participation   in decision making, censorships, co author and ownership of the products and mechanism of benefit sharing, and other ethical issues of indigenous peoples). National Laws, Policies, Programs, Structures and Mechanisms In recent years, there has been increased recognition of the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural character of Nepali society and the need for respecting this diversity for political stability and social progress. The Government has included specific references to rights and needs of indigenous peoples in a number of important legal and policy documents. These include the country’s Constitution, special legislation, and references in core government planning documents. Beginning with the Ninth Plan (1992-1997), the Nepal government fully recognized the presence of indigenous communities. Subsequent plans included increasing commitments by the Government to the all-around development and upliftment of indigenous nationalities. In 2000, the Government abolished the Kamaiya bondedlabor system, which mainly affected the indigenous Tharus. The Local Self Governance Act 1999 made special quota provisions for indigenous peoples in elected local bodies. In 2002, the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN) was established. NFDIN is an autonomous governmental body whose aim is to develop and empower the Indigenous Nationalities. Its activities focus on establishing district-based units to monitor indigenous/ethnic programs in 75 districts. However, these units never became operational. For the welfare of IPs, the government set up a National Committee for Development of 80 Nationalities in 1997. The parliament passed a bill in 2002 for the formation of a National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities, which came into existence in 2003. This foundation has been working for the preservation of the languages, cultures and empowerment of the marginalized ethnic communities. The Three Year Interim Plan Paper (2007-2010) included the following policies for inclusive development of IPs and other disadvantaged groups: (i) creating an environment for social inclusion; (ii) participation of disadvantaged groups in policy and decision making; (iii) developing special programs for disadvantaged groups; (iv) positive discrimination or reservation in education, employment, etc.; (v) protection of their culture, language and knowledge; (vi) proportional representation in development; and (vii) making the country’s entire economic framework socially inclusive. The NFDIN Act 2002, the National Human Rights Action Plan 2005, the Environmental Act 1997 and the Forest Act 1993 have emphasized protection and promotion of indigenous peoples’ knowledge and cultural heritage. In 1999, the Local Self-Governance Act was enacted to give more power to the local political bodies, including authority to promote, preserve and protect the IPs’ language, religion, culture and welfare. Forestry The forest is the main source of most indigenous peoples’ livelihoods – providing energy, food, medicine, housing, earnings, fodder for livestock and compost for subsistence agriculture. Forest resources provide 81% of the total fuel supply and more than 50% of fodder for livestock.  The forest is also one of the main economic resources of the country, contributing about 14% to national GDP. While revenue from non-timber forest products Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)