What is Choking Nepal’s Domestic Timber Supply?

Abstract

Despite the huge potential, and the government’s stated agenda and policy priorities to increase timber production in Nepal, timber resources are still underutilised and domestic timber supply has to be supplemented by imports. During the course of establishing silvicultural demonstration plots through the first and second phases of the Enhancing Livelihoods and Food Security from Agroforestry and Community Forestry in Nepal (EnLiFT), we uncovered the major constraints that limit timber supply in Nepal. Primarily, we find that: (i) uninformed discourses and uncertain policies around timber industry periodically halt production, and (ii) harvesting activity is generally discouraged by cumbersome regulatory and administrative procedures. Secondarily, (i) the business environment is not friendly towards timber production, and (ii) a lack of technological and skill development also limits production. However, efforts to improve these secondary issues may not bear fruit, as long as the primary constraints remain in place. Though there is room for improvement within the organisation of community and private timber producers, central governmental
agencies must play a proactive role in lifting legal and administrative constraints, creating a favourable business environment and supporting technological innovations.