Challenges in forest conservation persist amid efforts of Koshi Province government

By Hari Prasad Koirala,Urlabari, June 4: After implementing the federal republican system in the country, although provincial governments were constituted, there was a long-standing lack of legislation. 

Provincial governments operate based on federal laws and regulations. Following the Forest Act, the Ministry of Tourism, Forests, and Environment of Koshi Province has initiated policy reforms by issuing the Forest Regulation 2023 (2080). This has facilitated progress in previously stalled works due to the absence of laws and regulations.

According to Indra Mani Bhandari, head of the Koshi Province Forest Directorate, introducing forest regulations has made it easier to develop new strategic plans for forest area conservation, forest seed gardens, and forest research. 

Previously, any initiated work would face legal complexities due to the lack of regulations. Now, the process of managing hazardous trees has become simpler, and it is possible to develop forest areas through natural regeneration and tree plantation on vacant lands. Earlier, the lack of laws and regulations had made it difficult to utilise the forest land.

The regulations, introduced through the initiative of former Minister of Tourism, Forests, and Environment Ganesh Upreti, have simplified legal complexities. Community forests can now develop eco-tourism through partnerships with local governments and the private sector. 

In community-managed forest areas, it is possible to focus on herbal development and income generation for citizens below the poverty line. The burdensome legal obstacles for private forest registration have been removed, and the necessity to wait years to remove trees affected by development projects has ended.

The regulations have paved the way for the distribution of relief for damage caused by wildlife. They have also facilitated the operation of wildlife hospitals and rescue centres, the management of wildlife corridors, and the resolution of human-wildlife conflicts. 

Similarly, the regulations provide for watershed and wetland management, the management of river-based substances in forest areas, environmental service payments, and the establishment of a Provincial Forest Development Fund, thus contributing to better forest management in Koshi Province. A coordination committee will be established in each district to address the major issue of forest encroachment.

Forest status and production in Koshi

Koshi has 1.133 million hectares of forest area across its 14 districts, with Sankhuwasabha having the largest area at 192,000 hectares. The government has introduced six different programmes for forest management. The first programme involves community forests, with 3,700 community forests managing and conserving 580,106 hectares of forest, benefiting 532,956 households.

Leasehold forests manage and conserve 4,191 hectares, benefiting 8,914 households across 981 leasehold forests. Two organisations manage 113.6 hectares of leasehold forest area.

Additionally, 44 religious forests manage 82.08 hectares, 2,038 private forests cover 2,015.39 hectares, one block forest covers 3,575 hectares, and the Salleri National Forest in Dhankuta covers 43.73 hectares.

The concept of partnership forests has emerged in recent years. Koshi Province has four partnership forests in Morang, covering 7,161.76 hectares and benefiting 134,372 households in the southern region of Morang.

Two national parks, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, and Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, are also located in Koshi Province.

Wood production over three fiscal years

In fiscal year 2020/21, Koshi Province produced 14.665 million cubic feet of wood. Of this, government-managed forests produced 128,013 cubic feet, community forests produced 1.429 million cubic feet, partnership forests produced 8,988 cubic feet, and private forests produced 13.098 million cubic feet.

In the fiscal year 2021/22, government-managed forests produced 203,035 cubic feet, community forests produced 521,711 cubic feet, partnership forests produced 15,546 cubic feet, and private forests produced 15.067 million cubic feet.

In the fiscal year 2022/23, government forests produced 104,955 cubic feet, community forests produced 1.877 million cubic feet, partnership forests produced 4,912 cubic feet, and private forests produced 22.197 million cubic feet, totalling 24.185 million cubic feet of wood.

Forests supporting provincial revenue

If properly managed, forests can become a major source of government revenue. According to Bishal Ghimire, Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Forests, and Environment, outdated laws and policies have been a hindrance. 

He said, “We have abundant resources, but we have not been able to utilise them due to outdated laws and policies.” 

He said that the forest regulations have opened up avenues for improvement, but much work remains to be done. Revenue from forests has significantly increased over the past three years and is expected to double.

Forest revenue

According to the Koshi Province Forest Directorate, revenue from forests amounted to Rs. 459.642 million in fiscal year 2020/21, Rs. 583.588 million in 2021/22, and Rs. 819.884 million in 2022/23. Community forest income is spent within the community, with 10 per cent of the total income being deposited with the local government, thus contributing to government revenue.

Challenges abound Diminishing grass and shrub species

Grass species in the national and community forests of eastern Morang are declining. Goat-rearing farmers cut young shrubs before they mature, leading to a decline in grass species. Human encroachment on fruits and tender grass shoots has increased, impacting wildlife. 

Species such as sal (Shorea robusta), tatri (Stereospermum chelonoides), kusum (Schleichera oleosa), kumbhi (Careya arborea) and banjara, and wild mango have almost disappeared over the past decade. Shrubs like kutmiro (Indian gooseberry), auliya (Bauhinia), and Golden bamboo are now endangered.

The jungle has fruit-bearing plants and trees such as Fadir, Jamun, Harro, Barro, Kumbhi, Saj, Tantari, Kusum, Angeri, Damaifal, Banakera, and Banapple are disappearing. When forest resources become scarce, animals like monkeys, deer, and wild boars venture closer to human settlements.

Man Bahadur Giri, 58, of Kanepokhari-7 said that in the Kanepokhari-Letang area of Morang, previously common species like Rani Kusum and Saj are now rare. Tantari and Kumbhi are also gradually disappearing from the area, he added.

Giri said, “When pastures encroach into the jungle, plants like Kusum and Fadir are eaten. Now, they are gone. After the campaign to rear livestock began, the cutting of small trees has led to the disappearance of these plants.”

Water sources drying up

Uncontrolled extraction of sand and gravel from rivers in Morang and Jhapa is causing riverbeds to deepen, reducing water levels in fields and increasing soil erosion and flood risk. The drying up of natural water sources in forests and marshlands is a concerning consequence.

Pollution and forest fires

The establishment of asphalt plants near forests has increased air pollution. A lack of forest staff and weak community forest structures have led to more frequent forest fires. Waste disposal in forests is becoming a problem, as local governments fail to establish permanent dumping sites, leading to forest degradation.

Insecurity for wild animals within forest

Human encroachment on dense forests has made wildlife habitats unsafe. Community forest policies that only protect specific trees like sal, karma, and asna have further endangered these habitats. Continuous human activity in the forest for various resources makes it difficult for wild animals to thrive.

Wildlife poaching and trafficking have increased. In fiscal year 2020/21, poachers were caught with a blue bull and two chitals. Wildlife straying into human settlements is common, as seen with incidents in Rangeli-3 and Biratnagar Airport.

The lack of proper management has led to human-wildlife conflicts, resulting in fatalities. In fiscal year 2020/21, three people died from wildlife attacks. The number increased to five in 2021/22 and nine in 2022/23, including two foreigners. In the current fiscal year, 11 people, including one foreigner, have died due to wildlife attacks in the province.

According to Agni Paudel, Secretary of the Federation of Community Forests of Province 1, if forests are for humans, then wild animals are left with no fruit-bearing plants to consume. “It is not just the big trees that are cut down, small shrubs, which serve as habitats for wildlife conservationists, are also being used,” he said.

“Plants have also been cleared under various campaigns. Sometimes, campaigns to produce firewood have destroyed small shrubs, and at other times, under the guise of scientific forest management, we've seen the cutting of creepers,” he added.

According to Paudel, the fruit-bearing plants that monkeys used to feed on are now absent in the jungle. So, monkeys and other wild animals are increasingly encroaching upon human settlements and highways.

According to wildlife expert Dr. Sabina Koirala, the natural habitats of monkeys have been encroached upon, leading them to roam around human settlements. Monkeys, including langurs, macaques, leopards, tigers, foxes, and hyenas, have started venturing into villages. “The understanding that forests consist only of large trees like Sal, Karma, and Asna has disturbed the environmental balance,” he added.

Forests stretch from Belbari in Morang to both the northern and southern sectors of the East-West Highway, serving as the primary habitat for various wildlife species such as monkeys, deer, leopards, bears, foxes, and tigers. Unfortunately, there are no wildlife overpasses or underpasses in these forests, leading to frequent animal crossings and subsequent accidents. 

So, numerous wild animals lose their lives, with many others sustaining injuries. On average, at least one animal perishes every week due to such incidents in this region.

Government efforts in forest conservation

The Forest Directorate under the Ministry of Tourism, Forests, and Environment of Koshi Province has carried out tree plantations on 440.5 hectares over the past three years. In the fiscal year 2020/21, around 4 million saplings were produced for plantation. Similarly, in the fiscal year 2021/22, 4.3 million seedlings were produced, and in 2022/23, 2.9 million saplings were produced and planted. 

The Directorate, led by Chief Indramani Bhandari, has been organising extensive tree-planting programmes aimed at expanding forest areas, reforesting riverbanks, and integrating local communities into income-generating activities.

Community forests are running ecotourism programmes to attract domestic tourists. In Morang, seven community forests have developed picnic spots, boating facilities, and children's parks. 

In Sunsari, nine community forests have done the same. Similarly, in Udayapur, five community forests have created such recreational sites. 

Other districts have also followed this including Ilam with two, Dhankuta with three, Tehrathum with three, Sankhuwasabha with one, Taplejung with one, and Jhapa with 23 community forests developing picnic spots and other tourist attractions.