Burning of Eupatorium adenophorum and E. Chromolaena (Banmara).

Eupatorium adenophorum and E. Chromolaena, the shrubby perennial, both are known as Banmara ( forest killer) in Nepali due to its notorious action in preventing other seedlings to grow. The project has aimed to harvest this shrub not only to make briquette for fuel from the forest but also to restore the forest. The project will initiate to manufacture briquette through a 'Farmers' Cooperative'/'Small Scale Enterprise' with the involvement of several groups of farmers and also explore market in the district headquarter -Diktel Bazaar of Khotang District as the source of fuel wood and additional income.

Charcoal in pit after burning.

This project will help to develop entrepreneurship among the forest user group, therefore the skill learnt will of significant and empower them in forest conservation and management by means of training workshop. Though in very tiny scale, it will minimize the energy crisis which the nation is facing severely throughout the country. Banmara has threatened the forest thereby reducing the biodiversity in the project site. As this project has planned to harvest the banmara to make bio briquette it will open the space to regenerate the multipurpose tree species such as sal (Shorea robusta) and chiuri (Bassea butyracea) as well as high valued medicinal herbs like Rawolfia serpentine which will enhance the biodiversity including many other high valued species. Therefore the project will bring multi benefits to the society through better ecosystem services by means of ecological restoration.

Grinding of clay to mix with the pest of charcoal for briquette production.

It will certainly reduce the pressure of local communities on consumption of firewood resources and on the other hand, it is expected it will reduce the respiratory diseases caused by burning of firewood in the kitchen as source of fuel. In addition, local people will get extra income source by selling the briquette through the cooperative or enterprise. It will also help to institutionalize and strengthening the forest user group and create more cohesiveness. Not only have those, the conservation awareness activities made people aware about forest conservation as a whole.