Silviculture Mentoring and Study Tour Program

January 16, 2020

In late 2019, the Crawford Fund’s SA Committee funded the Silviculture Mentoring and Study Tour Program for Madan Bashyal, a forester from ForestAction Nepal working on the ACIAR Funded -EnLiFT2 Project in Nepal. The mentoring program provided Madan with the opportunity to observe and experience both small and large-scale forestry operations with Forestry SA and the Bambra Agroforestry Farm in Victoria.

Madan’s experience in Australia to enhance his skills on silviculture, harvesting and sawmilling is essential for his forestry extension and capacity building works in the EnLiFT2 Project.

Madan obtained his certificate on operating and maintaining a chainsaw and tree felling, and he gained practical and hands-on experience operating a portable bandsaw mill at the Bambra Agroforestry Farm.

According to Madan, the mentoring program provided him a lifelong experience of engaging with foresters in South Australia and sharing with them his Nepalese experience. He has great appreciation of the observations made on mechanical harvesting, large-scale reforestation activities and the recreational functions of forests. These skills and experience can be directly transferable in the future training and capacity building programs for foresters in Nepal through the EnLiFT2 Project.

This training provided Crawford Fund SA the opportunity to understand the community forestry and smallholder forestry situation in Nepal. The interaction with Madan and staff of cooperating institutions like Forestry SA and Bambra Agroforestry Farm cemented a shared understanding of the need for active silviculture operations to sustain forest/ timber resources. This mentoring and study program involving ForestAction Nepal, Crawford Fund SA and Forestry SA has established a successful foundation for potential future collaboration.