MINGORA, Sept 19: Speakers at a convention here on Thursdauy said the NWFP forestry sector reforms culminating in the promulgation of Forest Ordinance, 2002, have failed to ensure sustainable management and development of forests and protect the rights of the forest communities.

They were speaking at the Malakand Divisional Convention, 2002, organized by the Sarhad Awami Forestry Ittehad (Safi), Hujra Foundation and Sungi Development Foundation.

The speakers maintained that the ordinance had given the provincial forest department unprecedented discretionary powers to make amendments to  the law without approval from the provincial assembly.

The convention, presided over by Safi President Riaz Mohammad Khan, was attended by more than 200 representatives of forest communities from Hazara, Dir, Mingora, Kalam and other areas.

The convention was organized to review the success of forest communities  in their engagement with the forest department regarding the reforms and develop their point of view.

In a resolution passed unanimously, the convention rejected the ordinance. It demanded that the government should revoke the ordinance and establish a committee to study the reforms and make a new forest policy to cater to the requirements of communities and sustainable management of forests. The committee should comprise forest owners and other stakeholders, the speakers suggested.

The convention asked the government to resolve the long-standing forest royalty issue of Dir-Kohistan before the elections in accordance with the recommendations put forward by the inquiry commission headed by Additional Judge Ziauddin Khattak.

The participants warned the government that if it failed to resolve the issue before the election, they would boycott the polls and observe the day as black day.