35 Newsletter No. The first National Assembly was held in March 1996. Over 2,700 user groups from at least 60 of Nepal's 75 districts are Federation members.
Office holders are primarily from distant villages scattered throughout rural Nepal.
Participation through consensus in decision-making is incorporated into the principles, policies, rules, and regulations that encompass the concept of community forestry in Nepal. The reality is somehow different, however, as marginalised groups are not always fully incorporated into the community forestry process. It helps organize feasibility studies on subjects requested by member forest user groups and helps both government and NGOs directly contact user groups at district branches for programme operation. The Federation's sustainability can be ensured by the recognition of the need for a national network by the 8,785 community forestry users groups scattered throughout Nepal.