munankami
MEDEP
Consultant
Mr. Krishna Shrestha
Central Department of Botany TU
Professor
Mr. Bhaweshwar Das
SION
Promoter
Mr. Bhairab Risal
NEFEJ
Journalist
Highlights of the meeting:
NTFP Development Strategy
Nepal NTFP Network (NNN), a consortium of policy makers, NGOs/INGOs, federations, private companies and relevant stakeholders discussed the needs of the strategy for herbs and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) development in the changed socio-political context. The meeting also focused on strengthening forest users groups (FUGs) for non-timber forest products management.
The meeting formed a task force, coordinated by ANSAB that comprises of private companies, non-governmental organizations, federations and government bodies to recommend government for prioritization of NTFP in the upcoming national budget.
Highlighting the importance of implementation of policy, Dr. Udaya Raj Sharma said, ‘We have developed Herbs and NTFP policy 2061. Now the strategy should be to enforce government to make the policy enacted.’ NTFP development policy was developed through consultation from the grassroots to the different stakeholders including policy makers.
Dr. Bhishma P. Subedi, Executive Director of ANSAB briefed on the NTFP development context of Nepal. According to Dr. Subedi, enabling policy, program implementation and priority from the stakeholders should be made the basis for NTFP development strategy. Dr. Hari Krishna Sainju, Director General of Department of Plant Resources (DPR) underscored the importance of fair business.
Detailing the hurdles in registration of community based enterprises, Mr. Surya B. Binayee, Program Manager of ANSAB said, “the need is the prioritization of program and budget for the development of NTFP sector.’
Pointing out the NTFP strategy building, Mr. Indu B. Sapkota, CF/NRM manager at ANSAB said, ‘NTFP development strategy should take into account the conservation, enterprise/value addition, and marketing aspects of NTFPs.
Dr. Keshav Kanel, Deputy Director General, Community Forestry Division said, “We have operational level problem in enterprises development and NTFP management, we need integrated attempt to reduce it.”
Mr. Parbat Gurung, Chairperson of Nepal Herbs and Herbal Products Association emphasized the need of enterprise-oriented resource management and promotion of community based enterprises to enable communities to generate income.
Mr. Dinesh Paudel of NSCFP said that non-timber forest products development strategy is also concerned with enterprise policy, land policy and others. Now, we should do something concrete as the time is so enabling.
Mr. Sarad Rai of Practical Action, Mr. Gobinda Ghimire of AHI, Mr. A. L. Joshi, Mr. Rakesh Munakarmi of MEDEP shared their experiences and put forth their views regarding NTFP development strategy.
Strengthening FUGs and NTFP management
Underscoring the need of ensuring people’s rights over natural resources, Mr. Rajendra Lamichhane of FECOFUN said, ‘we all need to be changed in the changed national scenario.’ The participants suggested FECOFUN for its strategy to be focused, aligned taking into account the institutional sustainability and contribution in benefiting poor communities.
Mr. Parbat Gurung, Managing Director of HBTL emphasized democracy firstly is important in the FECOFUN. Adding on his remarks, Dr. Keshav Kanel says, legal designing should be made by communities.
Mr. Rajendra Lamichhane said all stakeholders should analyze the NTFP policy and development strategy. Dr. Keshav Kanel emphasized that FECOFUN should be clear on either they want to lead advocacy or run projects. FECOFUN should also monitor community forestry for good governance and operation. Ms. Divya Gurung of SDC said, FECOFUN’s may be organized with advocacy wing, political wing and service providers’ wing.
