The unprecedented achievements of the Biden-Harris Administration for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders

The Biden-Harris Administration has made unparalleled strides in advancing equity, justice, and opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific

A young entrepreneur’s open letter to Prime Minister Oli

‘I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am a young entrepreneur, and as one

Beijing+30 review: What it means for Nepal’s women and girls with disabilities

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, abbreviated as ‘BPfA’, is the global bill of rights for women’s equality. It

How global partnership can help greener future campaign

My recent European tour reaffirmed the pivotal role international partnerships play in addressing the complex challenges facing the Hindu Kush

What’s wrong with Nepal’s Education Bill?

The School Education Bill, currently being debated in Nepali community as well as parliament, was introduced primarily to implement the

Official report shows forest encroachment widespread in Madhesh

Janakpurdham: More than 5,692 hectares of forestland has been encroached upon within the forest areas in the Madhesh Province, said an official report. 

According to the report unveiled by the Madhes Province government, the rampant forest encroachment has been attributed to weaknesses and negligence on the part of forest employees and related security agencies. There are complaints that forest employees chose only those areas capable of providing them with more facilities and benefits, leading to the rise in encroachment. 

As the Province’s Ministry of Forests said, the province has approximately 202,200 hectares of forest land, but 5,592 hectares of this land have been encroached upon in the absence of proper conservation efforts.

The report states that Saptari reports the encroachment of 7.25 hectares of forest land, while Siraha reports the encroachment of 993.14 hectares, Dhanusha 872 hectares, Mahottari 329.80 hectares, Sarlahi 164.78 hectares, Rautahat 3,190.54 hectares, Bara 0.34 hectares and Parsa 134.32 hectares. 

Forestland makes up 22.8 percent of the total area in the Madhes Province and 504 community forest areas spanning 71,369 hectares are managed as community forests.  

Likewise, 40,912.33 hectares of forest are managed as shared forests.  The number of local levels lacking the total forest coverage is 105 and of them, some 80 percent lies within the Madhesh Province. 

Eighty-nine local levels, out of 136, in the Province have no forestland. 

Various related studies show the encroachments on various national, community, shared and protected forestlands in hills, Terai, and districts in the inner Madhes. 

Chief of Directorate of Forests, Madhes Province, Jagannath Prasad Jaiswal, said efforts to stop forest encroachments are underway in a planned way, underling the need of political cooperation and commitments to meet the target. 

Experts said despite the promotion of forestation in the name of conservation efforts, measures to contain illegal deforestation, smuggling of woods, forest fire, and poaching have not been implemented effectively.  

Madhesh Province Chief Minister Satish Kumar Singh said the chiefs of district forest offices have been instructed to combat encroachment on forestlands.