Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN) is organising an session entitled “People’s Rights to Natural Resources: Global Assembly on Community Forestry” in the context of World Social Forum (WSF2024) to develop the collective power of people’s movement and civil society organisations across the globe, uniting against environmental injustice, natural resources injustices, and the injustice to the Community forest user groups including women, poor and marginalised groups, indigenous people and local communities. World Social Forum (WSF2024) is being organized from 15 to 19 February 2024 at Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu with a solidary march, an opening session cultural program on 15^th Feb,  several parallel forums, sessions and assemblies on 16^th to 18^th Feb, and a closing session on 19^th February.

FECOFUN, a formal network of Community Forest Users Groups (CFUGs) from all over Nepal was established in July 1995 to promote and protect the forest users’ rights through capacity strengthening, economic empowerment, sustainable natural resource management, technical support, policy advocacy, good governance and learning sharing of best practices. FECOFUN is working under the Resources and Mobilization Sub-committee of Nepal Organizing Committee, linking to the world-scale WSF and Asia Pacific Social Forum (APSF) regional processes facilitated by the International Council and the Asia Pacific Social Forum.

The assembly on “People’s Rights to Natural Resources: Global Assembly on Community Forestry” organized by FECOUN will held on 16^th February 2024 at Mardi Hall, Bhrikutimandap from 11.30 onwards. Speakers, Shweta Tripathi, Director of Society of Rural, Urban and Tribal Initiative (SRUTI), India will present her view on the issues related to natural resources (land, forest, and water) on regional and global perspectives; Dr. Popular Gentle Bhusal, Climate Change Expert will present his view on the 

Community Forestry contribution to climate change mitigation and adaptation, Dr. Bharat Pokharel, Forestry Expert will present his view on the tenure rights of local communities in Community Forests and Dr. Bimala Rai Paudyal, Member of the National Assembly will present her view on the Social Impact in Community Forestry. Thakur Bhandari, Chairperson of  FECOUN will Chair the Program, and Ghanshyam Pandey, Advisor of FECOFUN will moderate the program.

Around 300 Participants including stakeholders, delegates from national and international platforms, Forestry officials and experts, Universities, students, stakeholders, and Community Forestry activists from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Kavrepalanchowk, Dhading and Nuwakot, are estimated to participate in the program.