It has been over a year since the furniture production unit of Tsangchhu Community Forest in Jigme Chhoeling Gewog of Sarpang remained under lock and key. It was initially set up for value addition of the wood products harvested from the forest and to enhance the members’ income opportunities.
The furniture production unit of Tsangchhu Community Forest Group in Samkhar chiwog was set up in 2013. Since then it contributed around Nu 70,000 to the Group. But following the review of the community forest’s management in September 2019, the unit stopped operating.
The gewog’s forest ranger said the community forest, as well as the furniture unit, could not be handed back to the members immediately after the review due to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Moreover, there were some issues to resolve regarding the unit’s management. Its machines also required maintenance.
As per the Community Forest Management Plan, community forests are reviewed after every 10 years.
The quality of furniture produced by them was not up to the mark which impacted their business. So now, we plan to improve the management of the community forest as well as the fabrication unit,” said Sangay Wangchuk, the Forest Ranger at Jigme Chhoeling Gewog in Sarpang.
Now, with the maintenance of the machines complete, the unit is expected to resume operation from next month.
Currently, Tsangchhu Community Forest Group has 13 members with a total of 400 acres of forest under its management.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
