Many communities in Samtse are showing keen interest in Community Forestry. The Dzongkhag has approved 35 Community Forests covering over 2,500 hectare since 2007.
A resident of Samtse, Khem Raj, said the people have understood the advantage of Community Forests. He said they also are taking the projects up to safeguard the natural resources. “We are concerned about the environmental impact if we lose our resources.”
Another resident who also heads the Janam Janam Community Forest, Om Prasad Ghalley, said there is also a monetary gain. “The money we collect is loaned out to our members. If they are sick and have no money to meet the medical expenses, we give it to them.”
He also said they are expecting to make Nu.2 million from their 113 hectare area. This is after the compensation of Nu.1.8 million Bhutan Power Corporation has promised to them for felling trees in their Community Forest while building the transmission lines.
Realizing the importance, the Executive Members and representatives of Community Forests from 15 gewogs under Samtse Dzongkhags met today to discuss their experiences.
Tika Maya Ghalley, the only woman Chairperson of Community Forest in Samtse, said there are some issues that confront them. She said it is difficult to find laborers during the monsoon season as they are engaged with farm works. “I think the bigger problem comes only when you are dealing the monetary issue of CFs- like who should get what and where the money should go.”
Even then many communities have approached the Department of Forests so to be able to start Community Forest. About 15 of them are yet to be approved.
