Editorial
Wood’s good
The government should promote and incentivise traditional occupationsDespite wood’s ubiquity—or perhaps because of it—it is not as well appreciated as it should be. Since times immemorial, we have been using it both as fuel and a construction material. Interest in wood has somewhat grown in the present era defined by sustainability, as it can be a carbon-neutral renewable resource when not used as fuel—since trees absorb carbon dioxide.
In Nepal, many rural households still rely on firewood for cooking. Urban denizens, who had probably become oblivious to the significance of wood as fuel, were crudely reminded of it by the recent blockade.
It is therefore commendable that a three-day event which began on March 21 has been organised for the first time in the country through a joint initiative by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation and the International Wood Culture Society in order to raise public awareness on the importance of wood as a valuable asset. March 21 has been celebrated every year since 2013 as World Wood Day.
President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, who inaugurated the session, said sustainable utilisation of forest products is crucial for the socio-economic development of the country. The session also displayed cultural performances by wood artists from various countries.
However, in the absence of subsequent government measures to institutionalise the promotion of wood, annual events such as these are unlikely to produce the intended results. More often than not, there is a great deal of fanfare during the events, but enthusiasm peters out soon and the promises made during the events are quickly forgotten for lack of follow-up. To prevent that, the government can, for example, start by setting up an institute to conduct research on wood products.
Perhaps a bigger challenge for the government is encouraging youths to take up woodwork as a dignified profession and retaining those for whom it is a traditional occupation. There is a growing trend among the new generation of shunning their
traditional practices for more “glamorous” careers and “greener pastures” abroad. Reversing this trend requires sustained state level efforts, both through publicity campaigns and market reforms. The skills of wood carvers and other artisans are particularly relevant to the reconstruction works in the aftermath of the Great Earthquake, which destroyed many ancient structures.
The enthusiasm shown by the British Prince Harry, who is on a five-day-long official tour of Nepal, for wood carving is appreciable and can be helpful in drawing interest in the field. He not only observed but actually tried his hand at restoring ornate wooden carving. The onus of course lies on our government to promote traditional occupations and incentivise youths to take them up.