KATHMANDU, March 8:  An umbrella organization of family forest owners has urged the government to entrust local bodies to deal with registration and renewal of family forest owners.

The request from the umbrella organization, Association of Family Forest Owners Nepal (AFFON), comes after the government empowered District Division Offices to deal with the family forests.

Issuing a resolution after holding their sixth establishment day of family forests owners have demanded that the local bodies be empowered to register family forest owners and oversee them not the district division offices.

“Bringing family forest owners under the division office is regression of federalism,” said Jog Raj Giri, president of AFFON, “We want government should encourage family forest owners to promote green economy for unemployed youths.”

Established in 2015 aimed at promoting economic transpiration of family forest farmers through sustainable management of family forests AFFON has expanded its organizations in 60 districts.

Over 8000 family forests are united under this organization. Forest owners complained although the constitution has ensured people’s right to property they are deprived of selling forest products due to legal complexities.

They blamed the government was importing timbers worth billions rupees annually logs produced by family forests remain decayed in their private forests.

 
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