The Association of Family Forest Owners Nepal (Affon) has set a 11-point demand to government for improving the availability, access and sustainable utilisation of forest resources.

On the occasion of its first anniversary, Affon on Monday demanded the government to facilitate collection, cutting, transportation, sale and consumption of forest products and resources from forests that are owned by an individual family or group of families.

Affon has also demanded the government to take steps to encourage the use of local forest resources and cut down the dependence on imported forest resources; ensure representation of private forestry sector in the body that formulates forest-related policies and programmes; facilitate the market access of

both timber and non-timber products as well as medicinal plants; and prevent the use of privately held forest land for plantation of tree species without first conducting a study.  

“There is a need of creating a conducive environment and favourable policies to institutionalise private forestry that has contributed a lot to forest management and development,” Affon President Jog Raj Giri said.

Affon was formed a year ago with the aim of enhancing the forest coverage as well as its sustainable management.

It is estimated that family forestry has a potential in over 3.6 million hectares of land in the country.