Indian Institute of Forest Management

Joint Forest Management Resolution

GUJARAT

Read :

Government Resolution No. FAC-1-90-125-(V-3), dated 13.3.91 from Forests and Environment Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar,

Amendment No. FAC-1090-125-(V-3), dated 27-5-1991, from Forests & Environment Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar.

Amendment No. FAC-1090-125-(V-3), dated 24-4-1992, from Forests & Environment Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar.

Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat State Vadodara letter No. TA-16-4-2467-582-1992-93, dated : 26-02-1992.

Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat State, Vadodara’s letter No. TA/TA-16-2467-A-1535-1992-93 dated : 06-01-1993.

Resolution

As indicated in the Annexure to the Government Resolution, dated : 13.3.1991, the scheme of Regeneration of Forest through people’s participation has been under implementation. Also, through the earlier Amendments dated : 27-5-1991 as mentioned at No. (2) and No. (3) above, a number of modifications has been made in the said Annexure. Subsequently, vide letters dated : 22.6.1992 and 6.1.1993 from the Chief Conservator of Forests, Gujarat dated : 22.6.1992 and 6.1.1993 from the Chief Conservator of Forests Gujarat State, Vadodara mentioned at No. (3) and No. (4) above, proposals have been received for modifying the provisions in the Annexure for the distributions of benefits to both the parties, which has been under consideration of Government. Having considered all these and with the view to bring about uniformity and unambiguity in the Annexure explaining the scheme, the Annexure enclosed herewith is being issued with the reference to the Annexure to the Government Resolution, dated : 13.3.1991 and subsequent Amendments and decisions.

This Resolution is being issued with reference to the sanction of the Finance Department, dated : 03.5-1994, on this Department’s File No. FAC–1090–125–C, and also the sanction of finance department dated 11.4.1994 on the file of even number of this department.

ANNEXURE

Scheme for involving village community and Voluntary Organisations in the Conservation, Department and Administration of Forest Lands. (Annexure to this Departments Resolution No. FAC-1090-125-C (Part-3).

The details of the scheme for regeneration of degraded forest lands, involvement of village communities/voluntary organisations in conservation and development of forest lands will be as follows:

Formation of working group

For this scheme, the following state level working group is constituted under the chairmanship of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests at Vadodara.

(1) Principal Chief Conservator of Forests - Chairman

(2-3) Two Senior Chief Conservator of Forests - Members

(One of them will be the member secretary)

(4-7) Four conservators of forests (Territorial) - Members

(8-11) Four voluntary organisations having interest - Members

in afforestation interest in afforestation

This working group will determine the guideline of the scheme, and will decide the necessary administrative and financial procedures, and will also give guidelines to the direst level working committees from time to time.

Objectives

The main objective of this scheme is to obtain participation of village communities/village organisation in the regeneration, conservation, development and administration of degraded forests.

To meet the requirements of village communities living close the forest areas by producing grass, firewood, small timber and other forest produce by raising trees and other vegetation on forest lands.

To achieve an environmental balance which is helpful to sustainable production forestry.

To create possibilities of involving village communities in tree based activities.

Village communities/Villages organisations

A committee/cooperative would formed of people interested in this scheme. Village organisations may be the village Panchayat, cooperative society, Development society or forest development and protection committee. The village organisation will have to get registered within two years under the legal provisions of societies registration Act, 1860 and/or Bombay Public Trust’s Act, 1950.

An organisation which is not Village Panchayat will have to get registered as a cooperative society within two years in which any person having interest in forest development/conservation would be eligible for becoming a member. The village committee should comprise of at least 60 per cent families of the concerned village. The village organisation will have to maintain a register of its members in which the name of the member, number of family members, allotted area, type of work, etc. will have to be shown.

Such an organisation will have to contact the concerned Deputy conservator of forests. Giving details of the organisation, they will have to inform the land they want to protect or plant up out of the degraded forest area. Such an organisation will have to constitute its executive committee which will normally included the following members.

At least two women members

One representative from the concerned village panchayat.

Other members having interest in forest protection

Representative of voluntary organisations / funding agencies (whenever they are involved)

The executive committee will adopt the action plan (work planning) which will have to be got approved by the competent authority. Subsequently the committee will review the progress form time to time.

Voluntary Organisations

The cooperation and contribution of voluntary organisations in relief and developmental works has been an old tradition in Gujarat. The voluntary organisations which are interested in forestry works and have technical knowledge, required organisation and particularly have capacity to organise and motivate the village committees will be involved in this works, they will have to inform the concerned Deputy conservator of forests. The specific role of this organisation would be helping the villagers in forming their cooperative. They will work for motivating the village community particularly for activities for forest protection and forest growth and, if possible, give financial assistance. As clarified in the guidelines issued by the government of India, these voluntary organisations will not be entitled to nay material or financial benefits.

Area for the Scheme

Area for this scheme will be selected out of the degraded forest areas and on the proposal of concerned village communities, the District/Divisional conservator of forests will take necessary action who will determine the boundary etc. of the area to be handed over to the village community.

Methodology/Process

The concerned organization will send proposals to the Deputy Conservator of Forests. The deputy conservator of forests will ask the range forest officer to enquire about the land and send report including forest land, survey regarding needs of local people etc.

It will be considered for approval on receipt of the report by the deputy conservator of forests. The deputy conservator of forests will be the component authority to approve the Action Plan. Grant of lease rights over the forest lands is not unauthorized. The plan will be implemented by the village organisation only and no land will be allotted to any individual member. Also no cultivation’s will be done on such lands.

Responsibilities of the Village Community/Village Organisation

The responsibilities of the village organisations will be briefly be as follows:

To see that the forest, land forests are not unauthorisedly encroached upon. To protect against cultivation, fire, illicit cutting and grazing.

If the proposed land includes wastelands, the village organisations may take up afforestation works.

The committee will take necessary action through its members and will inform the concerned forest employee, forest officer if there is any damage by any unauthorised people in areas allotted to it.

If village organisation has been formed, then each member will plant trees in his field and if tree planting is possible around his house, trees will be planted there.

Timely and proper execution of afforestation and forest conservation work will be ensured in the areas allotted to the organisation.

The committee shall ensure that the usufruct rights are not misused by the members.

Actions/Responsibilities – Forest Department

If voluntary organisations do not take up training then Forest Department will have to take this responsibility.

Administrative and technical guidance will have to be given for simple and successful execution of the scheme.

The responsibility of supplying to the organisations/committees the finances from other sources/schemes of other departments will be that of the forest department.

To see that the work of overall forest protection and improvement is properly carried out will be the responsibility of the local officer.

The local forest officer will ensure that the Indian Forest Act 1927 and Forest Conservator Act, 1980 and various instructions issued under them from time to time are followed.

It will have to be ensured that the area selected for the scheme is free from claims from any person other than the members of the village organisation.

The concerned forest officer/staff will remain in touch with the scheme works and will inspite the works from time to time. If it is found that the beneficiary organisation is not taking proper care for checking encroachment into the scheme area/checking grazing or it is seen that the satisfactory implementation of scheme works has not been done, then competent authority will take action for withdrawing the benefits to the organisation without paying any compensation of any kind. Necessary provisions will have to be made for this in the Agreement.

Financial Sources

These scheme may be taken up from the available provisions made under the concerned scheme of the forest department.

Other Conditions

No right will be granted over the forest land but usufruct right may be given. No agriculture or research work will be carried out on the land.

The organisation will be allowed to share benefits from forest protection and development and will be fully entitled to take grass but agriculture or grazing will not be allowed.

The entitlement over dry fallen branches and minor forest produce will be as per the agreement.

If cut-back operation is carried out in the degraded forest area, the firewood available from it will be freely given to the members in equal parts. If timber is produced, it will be given at half the schedule rates as per the requirement of the villagers. If it is not required, it will be sold and the income credited to Government.

If cleaning is carried out 5-7 years after cut-back and afforestation in degraded forests, then the small timber will be given freely and in equal parts to carrying members who carry out cleaning. The members carrying out cleaning will not be paid in cash for this work.

In addition to the firewood produced 25 percent poles from the cleaning/thinning operations in degraded forest areas and afforestation areas will be given as compensation freely to the members of the village organisation who carry out thinning.

Whether the scheme is being funded from state funds or through some other financial arrangement in both cases – the net benefits (after final harvest and after deducting the expenditure) from the produce when trees get matured and are harvested will be shared between the village committee and the Government on 50 percent basis. Moreover when these forests are to be harvested, then a working scheme will have to be prepared and Government sanction will have to be obtained. No trees will be cut unless the working scheme is sanctioned.

Sale

Forest Department will dispose off the final produce by involving the village community and the voluntary organisation.

The village committee will do planning regarding the use of benefits to the committee. These will take into consideration the issues regarding the payment of loans, etc. if any, taken by the committee, development of forest land after the felling of trees, village organisation, share to Reserved Fund, contribution from members, etc. Besides, if a member joins the village committee afterwards, the benefits will be due to him in proportion to the time.

Agreement

The agreement will be entered into by the concerned forest officer of the district on one hand and the officer bearers of the committee on the other in which the responsibilities of forest department, village committee and, where necessary, voluntary organisation will decided.

If it is found that the committee has failed in executing the works and the scheme is not being implemented properly, the concerned district/deputy conservator of forests may ask written explanation, give hearings and, if necessary, may cancel the agreement. Against this an appeal may be made to the concerned conservator of forest whose decision will be final.

The activities which have been taken up on experimental basis with the help from voluntary organisations in Surat, Panchmahals, Vadodara and Bharuch districts of the state and training in afforestation works will be included in this new scheme.

The state government/Principal Chief Conservator of Forests may, if found necessary, order alteration in this scheme from time to time.