The Zordung Samtenling Community Forest of Kangpar Gewog in Trashigang has started benefiting the people in the gewog. Besides the income generated from the sale of forest resources, the community forest group has made it easier for the villagers to access resources from the forest.
The Zordung Samtenling Community Forest spans over 1300 acres of forest in Kangpar Gewog.
In the last five years, the community forest group has planted some 8,500 tree saplings, which include cypress, pine, and walnut trees.
The Community Forest group formed in 2017, started selling timbers, firewood, and bamboo to its members and other people in the gewog. They even let villagers collect dry leaves.
The group charges a minimal amount to its members. For instance, a timber cost around Nu 100 to members when they charge Nu 500 to other buyers.
The villagers do not have to visit the gewog office to get the permit to extract timber. They can directly buy timbers and firewood from the group.
Drupchu Zangmo, a member of Zordung Samtenling Community Forest Group said, “The Chairperson, Secretary and a few members of the group give them the permit whenever they need it. For example, if they need firewood when someone passes away, we provide the permit.”
The community members say the illegal timber extraction in the village has reduced and instead, the villagers are now seen taking care of the forest.
“The forest official provided around 3,000 saplings and we planted them a few years ago. Later, we planted 5,000 additional saplings. And this year, we bought 500 saplings using the amount collected by the group and planted them,” said Younten Dorji, a member of Zordung Samtenling Community Forest Group.
The Zordung Samtenling Community Forest group collected some 300,000 ngultrum so far. The fund is used for improving the community forest.
There are 110 households in Zordung village registered as members of the group.
Sonam Dargay, Trashigang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
