KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to expand the use of modern technology in sustainable forest management and forest fire prevention.
The issue was discussed between officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment and representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the presence of Minister Gita Chaudhary.
According to ministry spokesperson Dr Maheshwar Dhakal, the discussions focused on managing Nepal’s forests not only for conservation but also as sustainable and economically productive resources.
The government plans to increase domestic timber production to reduce reliance on imported wood while creating more employment opportunities through the forestry sector.
Officials also discussed establishing a revolving fund for sustainable forest management and promoting private-sector and public-private-community partnerships.
The use of drones, artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tracking systems in forest management, timber collection and monitoring has been identified as a priority.
For forest fire prevention, the ministry is also considering an integrated national early-warning system and risk mapping using AI and satellite technology.
Officials stressed shifting from a response-based approach to greater emphasis on prevention and preparedness. The discussions also covered strengthening the capacity of communities and forest personnel, along with providing them with necessary safety equipment, communication technology and vehicles.
The initiative aims to combine forest conservation with sustainable use of forest resources, increased domestic timber production and technology-driven forest management.
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