Fuel crisis 2015 in Nepal began on September and has halted every sector making people's life terrible. There is no/only minimal supply of the essentials like rice, pulse cooking oil resulting in hike of their prices also there is no supply of crucial supplies including medicines. The problems people are facing due to fuel crisis currently are numerous. And among them one major possible problem seems to be deforestation.

    Nepal is known globally for its forest and during last decades it's recognized for success in conservation of forests through community forestry program.  According to ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation the rate of forest shrinkage was 17% per annum in 1978 which decreased to o.6% in 2000. However, after the two massive Earthquakes in Nepal the forests of Nepal fulfilled the need of timber for reconstruction and construction related industries. And at present the forests of the country seems to be at great risk if the soar in fuel crisis keeps on continuing. The high dependence of the urban residents on LPG and kerosene makes the situation even worse. The rural people use kerosene and fuel wood (59% coming from the forest). Only 0.56% of people use renewable resources like biogas. All these make the forest of Nepal vulnerable while we only have limited options. It's sad to know that, there are already illegal loggings in Terai districts of Nepal. According to a national daily Community members in Rautahat, Nepal have seized more than 150 bicycles which were being used to illegally collect the firewood. Forest Director General Resham Dangi said "Because we have no mobility (no patrolling due to lack of fuel), timber smuggling has increased mainly from the forests of Terai near Indian border."
          Clean energy and bio-fuels are essential alternatives against Nepal's high dependence on petroleum products in long term but not for the present crisis. At present all we can do is efficiently use the limited resources available and at any cost avoid damage to our precious forests.