नेपालमा गोलिया काठ मापन मापदण्ड परिवर्तनको अर्थराजनीति (The Political Economy of Switching the Log Scaling Standards in Nepal)

Resham Bahadur Dangi

doi:10.59552/nppr.v5i1.92

Authors

Resham Bahadur Dangi Suryavinayak-3, Bhaktapur, Nepal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59552/nppr.v5i1.92

Keywords:

वन, गोलिया काठ, मापन मापदण्ड, सूत्र, अतिरिक्त लाभ, स्वार्थको द्वन्द्व, वन नियमावली, Forest, log, scaling standard, formula, undue benefit, conflict of interest, forest rules

Abstract

प्रस्तुत लेखमा नेपालको गोलिया काठ मापनको ऐतिहासिक पृष्ठभूमि र विभिन्न मापदण्डको विकास र विस्तारबारे विवेचना गर्नुका साथै उपलब्ध तथ्याङ्क र सूचनाको उपयोग गरेर मापदण्डको विकासक्रमको समीक्षा गरिएको छ । गोलिया काठ उत्पादक, गोलिया प्रशोधन गर्ने काठ व्यवसायी र स्वतन्त्र वन विज्ञसँगको अनौपचारिक छलफलबाट प्राप्त जानकारी उपयोग गरेर मापदण्ड परिवर्तनमा प्रभाव पार्ने आन्तरिक र बाह्य शक्तिको पहिचान गरिएको छ । काठ व्यवसायीको पक्षपोषण हुने गरी मापदण्ड परिवर्तन गर्ने निर्णय भएको आशङ्का गर्ने सुविधा घटनाक्रमले दिएको छ । उक्त पृष्ठभूमिमा मापदण्ड परिवर्तनको अर्थराजनीति बारे विश्लेषण र विवेचना गरिएको छ । मापदण्ड परिवर्तनबाट हुन पुगेको गोलियाको अवमूल्यनले उत्पादन कार्यमा संलग्न श्रमिक, निजी रुख धनी, साना किसान, सामुदायिक वन समूहको आम्दानीमा परेको नकारात्मक प्रभावबारे तथ्यगत विश्लेषण गर्नुका साथै लेखकले आर्जन गरेको तालिम र विषयगत कार्यानुभव समेतको आधारमा आलोचनात्मक समीक्षा गरिएको छ । निर्णय प्रक्रियामा स्वार्थ समूहको प्रभाव नरहेको पुष्टि गर्न सरकारी निकायले दाबी गर्ने मापन सूत्रको व्यावहारिक मान्यतालाई प्रस्तुत लेखले अस्वीकार गर्दै हालको मापदण्डको स्थानमा परिष्कृत मापदण्डलाई अभ्यासमा ल्याउँदा गोलिया उत्पादनमा सहभागी श्रमिक, साना किसान र वन उपभोक्ताको आम्दानीमा वृद्धि हुने र सरकारी राजस्व बढ्ने आकलन गरेकाले यसबारे पहलको निम्ति सम्बन्धित निकायको ध्यानाकर्षण गर्न पाँच बुँदे नीति सिफारिस गरिएको छ ।

Abstract (in English)

This article explores the historical evolution of log measurement in Nepal’s forestry sector, tracing its development and expansion over time. The review draws on available data and information, supplemented by insights from informal discussions with timber producers, wood traders, processing entities, and independent forest experts. These sources help identify both internal and external factors that have influenced changes in the standards. The sequence of events allows one to suspect that the decision has been made to change the log scaling standards in a manner that favors timber traders. Within this context, the article critically examines the economic and political dimensions of the changes, highlighting their adverse impacts - particularly the undervaluation of logs - on the incomes of log harvesting workers, private tree owners, smallholder farmers, and community forest groups. Drawing on the critical analysis of available data, as well as the author's academic training and professional experience, the article challenges the notion that the revision process was free from interest group influence. It argues instead that vested interests played a significant role in shaping the outcomes. The paper further anticipates that replacing the current standards with more refined ones could significantly boost the wages of workers, small farmers, and forest users, while also enhancing government revenue. To address this, the article concludes with a five-point policy recommendation aimed at encouraging relevant agencies to take appropriate action.

Author Biography

Resham Bahadur Dangi, Suryavinayak-3, Bhaktapur, Nepal

लेखकले भर्जिनिया पोलिटेक्निक विश्वविद्यालयबाट वि.सं. २०५७ सालमा वन अर्थशास्त्र र वन व्यवस्थापन विषयमा स्नातकोत्तर उपाधि हासिल गर्नुभएको छ । लेखकसँग नेपाल वन सेवामा तीन दशक र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय संस्थामा पाँच वर्षको परामर्श सेवाको अनुभव छ । वन स्रोतको आर्थिक विश्लेषण, वन नीति विश्लेषण, वन स्रोत लेखाङ्कन, पर्यावरणीय सेवा भुक्तानी, वन–कार्बन रणनीतिक योजना तर्जुमा आदि लेखकका अनुभव र अनुसन्धान रुचिका क्षेत्रहरू हुन् ।

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