Government's plan to cut foreign timber imports nears final stage

Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Geeta Chaudhary has said the government's action plan to increase domestic timber production and consumption, aimed at reducing foreign timber imports, is in the final stage of preparation.

She shared this information on Friday while monitoring the Tilaurakot Partnership Forest in Kapilvastu, the country's first partnership forest.

According to Minister Chaudhary, the plan is meant to end the situation where timber is brought in from abroad even as wood rots and hollows out, going to waste, in the country's own forests.

She said the government's policies and programs for the current fiscal year already include provisions to increase the production and use of domestic timber.

The minister said she had set out on the observation visit to study places where import substitution has succeeded, so those lessons can be incorporated into policy.

She added that increasing the production and consumption of domestic timber, alongside sustainable forest management, remains a government priority.

During the visit, the minister also observed sustainable forest management practices based on a consumer-group promotion system.