ILAM, July 20: Kusum Dahal, a local of Maijogmai rural municipality-1, has shown his exemplary deeds in nurturing private forest and drawing income along with public recognition. 

Recently Kusum has been honoured with the Private Forest National Award' for his activism in the protection of private forest. He has been active in promoting private forest registration in Ilam. 

The Forest Ministry annually gives away this award to an individual in recognition of special contribution for forest development and protection. It carries a purse of Rs 75,000. 
He has his private forest over 47 Ropanis of land at Pyang. He has generated millions of rupees from the sale of forest-based products such as Uttis and Malato. 

He had planted several species of plants in the forest including Okhar, Pipli, Mauwa Uttis, Katus, Dhupisalla and Siltimur. Every plant has its number in the private forest. He also produces cardamom which is a very good source of income from the forest. 

Dahal's efforts for managing forests have received accolade in the district. He is happy for gaining recognition and popularity for doing different work. 

On the occasion of the national award distribution ceremony, he said, "The forest of Ilam district has become an example in the area of forest preservation". 

The district forest office has also been extending support in registering private forest so as to encourage people in forest nurturing. According to the Ilam District Forest Office, there are so far 47 private forest in Ilam district. 

District Forest Officer Bharat Babu Shrestha shared that a private forest network has been established for the protection of private forests in Ilam which is doing effective works to that end. Dahal is the treasurer of the network. RSS 

 
• forest management