On 7 January 2025, a one-day workshop on “Current Practices, Challenges, and Way Forward in Resin Collection in Dolakha District” was held in Charikot, Dolakha, jointly organized by Southasia Institute of Advanced Studies (SIAS) and District FECOFUN Dolakha. The event brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from community forests engaged in resin collection in Dolakha District, contractors from two companies involved in resin collection, forest officers (including the Division Forest Officer), researchers from SIAS, and representatives from the District FECOFUN.
The Chairperson of District FECOFUN Dolakha, Jaghnath Basnet, delivered the opening speech, explaining how the idea of researching resin collection came about and emphasized on the need for joint efforts to address the challenges faced in the sector. Sajjan Regmi, Research Associate from SIAS, presented on the topic “Status and Challenges in Resin Collection in Dolakha District.” He reviewed on the Resin Collection Procedure 2064 and provided an overview of the current practices in the district. He also outlined the key issues related to ecological impacts, community forest user groups, technical concerns and proposed solutions derived from his research for further discussions
Following the presentations, Bhola Khatiwada, Community Forest Activist, facilitated the workshop. With specific discussion format, he divided the participants into five groups: two groups representing community forests, one group for contractors, one for the forest department, and the other one for the District FECOFUN. Each group outlined their respective roles in addressing the issues and potential solutions based on their findings. The Division Forest Officer urged community forest user groups to actively engage in forest management activities and to consult the DFO and sub-divisional offices regularly for legal guidance. He emphasized his commitment in supporting their activities and stressed on the importance of adhering to the Resin Collection Guideline, IEE reports, and relevant rules and regulations, warning that violations would result in legal action.
Dr. Dil Bahadur Khatri, Executive Director of SIAS, delivered the closing remarks where he underscored the importance of tracking commitments made during the workshop to ensure accountability and progress. He also stressed the need for regular meetings among community forest user groups to promote legal awareness and foster active participation in annual monitoring activities. Likewise, he emphasized the importance of community members understanding resin collection guidelines and encouraged them to allocate funds for forest management.
Finally, the workshop concluded with a shared commitment among stakeholders to address the challenges in resin collection and further strengthen collaboration for sustainable forest management in Dolakha District.
