Meeting of federal & provincial ministers begins with agenda on forest fire control

KATHMANDU: A meeting of federal and provincial ministers has started in Kathmandu to discuss forest conservation and management.

The meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Forests and Environment, Ain Bahadur Shahi, began on Monday in Lalitpur.

Ministers overseeing forestry from all seven provinces are participating in the discussions.

According to spokesperson for the Ministry of Forests and Environment, Shiv Prasad Wagle, the meeting will address issues such as forest management, timber production, and how to ensure timber reaches citizens’ homes. Preparation to prevent forest fires will also be discussed.

He stated, “Our constitution has provisions for forest conservation under the shared jurisdiction of the federal, provincial, and local governments. There are also provisions under the exclusive jurisdiction. The cooperation and coordination between all three levels of government will be crucial for forest conservation, and this will be guided by the federal, provincial, and local interrelationship defined in Article 22 of the law. The subject committee, with the Minister of Forests as the chair and ministers from all provinces as members, will discuss various issues related to forestry and make decisions on future actions. The focus will be on managing timber, ensuring its easy sale, and delivering it to the people’s homes. Moreover, preparations to prevent forest fires and strategies to minimize their occurrence will be a key part of the discussions.”

He emphasized the importance of coordination and collaboration between all levels of government for effective forest conservation.