FECOFUN and RRI Collaborator ForestAction Nepal will jointly present an interaction program in Kathmandu. The main objective of this conference is to analyze the present status of forest restructuring while Nepal is in the process of drafting its new constitution" and to discuss strategies for the future. More than 50 participants are expected to attend" including key stakeholders working in the forestry sector" policy-makers" government officials" forestry experts" and Civil Society representatives. Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Yuba Raj Bhusal and members of the National Planning Commission are also expected to attend.

Event Proceedings

Ghan Shyam Pandey" Chairperson of the Federation of Community Forest Users" Nepal (FECOFUN) will facilitate the program. Forestry experts Dr. Naya Sharma Paudel and Dr. Hemanta Ojha" both of ForestAction" will summarize their papers "Forest Restructuring: Present Status and Future Strategy" "Issues and Policies" and "Analysis of 3-year Interim Plan and Review of Forest Policies"" respectively. Other participants will include Dr. Ganga Ram Dahal" RRI Asia Regional Facilitator; Dr.Yam Malla" Executive Director" The Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC); Dr. Dinesh Devkota" Nepal National Planning Commission; and Dr. Keshav Kandel" Nepal forestry expert. 

Conclusions

Below are some of Dr. Ganga Ram Dahal's major concluding points on overall program issues:

• There exists both a need for structural change in government authorities" and economic" social" political and cultural change in the country as a whole
• Nepal's forestry sector is gradually recognizing the participation of Civil Society" but it has not made adequate efforts to reduce poverty
• The need for forest restructuring is not merely a response to political change and the new constitution" but also a revolutionary need that will be essential to good governance
• Restructuring efforts must be made by the Ministry and all stakeholders in the sector" including donors
• Forest policy should focus on increasing forest productivity" sustainable forest development" and equitable and justifiable distribution of wealth
• There should be good coordination among all stakeholders" including inter-sector coordination between government agencies
• Forest structure should be entrepreneur-oriented" so that the sector can better address poverty issues
• The new constitution should guarantee community ownership and rights over natural resources
• The new forest structure should clearly define the roles of different stakeholders" including government" the private sector" and Civil Society. Government should provide necessary services in addition to enabling and regulating stakeholders' roles. 
• A mechanism should be developed which recognizes the role of Civil Society stakeholders" in addition to defining it
• Restructuring should also focus on being eco-friendly and inclusive" in consideration of the overall landscape of the country
• Government accountability" including viewpoints and opinions of other sectors" should be increased" and the entity of political influence should be structurally discouraged
• If all of the above points are duly considered" Nepal can expect a more effective and efficiently structured forestry sector.