Experience of Jharkhand Forest Department in partnership with civil society

1. R. K. Zutshi Executive Director Wasteland Development Board Jharkhand Experience of Jharkhand Forest Department in partnership with civil society

2. History � Pre 1947 Dalhousie�s memorandum Charter of Indian Forests 1855 Scientific management initiated � 1859 Brandis, Divisions in Bengal Presidency -1872-73 Indian Forest Act 1865 / 78 Constitution of RFs / PFs Persuade Maharajas, Landlords, to Reserve National Forest Policy 1894 Scientific mgmt. / Sustained yield / village forests Forest agriculture � safeguards Forest Settlement - rights

3. Demarcation / Indian Forest Act -1927 Working Plans Natural Resource Management Plans European Silvicultural Systems introduced Harvesting / Silvicultural Operations / Regeneration Forest Roads / Culverts / Rest Houses Personnel / Training / Institutions / Publications Afforestation- Malabar / Singhbhum / Terrai Ravines / Chos / Eroded Areas Forest Based Industries- Pulp / Joinery

4. Great Indian Railways Sleepers / Stations / Housing / Wagons / Bogies Cantonments / Ordinance & Ammunition Colonial Buildings / Bridges Educational Institutions / Housing Estates Industries Truck Bodies / Pulp / Distillates / Oils / flosses / Gums / Batteries / Boilers / Warehousing / Coal / Mining / Metallurgy / Smelting / Moulds / Joinery / Resin / Shellac / Soaps &c

5. Partnership with civil society�.. ? Sound Basis for Forest Resource Management Recognition of local Rights Provision of Village Forests / Employment Reservations for future well being of the society Maximum Sustained yield / Revenues Protection of Catchments Afforestation /eroded areas / ravines Was all this not aimed at people / society, and did society not benefit from these developments ?

6. History ..Post 1947 National Forest Policy 1952 Balanced Land-use / Check Erosion / Regulate Grazing / Wood for Agriculture / Maximum Sustained yield / Revenues / Industries National / Production / Protection Forests Village Forests / Plantations Check Desertification /Erosion / Shifting Cultivation Nationalization of Private Forests Farm Forestry / Wildlife Protection 33 % land under Forest Cover 60 % Himalayas & Deccan / 20 % Plains

7. Major initiatives Nationalization of Private Forests Consolidation / Settlement / Demarcation / Plans Afforestation / Reforestation Fast Growing / Important / Fodder & Fuel sps. Roadsides / Canal Banks / Stressed Sites Artificial Regeneration / Natural Regeneration Forest Roads / Buildings / Other Infrastructure National Parks / Sanctuaries Social Forestry / Extension Forestry Personnel & HRD / Research / Publications

8. National Forest Policy -1988 - Objectives Preservation & Restoration of Ecosystems Conserving Flora / Fauna - Biological Diversity Checking Erosion / Denudation / Desertification Conservation of Catchments Increasing Forest & Tree Cover Meeting requirements of rural / tribal people Increasing Productivity of Forests Efficient Utilization Participation of People / Women Objectives a priority � not revenue !

9. Bihar JFM Resolution 1991- Features Inspired by GOI resolution of June 1990 Bihar JFM resolution - August 1990 Provision for VFM & P Committees Sharing of Benefits with Communities Applicable to Protected Forests 1300 VFMPCs, 4300 sq. kms of PFs ( 20 % ) Some VFMPCs successors to Bihar SF Project ( SIDA ) VFCs - 425

10. Implementation Priority to villages with degraded forests Forests close to habitations / town centers Wherever participation was voluntary RDF Schemes taken up Some motivated forestry staff Senior or Junior Too early to share benefits � Right Holders - Poles / Small wood Grass / Leaves / Dead wood only available 30 % each to FDF / VDF / VFCF ( 90 % ) 10 % ownership Royalty

11. Lessons learnt Committee formation reached a plateau Existing ones seized to be active Micro plans neither written not implemented VFM&P Committees had no legal status No link with Panchayat Raj Act, 1996 No MOUs between the FD & Committees Varying levels of commitment of personnel Exclusion of areas not degraded / women counterproductive !

12. Jharkhand JFM Resolution 2001 Mid course correction - Management Rights for local governance JFM extended to entire forest area � RF / PF Well defined status for community organizations Decentralization Forestry planning & management Village level micro plans � Development Forest & Village development Sound footing � Participatory Management Adherence to provisions of PESA Act 1996

13. Salient Features Extension of JFM beyond PFs � RFs / PAs VFMPCs ( PFs ) , VEDCs ( RFs / PAs ) ! Differ in terms of benefit sharing Adoption of existing VFMPCs & informal COs Well defined legal status Registration under the IFA Agreements with FD Gender sensitive Women Gram Sabha members in GB 33 % Executive Body / President or Vice 2 landless members in the Executive Body

14. Guidelines for preparation of Micro Plans Formats for �participatory formulation� Integrated development of villages Sustainable forest management Mechanism for benefit sharing JFM evaluation cell Panchayat Raj & JFM Ownership of NTFPs to Gram Sabhas Link between Gram Sabhas & JFM committees JFM committees & Executive to be elected by GS Ensure 100 % benefit transfer for NTFPs

15. Harvesting & Marketing Regulated by Micro Plans Harvesting by committees themselves or with FD Marketing mechanisms open to review Diversion of forest land Opinion of the concerned committee a must Sharing of royalty for land and crop Intervention by Forest Department Role redefined- more as a facilitator and adviser Regulatory role reduced Transparency Investments external or internal � by committee

16. THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK Amendments to:- Indian Forest Act, 1927 Panchayat Raj Act � Provide for JFMPCs, VEDCs Forest Produce ( Regulation of Trade ) Act, 1984 Non-timber Forest Products ( Endowment & Ownership to Gram Sabha ) Act To be enacted

17. Follow up of the JFM Resolution 6828 VFMPCs & VEDCS ( 2003 ) out of 13965 Half the forest area covered � 14232 sq. kms. Committees registered with DFOs ( - legislation ) Effectiveness of committees reinforced by��� Involvement in all Plan developmental schemes RDF, QGS, FFP, NTFP, Medicinal Plants GOI Forest Development Agency projects Assisted NR, Artificial Regeneration Involvement in non-plan schemes Regeneration, Fire protection, Boundary, Forest roads, Buildings, Soil Conservation

18. Framework reinforced by MODIFICATION OF ALL PLAN SCHEMES Entry point activities Micro-lift irrigation, Potable water ( Wells/ Borings ) Tanks, Bunds & Platforms, Community buildings, Water retention structures ( Check Dams ), Village Roads, Culverts & Causeways, Fruit Trees, Pattal unit FDA Micro plans- implementation by committees Natural & Artificial Regeneration with EPAs 18 projects 26600 ha. - 3871 lakhs � project period ) 10 being processed ( 42000 ha. )

19. Jharkhand Community Forestry Project ( World Bank ) Community Forestry through VFMPCs & VEDCs Participatory Forest Management Assisted Natural & Artificial Regeneration Rehabilitation of degraded forests Poverty alleviation and better livelihood Empowerment of the rural community Enhancement of skills

20. Jharkhand Community Forestry Project ( World Bank ) In-principle approval of Jharkhand Government has been obtained Launch Workshop 3rd. February 2004

21. Gramin Vikas Trust - Forest department Rain-fed areas of Jharkhand - Stakeholder Experience in Participatory Approach Participatory Rural Appraisals Analysis of Social Structure Group formation & Planning Participatory Monitoring & Evaluation Training in sustainable livelihood activities Gender sensitive developmental framework

22. GVT can help Group formation Training curricula Training in rural appraisals Training for writing micro-plans Training in skills Processing , Packaging, Marketing Transportation Social analysis Sustainable livelihood activities Gender sensitive developmental framework