Bhojpur District Collects Over NPR 90 Million in Forest Revenue

Bhojpur. Revenue exceeding NPR 90 million has been collected from the export of timber and non-timber forest products in the district. The Division Forest Office has collected NPR 906,963,950 in revenue from various forest-related activities in the fiscal year 2082/83. According to the office, this revenue was collected from the export of timber from private forests, export of medicinal herbs and non-timber forest products, and development projects. The office stated that the forest sector is establishing itself as an important source of revenue in the district. According to Khurudus Mia, Chief of the Division Forest Office, 2,924,430 cubic feet of timber from private forests were transferred in the fiscal year 2082/83. He informed that NPR 81,293,925 in value-added tax and NPR 14,652,900 in provincial service fee were collected from timber exports alone. "Revenue exceeding NPR 90 million has been collected from the trade of timber and other forest products from the forest sector in the district," said Chief Mia, "Along with the utilization of forest products, we are also paying attention to their systematic management and conservation." The office also reported that NPR 541,800 in forest royalty has been collected. Office Chief Mia stated that besides collecting revenue from the forest sector, employment and income generation opportunities have also been created at the local level. The revenue and employment generated from the forest sector contribute to the local economy. The office believes that if the sustainable use, processing, and marketing of timber and non-timber forest products are managed systematically, more employment and income generation opportunities can be created locally, given the sufficient forest area in the district. Out of the total land area of the district, 84,161 hectares, or 55.28 percent, is covered by forests. The district has the potential to gain more economic benefits from the forest sector if priority is given to the sustainable use of forest products and processing and value addition at the local level.