(1). The forest area designated by the strategic plan according to Rule 14 can be managed as a partnership forest.
(2) For the purposes of sub-rule (1) any part of the forest managed by the government near the forest area that wants to be developed and protected as a partnership forest: or the traditional users who are far from the forest, for the necessary assistance to form a partnership forest user group in accordance with section 24 and section 31 of the Act. Application should be made through the Forest Office or directly at the Divisional Forest Office.
(3) Sub-rule (2). If the following request is received, the Divisional Forest Officer shall assign the technical staff to the relevant area as soon as possible to provide the necessary support.
(4) If the employee appointed according to sub-rule (3) finds that the forest area requested by the consumer is suitable for management as a shared forest, he shall assist the consumer to form a shared forest user group with the help of the relevant local level or sub-ward office and to prepare its bylaws.
(5) In accordance with sub-rule (4), the geographical boundaries of the ward, rural municipality, municipality, district or province will not have any effect when forming a partnership forest user group by identifying consumers. (6) The articles mentioned in Schedule-32 should be included in the constitution of the partnership forest user group.
(7) Prepared in accordance with sub-rule (6): The statute of the partnership forest user group shall be passed by the general assembly of such user group and an application shall be submitted to the concerned division forest office in the format as per Schedule-20 for group registration.
(8) If an application is received for the registration of a partnership forest user group according to sub-rule (7) and if such user group is found to be _formed_ in accordance with the Act and these regulations, the Divisional Forest Officer shall register such partnership forest user group and issue a certificate in the format as per Schedule-33.
(9) The Partnership Forest Users Group shall be a representative body.
(10) The following members will be in the partnership forest user group:-
(a) All lands falling within the Partnership Forest Management Area as determined under Rule 60Two women selected from the ward-level consumer meeting of each ward, as far as available, seven people including one each from Dalits, tribal tribes and Madheshi,
(b) A representative selected at the rate of one from each local level executive within the partnership forest management area determined in accordance with rule 60,
(c) One ward member designated by the ward chairman of each ward within the partnership forest management area as determined in accordance with rule 60.
(11) of sub-rule (10). According to Clause (A), the member should not be a person receiving financial benefits from Nepal Government, State Government or local level.
(12) The person selected from among the members as per clause (a) of sub-rule (10) shall be the chairman of the partnership forest user group.
(13) The term of office of the chairman and members of the partnership forest user group shall be five years at most, subject to the constitution of the group.
(14) / Any person can be elected to the post of Chairman of the Partnership Forest User Group for a maximum of two terms only.