Joint Forest Management | Environment & Forest

What is JSM ! Genesis of JFM In ASOM Objective Empowerment Of Communities Gender Issues Addressed Innovation Usufruct Sharing Arrangement Handling Of Funds Financial Delegation Entry Point Activities Impacts Envisioned Strengths & Challenges Pressure on the forests Status of Forest Development Agencies in Asom Jhum Rehabilitation

JFM and VESP JFM and National Mission on Bio-diesel JFM and Forest Village development NRM & NaRMlL, A Forestry Pilot Project of Word Bank Challenges JFM & Panchayats Status Report of Forest Development Agencies in Asom Nodal Officer Forest Development Agency List of Chairmen & Chief Executive Officers under FDAs in Asom, (as on 31st March, 2006)

What is JSM !

It is a concept, which is based on the principle of rights of local communities in forests, a mechanism to manage the forest that is owned by the State but appropriated by local communities, also an approach involving the evolution of a very complex property rights regime to generate a sustainable interface between the Forest Department (FD) and the local community and it is a possible way through which the interests of people and of long term sustainability are harmonized in a mutually supporting manner.

Prior to 1988, the forest management objectives were commercial forestry & revenue generation. But the 1988 Forest Policy envisaged for conservation of soil and environment, subsistence requirements of the local people etc. Thereafter, the Government of India issued guidelines on 1st June, 1990 and adopted Joint Forest Management under the National Afforestation Programme for conservation of forests with clearly identified duties and functions for ensuring protection of forests. The policy was motivated by a desire to both reduce environmental degradation and also reduce rural poverty.

Genesis of JFM In ASOM

Government of Asom promulgated the 'Assam Joint (people's participation) Forestry Management Rules, 1998.
28 Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) were constituted during 2002-03 with 503 Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs).
Government of Asom adopted the 'Assam Forest Policy, 2004' which emphasizes JFM to graduate to Community Forest Management aiming at sustainable forest management.

Objective

To Support The Livelihoods Of The Forest Fringe Communities Through Improved Natural Resource Management with Community Participation.

Empowerment Of Communities:

All adult members of the village constitute the General Body of JFMC.
Members of the Executive Committee comprising of President, Member Secretary, a member from the Panchayat and six other members drawn from the General body, plan and carry out the works of the committee.
NGOs play crucial role as an interface between Forest Department and the community.
JFMCs to become self-sustained institutions for integrated development of the forest and forest fringe villages.

Gender Issues Addressed

At least three members of Executive Committee shall be women.

Innovation

Integrated approach - Non-Forestry activities identified by the communities shall be integrated into the action plan of respective JFMCs. The Forest Department shall assume the role of Nodal department for this integration.

Usufruct Sharing Arrangement

Full share in NTFP collection
Full share in the harvest of timber in plantations raised by JFMC
Share in proportion to period of management in high forests managed by JFMC
50% of net revenue to be reinvested in forestry works - a step towards sustainability of JFMC.

Handling Of Funds

Each JFMC shall maintain two Bank Accounts- Forestry Account & Village Development Account.
Forestry Account to be held jointly by the President & Member secretary (FD Nominee)-for receiving project fund.
Forest Village Development Account to be held jointly by President and Treasurer of JFMC for overall developmental activities.

Financial Delegation

JFMC Cash book to be the primary cashbook and Treasurer to be disburser.
Micro Plans, Annual Plans, work estimates to be prepared by the communities.
Annual Work Plan, Estimates and Cash Books to be in simple and easily understandable language.
Total transparency in financial transactions.

Entry Point Activities

Provision of Entry Point Activity for community welfare in respect of road connectivity, drinking water, assistance to school, health and veterinary care.
Further there will be income generating activities under NAP for the Self Help Groups, distribution of hand looms, trainings, skill up gradation, plantation of short rotation crops like cane and bamboo, medicinal and aromatic plants, other NTFPs (Non Timber Forest Produces), value addition etc.

Impacts Envisioned

Increase in annual household income
Reduction in Urban Migration
Increase in Dense Forest cover
Reduction in biotic interference in Forest
Women empowerment
Strengthening local institutions
Sustainable Natural Resource management.

Strengths & Challenges

Strengths

Situations of conflict to be transformed to situations of cooperation
FD to be mainstreamed into administration of forest dependant communities
Restoration of synergy between forest and human development

Challenges

Likely conflicts due to regulation of resource use
Issues regarding Encroachments, Settlement
Fairly young JFM institutions
Integration of various sectors into Project
Sustainability of the project.

Pressure on the forests

Gap in Demand & Supply
Biotic pressure
Encroachment
Border disputes
Shifting cultivation
Insurgency & ethnic strife
Smuggling

Status of Forest Development Agencies in Asom

(Under National Afforestation Programme as on 31.12.2005)

No. of Forest Development Agencies: 28
No. of Joint Forest Management Committees: 550
Population: 3,21,103
No. of Households in Project Villages: 50,856
No. of Forest Villages: 90
No. of Revenue Villages: 460
Physical Target: 26,235 Hact.
Physical Achievement: 12,575 Hact. (47.93%)
Total Outlay: RS.3,695.48 lakhs
Financial Achievement: Rs.1 ,372.05 lakhs (38.69%)
Total wage employment generated: 15,94,828 Nos

Jhum Rehabilitation

Physical Target = 720 Ha. in Area

Total outlay = Rs. 110.07 lakhs

No. of JFMCs = 36

About 550 number of Joint JFMCs are now operative with an objective to attain self sustainable institutions at the village level. Once they start trading and adding value to Non Timber Forest Produces (NTFP) including medicinal and aromatic plants, these committees will become viable and stand on their own.
The members of JFMCs are sensitized to undertake charge of NTFPs extracted from forests under 28 Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) in Asom.
In near future, FDAs / JFMCs should be able to take charge of forest villages and forest fringe villages for improvement in the quality of life at the village level.
The Imperative should be for attitudinal change to think beyond forest for scientific management, integrate people, training & skill up-gradation.
Look for resources beyond state plan and central schemes. Micro finance from the financial institutions like NEDFi, NABARD and other rural banks are being tied up.

JFM and VESP

Under Village Energy Security Programme ( VESP ) of the Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources, Government of India, 14 projects for total energy security in select 11 JFM villages have been sanctioned during 2005-06.
The total project cost is Rs 319.42 lakhs to electrify 1230 households covering a population of 7550.
23 Biomass gasifiers, 75 biogas plants, 14 oil expellers and 1230 improved smokeless chullahs will be installed.

JFM and National Mission on Bio-diesel

Department of Land resources of the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India has sanctioned raising of 50 lakh jatropha seedlings under their programme - National Mission on Bio-diesel. These plants will be raised by 16 FDAs in 12 Districts during 2006-07.

JFM and Forest Village development

Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India is implementing the programme of forest village development in Assam through FDAs by constituting JFMCs in 373 forest villages. The activities under the programme include community welfare works and income generation activities for the forest dwellers.

Natural Resources Management & Integrated Livelihood (NaRMlL), A Forestry Pilot Project of Word Bank

Nos. of JFMC: 10 Nos. under Kamrup West Division - 6, Nagaon South Division - 4

Project Area: 1500 Hacf. of 2 Pilot Divisions

Population: 2079 Households

No. of Beneficiaries: 9683 provisional (Male-4870 & Female 4813)

Bicycles distributed: 100 Nos. (KW Division-60 & N. S. Division 40)

People's Nursery created: 5 Nos.

Vehicles purchased: 3 Nos.

Formation of SHG, Training & Capacity Building, Micro Plans etc. completed

Challenges

Large gap between demand and supply of fuel wood, timber and fodder
Present demand of firewood is 5.3 million cum per annum.
Low forest productivity.
Large extent of degraded forest areas.
Improvement of resource base to be linked with livelihood support of the people in the fringe areas.

The Vision of JFM is not merely a programme of afforestation but a new approach for forest management, which will culminate into a movement for rural development.

JFM & Panchayats

The relationship between Panchayats and JFM Committees should be such that the JFM Committees take advantage of the administrative and financial position and organizational capacity of the Panchayats for the management of the forest resources. However, the unique and separate non-political identity of the JFM Committees as 'guardian of forests' should be maintained and ensured. The benefits accrued from NTFP sales should be shared with all the members of the Gaon Sabha including the JFM committees.

Participatory Management with Stake-holders

Status Report of Forest Development Agencies in Asom

Total Outlay = Rs. 3695.48 (Rupees in Lakh)
Quarter Ending: 31.03.2006

Sl. No.	Name of FDA	Project Outlay	No. of JFMC	Treatable Areas in Ha.	Amount Released Rs. in lakhs			Amount Released till Date
Sl. No.	Name of FDA	Project Outlay	No. of JFMC	Treatable Areas in Ha.	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06	Amount Released till Date
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1.	Aie Valley	53.48	17	340	14.00	-	20.00	34.00
2.	Cachar	214.41	21	1500	42.00	58.00	50.00	150.00
3.	Dibrugarh	183.56	20	1250	33.00	50.00	-	83.00
4.	Digboi	129.95	18	875	20.00	35.00	-	55.00
5.	Darrang	166.28	20	1000	36.00	34.00	-	70.00
6.	Dhemaji	189.16	15	1250	34.00	51.00	-	85.00
7.	Dhubri	92.70	16	800	-	24.00	-	24.00
8.	Doomdooma	71.26	12	600	-	21.00	-	21.00
9.	Goalpara	186.20	41	1600	43.00	42.00	-	85.00
10.	Golaghat	45.90	8	400	-	13.00	-	13.00
11.	Hamren Afforestation	142.14	21	1050	26.00	43.84	-	69.84
11.A.	-Do- Jhum Rehabilitation	110.07	36	720	-	-	47.00	47.00
12.	Haltugaon	172.33	28	1150	41.00	41.00	-	82.00
13.	Hailakandi	68.58	8	540	-	-	28.00	28.00
14.	Jorhat	40.30	11	330	-	-	22.00	22.00
15.	Kamrup East	117.03	13	760	25.00	36.00	-	61.00
16.	Kamrup West	76.49	22	1000	-	16.51	-	16.51
17.	K.A. East	315.31	41	2100	55.00	83.00	90.00	228.00
18.	K.A. West	212.41	15	1300	37.00	56.00	68.00	93.00
19.	Kachugaon	90.50	25	750	-	-	43.00	43.00
20.	Karimganj	196.07	18	1500	37.00	52.00	50.00	139.00
21.	Nagoan	208.63	35	1400	46.00	54.00	-	100.00
22.	Nagoan South	65.76	10	500	-	18.00	-	18.00
23.	N. Lakhimpur	68.50	11	550	-	17.00	-	17.00
24.	North Kamrup	68.20	14	600	-	-	31.00	31.00
25.	N.C. Hills	161.36	22	1200	32.00	37.00	49.00	118.00
26.	Sonitpur East	63.89	8	490	13.00	-	18.00	31.00
27.	Sonitpur West	124.37	14	900	24.00	-	34.00	58.00
28.	Sivsagar	60.68	10	500	-	17.00	-	17.00
	Total =	3695.48	550	26,985	558.00	799.35	550.00	1907.35

Component Wise Progress Report - (Up to 31.12.2005)

Sl. No.	Comp- onent	Physical Progress (Ha)						Financial Progress (Rupees in lakh)
		Target		Achievement				Amount of Outlay	Amount of Utilization	Utiliz-ation %
		Advance work in Ha.	Creation in Ha.	Advance work in Ha.	% Achie-ved	Creation in Ha.	% Achi-eved	Amount of Outlay	Amount of Utilization	Utiliz-ation %
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
1.	Aided Natural Regene-ration	6950	6600	4057	58.37	4327	65.56	267.68	136.21	89.64
2.	Artificial Regene-ration	10240	6325	4732	46.21	3998	63.21	725.63	330.23	77.00
3.	Pasture Develop-ment	170	120	120	70.59	70	58.33	7.94	4.73	99.58
4.	Bamboo Plan- tation	4460	2800	2690	60.31	2190	78.21	188.75	94.67	79.55
5.	Cane Plan- tation	300	200	180	60.00	150	75.00	14.39	7.75	100.00
6.	Mixed Plan- tation	3315	2435	2335	70.43	1715	70.43	264.72	125.27	87.37
7.	Herbs & Medicinal Plantation	375	250	225	60.00	125	50.00	33.58	16.95	100.00
8.	Soil & Moisture Conser-vation	-	-	-	-	-	-	256.09	108.43	76.52
9.	Awareness	-	-	-	-	-	-	16.91	9.99	65.90
10.	Micro plan	-	-	-	-	-	-	38.61	25.84	89.63
11.	Fencing	-	-	-	-	-	-	82.98	41.24	80.28
12.	Monito-ring & Evalu-ation	-	-	-	-	-	-	23.21	4.77	65.07
13.	Impro -ved Techn-ology	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
14.	Entry Point Activity	-	-	-	-	-	-	778.06	400.53	87.42
15.	Overh-eads	-	-	-	-	-	-	146.54	65.44	92.52
	Total	25,810	18,730	14,339	55.55	12,575	67.14	2,845.10	1,372.05	82.99

Afforestation and JFM

Great scope- 3,000 fringe villages
499 FV
About 700 JFMCs
550 doing reforestation under NAP

Nodal Officer Forest Development Agency

To coordinate the works of the Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) in thE State, the office of the Nodal Officer FDAs has been created. He is thE officer in charge to liaison with Government of India and the other developmental departments. Sri Rajendra P. Agarwalla, IFS, the Chief Conservator of Forest is the Nodal Officer of FDAs in Asom.

List of Chairmen & Chief Executive Officers under FDAs in Asom, (as on 31st March, 2006)

Sl. No.	Name of Chairmen & CF	Circle	Name of FDA	Division	Name of CEO
1.	R.D.S. Tanwar, IFS	Central Assam Circle, Guwahati	1. Kamrup East	S.F. Guwahati-29	S.Kr.Bora, IFS
			2. Kamrup West	Kamrup West (T)	Dibyadhar Gogoi
			3. Goalpara	S.F. Goalpara	Tungnung Muanthang, IFS
2.	M.M. Sharma, IFS	Southern Assam Circle, Silchar	4. Cachar, Silchar	S.F. Silchar	Dilip Das
			5. Karimganj	S.F. Karimganj	M.S. Sinha
			6. Hailakandi	Hailakandi (T)	Sabya Sachi Sinha
3.	A.H. Khan, IFS	CSASFC, Guwahati-1	7. Darrang	S.F. Mangaldoi	P.N. Chutia, ACF, i/c
3.	A.H. Khan, IFS	CSASFC, Guwahati-1	8. North Kamrup	North Kamrup (T)	M. Hussain
4.	J.M. Kauli, IFS	UASFC, Nagaon	9. Nagaon	Nagaon (T)	Aftab Ahmed
			10. Nagaon South	C.A. Afforestation Division, Hojai	Rajib Kr. Das
			11. Dibrugarh	Dibrugarh (T)	Suman Mahapatra IFS
			12. Golaghat	S.F. Golaghat	P.K. Hazarika
5.	S.K. Srivastava, IFS	Eastern Assam Circle, Jorhat	13. Jorhat	Jorhat (T)	Amrit Kr. Das
			14. Doomdooma	Doomdooma (T)	S.K. Seal Sharma
			15. Digboi	Logging Division, Tinsukia	G.N. Adhikari
			16. Sivasagar	S.F. Sivasagar	R.K. Das
6.	G.U. Basumatary, IFS	Western Assam Circle, Kokrajhar	17. Haltugaon	S.F. Kokrajhar	R.N. Brahma, IFS
			18. Dhubri	S.F. Dhubri	A. Kuddush, IFS
			19. Kachugaon	Kachugaon (T), Gossaigaon	C.R. Bhobora
7.	T.V. Reddy, IFS	Lower Assam S.F. Circle, Bongaigaon	20. Aie-Valley	S.F. Bongaigaon	G.U. Borbhuyan
8.	D.M. Singh, IFS	Northern Assam Circle, Tezpur	21. Sonitpur East	S.F. Sonitpur, B/Chariali	Kunja Hazarika
			22. Sonitpur West	Sonitpur (T)	Dr. S. Singh, IFS
			23. Lakhimpur	S.F. Lakhimpur	J. Ahmed
			24. Dhemaji	Dhemaji (T)	M.N. Duara
9.	Bikash Brahma, IFS	N.C. Hills, Haflong	25. Hills, Haflong	Haflong (T)	D. Zaman, IFS
10.	C.M. Sharma, IFS	Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council, Diphu.	26. Karbi Anglong (E)	DFO (T) K. Anglong (E)	J.N. Hazarika
			27. Karbi Anglong (W)	DFO (T) K. Anglong (W)	R.P. Singh, IFS
			28. Hamren	Hamren (T)	Mridul Kr. Dhar

Government Of Assam Environment & Forest