Community forests must be linked to prosperity: UML leader Gyawali

Kathmandu, Aug. 10: Deputy General Secretary of CPN (UML), Pradeep Gyawali, has said that community forests should be connected to the country's prosperity.     

Speaking at an interaction on 'Status of Community Forests: Challenges and Possibilities' organized today by UML's Forest and Environment Department at the UML central office in Chyasal, Lalitpur, Gyawali emphasized that community forests not only benefit the local community but also contribute to the country's overall prosperity.     

While expressing the opinion that carbon trading can be done through community forests, he said, "The community has protected the forest because they find firewood and fodder. Carbon trading should be able to inspire the community by indicating that money will also come from the United Nations."     

He shed light on the extraordinary contribution of community forests in promoting community participation, maintaining balance in the global environment, and improving the citizens' standard of living.     

Dr. Naresh Subedi, member secretary of the National Nature Conservation Trust, said that the users of community forests should be linked to economic prosperity. "Developed countries have become wealthy by linking every issue with the economy," he said, "Those who protected community forests as volunteers yesterday must now become empowered and made economically prosperous." (RSS)