Hasta Maya Gurung, a small farmer in Simal Danda VDC, no longer runs away from the watchful eyes of forest ranges. Many like her across eight districts in the country would have never imagined that the rangers, whom they termed as "cold-hearted brutes", would some day be assisting them in cultivating barren land. Thanks largely to the Hills Leasehold Forestry and Forage Development Project (HLFFDP) that started in this district three years ago.