Draft Outline (framework) for Forestry Handbook

This hand book consists of following four sections which are interrelated with each other:

Section 1. General Introduction – includes background, objectives, legal

requirements, use and users of handbook.
Section 2. Preparation, approval and implementation of forestry clearance plan
– describes process and procedures of forestry clearance plan and its
approval with required forms and formats as reference.
Section 3. Conducting Forest Survey and Inventory – deals with the systematic
methodology for conducting forest survey and inventory with required forms
and formats as reference
Section 4. Compensatory and Landscaping plantation - presents preparation of
compensatory and landscaping plan and activities for plantation works.
Section 1: General Introduction of Handbook
Abbreviations/Acronyms
Glossary of terms – definition of key terms used in the report
1.1 Overview – contextual overview of current situation.
1.2 Background – brief description about the present issues for the use of forest area
by the projects and challenges being faced by them.
1.3 Objective and scope - main objective is to expedite forestry clearance process
by providing systematic guidelines and the scope is to provide references on
specific activities of forestry clearance procedures.
1.4 Legal requirements – related clauses of Forest Act, 2076, Forest Regulations and
Working Procedures for Use of National Forests for National Priority Projects with
Standard, 2076 and other required legislations.
1.5 Users of the handbook - This handout has been designed for the use by the
following organizations as resource material and should be used in conjunction
with other related guidelines and manuals.
1. Concerned Federal and Provincial Ministries and their field offices
2. Local Government Agencies (Rural/Municipality, Metropolitan City)
3. Projects, Firms, Consultants and Contractors
4. Private Developers
5. Local forest based groups (CFUG/LHFG)
6. Training centers and academic institutions

1.6 Organization of the handbook – This handbook will be structured as following:

1. Description text will be supplemented by visual context with tables,
graphics illustrations, line drawings, flow charts, figures etc.

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 2. Boxes at the side of the text will contain tip for the users for conducting
related task.
3. Each activity will be described with detail task breakdown based on step
wise process with responsible agency, time period and resource materials
with reference like forms, formats, data entry sheets, summary tables,
sample agreements, related legislations given in annex showing the link.
Summary of activities will be shown in the tabular form for easy reference
of the process at the end of each section.

Link with annex example

Task 2.4.2 Tree cutting permission by DFO as per the contract agreement
Step I – Marking, numbering and documenting trees to be felled as
approved by the cabinet with hammer seal ▬► (click here) for format
Note: Linkage with required resource materials with reference like forms, formats, data entry
sheets, summary tables, sample agreements, related legislations given in annex will be available
when users click on the respective ▬► (arrow).
Table sample
Activity Number:
Activity Name:
Activities and Responsibilities

S.N. Detail Task process (steps) Responsibility Time Resource material &
period reference number

Section 2. Preparation, approval and implementation of forestry clearance plan

Activity 2.1 Preparatory work for forestry clearance
Task 2.1.1 Screening of project type with required documents from concerned
organizations
Step I - Screen type of project: national priority project or national pride
project or approved projects by Investment Board or national priority
electricity transmission line project
Step II - Obtain letter from NPC for national priority project
Task 2.1.2 Identification of forest area to be used by the project with justification
Step I - Identify forest area for the project use

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 Step II - Prepare justification for no other option than the use of forest area

Task 2.1.3 Preparation of environmental assessment reports (brief environmental

assessment, IEE, EIA) by the proponent
Step I - Prepare brief environmental assessment/IEE/EIA as per legal
requirements – legal requirements in the box
Step II - Obtain approval from concerned Ministry/MOFE
Task 2.1.4 Submission for obtaining forestry clearance plan approval
Step I - Project proponent collects required documents and submits to
concerned ministry - list of required documents in the box
Step II- Concerned ministry applies to MOFE for forestry clearance with
required documents
Step III - MOFE writes to DOFSC with documents received from concerned
ministry for necessary action
Step IV- DOFSC instructs concerned DFO/s for collecting required field
data and information - required data and information in the box

Activity 2.2 Collection of required field data and information by DFO

Task 2.2.1 Mobilization of field team by DFO for forest survey and inventory - detail
about forest survey and inventory will be dealt under separate activity
Step I – Field team formation by DFO – team composition in the box
Step II – Orientation to the field team and providing necessary forms,
formats and documents
Task 2.2.2 Consent of concerned forest users group (CFUG/LHFG) and their
involvement during field survey and inventory
Step I – Consultation meeting with concerned forest users group
Step II – Involve forest user member during survey and inventory process
as a team member
Step III – Collect consent letter from concerned forest groups ▬►sample
of consent letter
Task 2.2.3 Project proponent can outsource forest technician to support the DFO for
expediting field work in coordination with DFO
Step I – Coordinate with DFO for outsourcing forestry technicians
Step II – Employ and include outsourced forestry technician in the team
Activity 2.3 Preparation of forestry clearance plan and approval – it is linked with forest
survey and inventory dealt in section 3.

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 Task 2.3.1 Data analysis and report preparation by concerned DFO
Step I – Field verification of collected data & information by DFO
Step I – Analyse field data collected during survey and inventory
Step II – Prepare forestry clearance plan with required data and information

Task 2.3.2 Forestry clearance plan submission and approval

Step I – Submit forestry clearance plan with consent letter from forest user
group (if it is CF/LHF/ColF) to DOFSC
Step II – DOFSC verifies forestry plan and submits to MOFE for approval
from cabinet
Step III - Cabinet provides approval of forestry clearance plan or ask for
further clarification
Step IV – Cabinet approves final forestry clearance plan after receiving
clarification

Activity 2.4 Implementation of approved forestry clearance plan

Task 2.4.1 Agreement between DOFSC and concerned project proponent for the
implementation ▬► agreement template
Step I – Prepare agreement between DOFSC and Project proponent
Step II – DOFSC writes concerned DFO for forestry clearance plan
implementation
Task 2.4.2 Tree cutting permission by DFO as per the contract agreement
Step I – Marking, numbering and documenting trees to be felled as
approved by the cabinet with hammer seal ▬► format
Step II - Regional Directorate Office within the Province cross checks for
marked trees
Step III – Regional Directorate Office endorses marked trees for cutting
Step IV - DFO provides forest entry permission to cut the trees

Activity 2.5 Tree cutting and forest products utilization

Task 2.5.1 Tree cutting, sectioning and stacking by the project proponent
Step I – Project proponent cuts trees, convert into logs (sectioning)
Step II – Transports and stockpiles of logs at the site allocated by DFO

Task 2.5.2 Handing over and sale of removed forest products

Step I - Handing over of stockpiled forest products to concerned DFO
Step II – Sale of forest products by DFO/allowing forest users group for
utilization as per their operational plan if it's from CF/LHF

Activity 2.6 Providing land equivalent to forest area used or cost of the forest land

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 Task 2.6.1 Initiation of cost payment procedures
Step I – Project proponent applies to MOFE with required documents to
pay cost for the use of forest land as determined by the committee – see
box for required documents
Step II – DFO prepares valuation report for the forest area used as per
standard norms within 15 days ▬► valuation table of Working Procedures
for Use of National Forests for National Priority Projects with Standard,
2076
Step III – DFO submits valuation report for the cost of forest to the District
Cost Determination Committee – see box for the formation of District Cost
Determination Committee
Step IV - District Cost Determination Committee checks valuation report
and fixes actual current cost of the forest area and submits to DOFSC
within 15 days

Task 2.6.2 Approval for payment of cost using forest area

Step I – DFOSC submits valuation report with recommendation within 7
days to MOFE for approval
Step II – After approval MOFE notifies to DOFSC and concerned project
proponent for depositing cost of forest land in the fund

Task 2.6.3 Agreement between DOFSC and project proponent

Step I – Project proponent pays the cost within 3 months period ▬►
format
Step II – Preparation and signing of agreement ▬► agreement format
Step III – Conducting regular monitoring by DOFSC and concerned DFO

Section 3. Conducting Forest Survey and Inventory

Activity 3.1 Formation of survey and inventory team and orientation
Task 3.1.1 Field team formation for survey and inventory
Step I – DFO forms survey team as per the area under various sub-
divisions (if necessary outsourcing of forestry technician can be done) –
refer box for the formation of field team

Step II - Orientation to the field team for conducting survey and inventory
as per the project requirement
Task 3.1.2 Logistics and equipment for the field team – refer box for list of equipment
Step I – Manage logistics and equipment for field survey and inventory
team
Step II– Prepare field mobilization plan for the field team

Activity 3.2 Forest survey and inventory

Task 3.2.1 Preparatory work for forest survey and inventory

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 Step I - Consultation with project and concerned forest user group
Step II - Collection of required equipment for forest survey and inventory–
necessary equipment in the box
Step III - Preparation of affected forest area in the project map
Task 3.2.1 Survey of forest area to be affected by the project.
Step I – Conduct forest survey using GPS/tape and calculate area and
prepare map ▬► how to use GPS for forest survey
Step II - Document type & ownership of forest, forest condition, slope,
aspect, project component like, chainage or tower number etc. ▬► data
entry format.

Task 3.2.2 Conducting forest resource inventory

Step I – Measurement of dbh and height of each pole and tree and counting
numbers of regeneration including NTFPs – refer box for dbh and plant
category and tree quality of trees I, II & III ▬► data entry format.
Step II - Blaze making, marking and numbering of measured trees and
documenting

Task 3.3.3 Data analysis, generating summary tables and preparation of report
Step I – Calculation of volume – refer box for volume calculation formula
and method
Step II - Generating required tables as per species, forest types, and
project components ▬►table templates
Step III – Preparation of survey and inventory report by field team and
submission to DFO

Activity 3.4 Monitoring and Submission of forestry clearance plan by DFO

Task 3.4.1 Field monitoring by DFO for the verification of survey & inventory data
Step I – DFO checks survey and inventory data submitted by the field team
Step II – Revision of survey and inventory report in case of any
discrepancies

Task 3.4.2 Plan submission with DFO recommendation for approval -– this step is also
mentioned in Task 2.3.2
Steps I – DFO finalizes plan with recommendation
Step II – DFO submits plan to MOFE through DOFSC for approval
Section 4.0 Compensatory and landscaping plantation
Activity 4.1 Preparation of plantation plan
Task 4.1.1 Preparation of plantation plan with cost estimate
Step I – Prepare plantation plan with list of activities

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 Step II – Estimate cost of plantation activities as per Ministry Norms,
2070 ▬►Ministry Norms, 2070 and refer box for cost estimation sample

Task 4.1.2 Identification of area for compensatory plantation

Step I – Consult and coordinate with DFO/Forest users group for area
Step II – Agreement with DFO/CFUG/LHFG/ColFMG for compensatory
plantation

Task 4.1.3 Finding number of plants for compensatory plantation

Step I – Calculate number of plants equivalent to the forest area used by
the project – refer box for calculating number of plants/ha
Step II – Calculate number of plants at the ratio of 1:10 for the loss
of trees and poles
Step III – Calculate total number of plants for the compensatory
plantation obtained from step I and step II

Activity 4.2 Managing planting stock and compensatory plantation

Task 4.2.1 Managing planting stock
Step I – Establish forest nursery for planting stock/produce
seedlings from existing nurseries
Step II – Produce planting stock by operating established nursery
or from existing nurseries
Step III – Buy the required planting material form private nurseries (in case
step I & II are not done)

Task 4.2.2 Carrying out compensatory plantation

Step I – Conduct survey of identified area for plantation
Step II – Clear site and dig the pits of required size
Step III - Transport seedlings up to the plantation site
Step IV - Carry plantation works before monsoon with at least 1 m
tall seedlings

Task 4.2.3 Protection and management of planted area

Step I - Construct fencing around planted area/provide tree guard
for protection
Step II – Conduct survival count and carry out casualty replacement
plantation
Step III – Carry out tending operations like weeding, cleaning and pruning

Activity 4.4 Landscaping plantation

Task 4.4.1 Managing planting stock
Step I - Buy the appropriate planting material form private nurseries
Step II – Transport of planting stock at plantation site

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 Task 4.4.2 Plantation along road side - refer box for the suitable species for road side
plantation
Step I – Identifying the roads with enough right of way for plantation
Step II – Planting at least 1 m tall plant and providing tree guard for
protection

Task 4.4.3 Plantation within the public building compounds for beautification - refer
box for the appropriate species for ornamental plantation
Step I – Identifying public buildings/schools/project sites with enough
space within their compounds
Step II – Planting at least 1 m tall plant and providing tree guard for
protection

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