Nepal’s largest block forest in Banke generates Rs. 107 million annually

By Siraj Khan,Nepalgunj, Mar. 8: Nepal's largest chakla (block) forest lies in the Banke district. According to the Division Forest Office, Banke, the Shamshergunj-Madhewas block Forest, situated in Ward Nos. 2 and 8 of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality, is the largest block forest in the country.

This forest covers an area of 2,578 hectares and serves as an exemplary model for forest conservation and sustainable management, generating significant revenue and employment. 

Senior Divisional Forest Officer Shankar Prasad Gupta of the Division Forest Office, Banke, said that the forest has been crucial for both conservation and economic benefits.

Conservation efforts within the Shamshergunj Sub-Division Forest Office jurisdiction have resulted in an annual revenue collection exceeding Rs. 107.4 million and the creation of 50,813 work hours of employment, said Gupta.

The sustainable management and conservation efforts in the forest follow scientific methods. They allow mature trees to be selectively harvested while creating an optimal environment for new trees to grow. Gupta, who visited the site in person, confirmed that new sal (Shorea robusta) trees are growing in large numbers as a result of these efforts.

To ensure proper growth, the forest has been divided into seven sections, each further divided into eight sub-sections. Each year, mature trees are selectively removed and new saplings are nurtured rotationally, ensuring continuous forest regeneration, Gupta added.

During an on-site inspection of the country’s largest block forest, Gupta said, “In the sections where conservation efforts have been carried out, young trees are thriving. However, in areas where conservation is yet to be implemented, there are fewer young trees. This proves the effectiveness of the programme and its significant contribution to forest conservation and management.”

The Shamshergunj-Madhewas Block Forest, the largest in Nepal by area, has successfully demonstrated a sustainable forest management approach. Due to its success, preparations are underway to establish the second-largest block forest in Banke, Gupta said.

Encouraged by the success in the district, the Division Forest Office in Banke is now preparing to introduce block forests in other districts as well.

Senior Forest Officer Manoj Sharma Lamsal of the Shamshergunj Sub-Division Forest Office highlighted that the conservation programme not only generates revenue from timber and firewood sales but also creates employment opportunities in tree harvesting and logging.

He further said that since the programme’s inception in the fiscal year 2016/17,  revenue of Rs. 560 million was expected to generate by 2025/26 (2082/83), employing around 20,000 people annually.

Similarly, the Shamshergunj Sub-Division Forest Office has been actively working on fire prevention measures. Firebreaks have been established to separate different sections of the forest and 17 trained fire control personnel have been deployed to mitigate the risk of forest fires, Lamsal added.

There are ongoing discussions about implementing the block forest model to conserve around 30,000 hectares of forest in Banke that are yet to be brought under formal conservation.

However, challenges such as insufficient budget, lack of manpower, illegal logging and forest fires remain significant obstacles to conservation efforts, according to the Division Forest Office, Banke.