IDEAS Insights Forest Management in Nepal | Page 8

According to the above model, Nepalese forest resources will collapse within 100 years if
current timber harvesting per capita rates are continued. As Nepal recovers, policy should
restrict timber harvesting to 0.1ha/person annually. This rate is conducive to sustainable
forest management.
It must, however, be noted that forestry contribution to national GDP is significant,
composing 15% of national GDP at present.
Productive forests in Terai districts are
significant not only for forest industries, but also sustaining rural communities.
Tradeoffs between resource sustainability and cost will drive post-earthquake recovery.

Provided our assumptions are accurate, forest fires hazards have proven to be minor, with
temperature having little impact. This parameter may be more relevant in other
earthquake-prone regions. To improve efficiency, community-based solutions against
forest fires may be more beneficial than centrally-governed patrols.

Production and utilization:
 To manage and utilize the basic priority products of fuelwood, fodder, timber, and
medicinal plants
 To manage forestry with the participation of nearby communities
Conservation of ecosystems and genetic resources:
 To be managed and utilized according to their ecological capability, so as to
conserve the forests, soil, water, flora, fauna and scenic beauty
Role of the private sector:
 To establish private forests on leased and private land to be promoted.
 Governmental land leases to forest-based enterprises for growing raw materials.
 New industries to be established only if plans for the production and acquisitions of
raw materials are accepted by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation.
For sustainable growth, the government should set restrictions for each community based
on their population and forest stock and endeavor to lower the harvesting rate to
0.1ha/capita. The government should also take practical economic consideration into
account to ensure the reconstruction and the forestry sector both grow sustainably.