Tag: forestmanagement

Mastering Chainsaw Safety

Posted on by admin

In several districts of Bagmati Province, individuals often perform chainsaw operations without formal training or guidance leading to unsafe practices and habitat destruction. Recognizing this issue, EnLiFT2/ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with the Forest Research and Training Centre (FRTC) launched a 2-day training session (16th-17th May 2024) on the “Safe Chainsaw Operation and Maintenance Program”. The training program focused on bridging the knowledge gap by providing comprehensive training on safe chainsaw operation and maintenance practices. By equipping chainsaw operators with the necessary skills and knowledge, the program seeks to ensure the safety of the operators, minimize environmental impact, improve operational efficiency, and enhance the sustainability of chainsaw use in Nepal.

A total number of 24 diverse participants from different fields (forestry workers, farmers, sawmill operators, construction workers, drivers, etc) attended the session. The first day of the session focused on “Introduction to Chainsaw Operation and Safety” where theoretical knowledge on usage, components, maintenance, and environmental considerations of chainsaw operations were discussed. Similarly, the second day aimed to enhance the participant’s theoretical knowledge through practical exercises, safety procedures, and legal & regulatory methods.

At the end of the training, participants were evaluated on their understanding and proficiency in safe chainsaw operation through written assessment and practical demonstrations. The “Safe Chainsaw Operation and Maintenance Program” has become a successful program in enhancing safety awareness among chainsaw operators from the Bagmati province, developing their technical skills, and emphasizing the importance of responsible and sustainable practices!

Policy dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of forest enterprise

Posted on by admin

Attaining prosperity from forestry is one of the pressing policy priorities in the forestry sector of Nepal. With the new local government system in place, there are ample opportunities to support community forests and local farmers in promoting forest-based enterprises. However, there are still gaps pertinent to the financial, technical, and policy aspects of FBEs in Nepal.

With an aim to develop a common understanding on the issue and identify ways forward to promote FBEs, ForestAction Nepal in support of the Australian Aid, conducted a local government-level policy dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of forest enterprises in Chautara, Sindhupalchok, on October 1, 2023. Diverse stakeholders from local government (wards, municipalities), the Department of Cottage and Small Industries (Gharelu), technicians, researchers, NGO (Forest Action Nepal), furniture entrepreneurs, Lapsi entrepreneurs, media and outreach, etc. were actively engaged to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and ways out for forest enterprise development.

Some of the key takeaway messages from the policy dialogue are as follows:

● Unhealthy international competition should be checked and addressed by our existing trade related policies to create a safe and competitive business environment.

● A single-enterprise registration agency is crucial to avoid tedious process of registration.

● An effective monitoring system and the formation of a separate task team would be crucial to check the operation and overall status of the enterprises registered under them.

● Policy, legal reform for the better governance of the enterprises sector

● A system of laws, rules, processes, and stakeholders, together with their respective roles and norm should be brought together by the business institutional framework to further shape the socioeconomic activities of the entrepreneur.

● Capacity development and skill training to identify opportunities, set goals, and develop strategies to ensure that forest resources are used effectively and efficiently.

● Business Promotion Services to gain the national and international recognition

● Prioritizing on ergonomic aspects by implementing the insurance and workers safety gears while working

 

 

Forest fire management in Nepal: Status, emerging challenges and response strategies

Posted on by admin

Forest fire pose threats to the ecosystem and human lives every year in Nepal. The problem is exacerbated with rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and prolonged droughts. Despite efforts from multiple agencies, forest fire remains a threat due mainly to high accumulation of fuel load in the forests and poor forest management practices. This calls for effective forest fire management strategies with a combination of prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery measures. In this backdrop, ForestAction Nepal in collaboration with Nepal Forester’s Association (NFA), Global Institute of Interdisciplinary Studies (GIIS), and Institute for Study and Development Worldwide (IFSD) organized a half day dialogue to identify key gaps and challenges pertinent to forest fire management in Nepal.

Some key takeaways from the dialogue are:

– With changing patterns and intensity, it is important to understand the forest fire dynamics to reduce the hazards.

– In recent years, local communities are losing interest and motivation in getting involved in extinguishing forest fire in nearby community forests. Though several reasons can be attributed to this, the primary factor has been increasing regulatory requirements for the user groups to acquire timber and other benefits from the forest.

– Declining interest and involvement of user groups in forest management activities has resulted in high deposition of burning materials/biomass in the forests, thus triggering the risk of fire. This demands for a radical rethinking on the use of forest biomass.

– While technological innovations have proven to be effective in some cases, policies and strategies should largely focus on engaging community institutions and their participation in management of forest fire in Nepal. In addition, adequate focus should be laid on reducing risks of communities who get involved in forest fire management.

– While problems and issues pertinent to forest fire in Nepal are largely understood, prioritizing research and piloting will provide a solid ground for scaling out strategies and options for forest fire management.

Click here to download the event report

©2024 ForestAction Nepal. All Rights Reserved