Forest Rules, 2051 (1995).

The Rules aim at regulating the management and the rational exploitation of forests and forestry products. In particular, it draws a distinction among the following categories of forest: 1) Government-managed forests; 2) protected forests; 3) community forests; 4) leasehold forests; 5) religious forests; 6) private forests. Based on the classification mentioned above, the Rules establish the formulation of an operational plan and lists out the particulars to be mentioned therein. Moreover, it makes provisions for the granting of the required licenses as well as for the collection, sale and distribution of forest products (timber, firewood, medicinal herbs and non-timber products). Further provisions concern tree marking, grazing and transport of timber. The Rules make provision for the management of a part of a national forest by a User Group as a community forest and states the procedure to be followed for its establishment, registration and resumption. As far as the leasehold forests are concerned, chapter 5 deals, in addition to the aforementioned matters, with the right to sell or transfer rights, the ownership of trees existing at the time of handover, fees to be paid by the lessee. These Rules consist of 8 Chapters divided into 69 sections, and 25 Schedules.