PARSA: Forest encroachment has become a growing issue in Parsa district, with a total of 468 hectares of forest area being encroached upon across three partnership forests and their surrounding areas.
According to the Division Forest Office, the Thori, Gadimai, Vindhwasini, and Sabiya partnership forests have been the most affected. Division Forest Officer, Manjur Ahmed, attributed the encroachment to the high demand for wood driven by the district’s large population and weak forest administration.
“The Division Forest Office does not have enough staff to adequately monitor and supervise forest areas. Although we have a staff of 100 employees, only 53 are currently working,” said Ahmed.
The office is grappling with limited resources and manpower, hindering effective forest protection efforts.
A recent report from the Forest Research and Training Center revealed that the area between Thori 4 and the western side of the district has seen the most encroachment, with 200 hectares of forest lost.
The Gadimai Collaborative Forest has been encroached upon by 167.68 hectares, while other forests, including Sakhuwa Prasauni and Sabiya, have lost smaller portions to encroachment.
Despite these challenges, Ahmed emphasized the need for a collective effort to protect the district’s forests.
“Currently, the narrative is being created that protecting forests is solely the responsibility of the Division Forest Office. It is necessary for everyone to come together and play their part,” he said.
The Division Forest Office also noted that some forest areas have been encroached upon due to the construction of infrastructure, including public schools, monasteries, police barracks, army barracks, and roads.
Parsa’s total forest area spans 11,575 hectares, housing a diverse range of trees, such as sal, khair, masala, tik, simal, siso, and jamun.
However, without sufficient human resources to monitor the area, these valuable resources remain at risk.
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