A Brief History of Forest Management in Nepal

1. A Brief History of Forest Management in Nepal
(NRM 601: Sustainable Forest Management)
Presented To
Faculty of Forestry
Agriculture and Forestry University
Presenter
Anil Koirala
M.Sc. Forestry
Enroll no: 2/075
Agriculture and Forestry University
1
“Forestry for Prosperity”

2. Outline
2
 Introduction
 Objective
 Methodology
 Finding and
Discussion
 Conclusion
 References

3. Introduction
• “xl/of] jg g]kfnsf] wg” (Green Forests are the wealth of Nepal)”
has been a very popular slogan in Nepal and to some extent a
reality as well (Kafle, 2005).
• Forestry is an integral part of the rural livelihood of Nepal
(Amatya, 2013) and it covers 44.74% of the total land area of
Nepal (DFRS, 2015).
• Forest management is defined in the glossary of technical
terms as, “The practical application of scientific, technical &
economic principle of forestry to maintain and manage the
sustainability of forest”. 3

4. Objectives
 To know the brief history of forest management in
Nepal.
4

5. Methodology
Secondary data
 Different journals, literature, research articles, thesis
reports
 Websites, Newspapers and other related materials
from different sources
5

6. Historical Overview of Forest Management
Rana Regime
Nationalization of Forests
Forest Protection Act and
Panchayat Forests
Sustainable/Scientific
Forest Management
Master Plan for Forestry
Sector
First democratic
movement
Forest Act and Regulation
CBFM as a priority
•Focused on Exploitation
and state Control
Focused on Participation,
Conservation and
Protection
Experience on block
forest management through
OFMP in Terai
Forest Policy 2000 with
CFM
GoN vision on “Forestry
for Prosperity” and piloted
SFM in Terai
SFM Guideline 2014
6
Finding and Discussion

7. History of Forest Management in Nepal
Categorized in 6 phases, according to the major changes in
forest management with time.
7
Phase Year A.D.
First Before 1926A.D.
Second 1927-1960 A.D.
Third 1961-1977 A.D.
Fourth 1978-1990 A.D.
Fifth 1990 -2010 A.D.
Sixth After 2010A.D.
B.S.
Before 1983 B.S.
1984-2017 B.S.
2018-2034 B.S.
2035-2047 B.S
2047-2067 B.S
After 2067 B.S

8. First Phase (Before 1926A.D. /1983 B.S)
• Little knowledge on forest management
• Landlord forest area(eg. Patwari, Mukhiya, Zimmawal,
in Nepali)
• Forest Land were given as reward to the officials by the
name of Birta, Guthi, Keepat.
• Land use policy in the hills “Conversion of land from
forest to agricultural”
8
Continue….

9. Continue….
Second Phase (1927-1960 A.D /1984-2017 B.S)
• In 1927 Kath Mahal office was established to work on forest.
• Started exporting timber to India with the aim of government to
sale timber to India for income.
• In 1947, Forest Institute was established to train mid-level
technician, By 1950 about one-third of the total forest and
cultivated lands were under Birta tenure and, of that 75%
belong to members of the Rana family (Regmi, 1978). 9

10. • In 1957, Government Declare all forest of Nepal as National Forest
under National Forest Privatization Act 1957.
• Rural people reacted to the 1957 legislation by destroying the
indigenous forest management system.
10
Continue….

11. Third Phase(1961-1977 A.D /2018-2034 B.S)
• Forest Act, 1961 provisioned.
• Establishment of TCN to supply the timber, fuel wood to the
industry and to individual.
• Lack of Forest Technicians “According to HMG(1986) there
were only five or six trained professional foresters in the
country at that time.”
• In 1969 AD 14 circles in each zone and 75-district forest office
were established. 11
Continue….

12. • Only 7 circle and 22-district forest office could be
implemented.
• Institute of Forestry was kept under the umbrella of T.U.
in 1973.
• National Park and wildlife conservation Act 1973
12
Continue….

13. Fourth Phase (1978-1990 A.D/2035-2047 B.S)
• Panchyat Forest and Panchyat Protected Forest,
Religious forest and Protected Forest etc were
categories.
• In 1978 community forestry was started.
• Master Plan for Forestry Sector 1988/89 was prepared
and implemented.
• Master Plan for forestry Sector (MPFS) has emphasizes
community forestry as a major program.
13
Continue….

14. Fifth Phase (1990 -2010 A.D./ 2047-2067 B.S)
• In 1993, the government formulates New Forest Act 1993 and
Regulation 1995
• Two broad category of forest based on the ownership of land
i.e. National forest and Private forest.
• National Forest Divided into Five sub-division (i.e. Community
Forest, Leasehold Forest, Religious Forest, Protected Forest,
Government Managed Forest) 14
Continue….

15. Sixth Phase (After 2010A.D./ 2067 B.S)
• Collaborative Forest Management Guideline 2068
• Forest policy 2071 was prepared
• Scientific forest Management Guideline 2071
• Forest Carbon Measurement Guideline 2071
• Forest Decade Program (2072-82)
• Forest Sector strategy 2016-25
• National Forest Policy 2075 was prepared
15
Continue….

16. • Structural reformation of Ministry of Forest and
Environment following the federal system
• Fourteen Plan ( 2073/74-2075/76 B.S)
– Sustainable and versatile forest resource management
– Biodiversity and wetland conservation
– Sustain watershed and Green employment through
forest resources
– Ecotourism development
– Increase forest resource development through
sustainable forest management
– Climate change mitigation & Chure conservation
– Integrated watershed conservation and management
16
Continue….

17. Administrative History of Nepal
1927
• Establishment of Kathmahal
1942-60
• Establishment of DFO with “3 circles and 12
Banjanch”
• Establishment of 2 circles and 44 Ranges
• Establishment of Ministry of Forest
17

18. Administrative History of Nepal
1960-70
• Establishment of TCN
• Establishment of 14 circles and 75 DFOs but 7
circles, 22 divisions and “Pradhan Ban Karyala”
were effective
1970-80
• 9 circles and 40 Divisions covering 75 district
18

19. Administrative History of Nepal
1980-90
• Establishment of 5 Regional Directorates and 75
DFO offices.
1990-2017
• 5 Regional Directorates (MFSC) and 74 DFOS
Now
• In 7 province 84 Division Forest Office
528 Sub-division.
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20. Conclusion
• People's participation in forest management has been
widely accepted in legal as well as policy level.
• Community forestry has changed a lot in forest
conservation and greenery development in rural areas.
• The GoN has developed policies and institutional
instruments to materialize the forest management
strategies accordingly (Khatri et al, 2015; Bamton et al,
2007).
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21. References
• Amatya, S.M., 2013. Financing for Sustainable Forests Management in
Nepal. INDUFOR, Auckland, New Zealand. Available on:
http://www.un.org/esa/forests/ pdf/facilitative-
process/Nepal_study.pdf, Accessed on 12th July 2016.
• Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), 2016.
Sustainable Forest Management., Available on:
http://www.fao.org/forestry/sfm/85084/en/ accessed on 5 June, 2019.
• Khatri, D.B., Gotame B. and Bishwokarma, D. 2015. Harmonizing Science
and Democracy: Review of Recent Initiative of Nepal’s Forest
Department on Forest Management. ForestAction Nepal, Multi
Stakeholder Forestry Programme, Satdobato, Lalitpur, Nepal.
• MSFP 2016. Scientific Forest Management Initiatives in Nepal. MSFP
experiences and lesson learnt. Multi Stakeholder Forestry
Programme Kathmandu, Nepal.
• Internet explorer of related websites of IoF, DoF, DFRS, DNPWC and MoFE on 5
June 2019
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22. Suggestions
and
Feedbacks
are heartily Welcome
Thank You All for
your patience