NO. 1-13/97-FF
Government of India
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran Bhavan
CGO Complex
New Delhi - 110 003
August 19, 1998
OFFICE ORDER
1. Protection of forests having become a major priority concern,
the Ministry has decided to extend the scope of working of Forest Fire Division in the
Ministry to cover all aspects of protection of forests. Henceforth, this division would be
called the "Forest Protection Division"
2. Further, in view of the growing
realization that public participation through Joint Forest Management Programme is crucial
for effective protection of forests in the country, it has been decided to create a Joint
Forest Management Monitoring Cell within the Ministry, to monitor the impact of JFM
Programme being carried out by the State Governments in improvement and protection of
forests. The work of this Cell will be looked after by the Forest Protection Division.
This issues with the approval of MEF.
(Sarweshwar Jha)
Joint Secretary to the Government of India
Copy:
- PS to MEF PS to MOS PPS to Secretary (E&F)/IGF & SS
- SS(VV), All Addl. Secry's, Addl. IGF(WL), All Jt. Secry's/All
Directors,
- All DIG's of forests and all divisions including NRCD and CCU
in the
- Ministry of Environment & Forests
No.
1-13/97-FPD
Government of India
Ministry of Environment & Forests
Paryavaran Bhavan
CGO Complex, Lodi Road
New Delhi- 110 003
Dated 6th November, 1998
NOTIFICATION
1. The Ministry of Environment &
Forests hereby constitutes a "Standing Committee on Joint Forest Management" to
advise it on JFM matters and appoint the following persons as its members.
2. Constitution of the Committee:
1. Dr. T.N. Khossoo, Eminent
Scientist
- Chairman
2. Shri A.K. Mukherji, IGF
(Retd.)
- Co-Chairman
3. Shri C.S. Chadda, Principal Secretary, Govt. Of
M.P.
- Member
4. Jt. Secretary NAEB,
MoEF
- Member
5. Shri G.B. Thapliyal, CCF(Dev. JFM), West
Bengal
- Member
6. Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Director, TERI, New
Delhi
- Member
7. Prof. Kanchan Chopra, Institute of Economic
Grwoth, Delhi University,
Delhi
- Member
8. Shri S.S. Rizvi, WWF India New
Delhi
- Member
9. Dr. Parvez Ahmed, Dy. IGF.
MoEF
- Member
10. Dr. V.K. Bahuguna, Dy IGF,
MoEF
- Member
11. Shri D.K. Sharma, Sr. AIGF,
MoEF
- Joint Member
Secretary
The terms and conditions of the references of the Committee
are:
(i) To review the implementation JFM
programmes in the country and advise on its operational aspects including institutional
mechanism and advise the Government.
(ii) To review the existing JFM
arrangements and suggest appropriate changes in the approach of implementation to achieve
the essence of the programme and submit annual recommendations.
(iii) To suggest approach and mechanism to
be adopted for expansion of JFM on other wastelands from time to time.
(iv) To go through the reports prepared by
various international and national agencies on JFM and advice on their adaptability in the
system.
4. Any other matter referred to the
committee from time to time for JFM.
5. The Committee will meet in Delhi.
6. The tenure of this committee shall be
for a period of 2 years from the date of its notification.
7. Sitting fee of Rs.300/- per day will be
paid on the meeting day to the non-official members and local transport charges for to
& fro journey shall be reimbursed as per rules.
This issues with the approval of the Minister for Environment
& Forests, Government of India.
Sd/-
(Dr. V.K. Bahuguna)
Deputy Inspector General of Forests
Copy to:
All members of the Committee
Copy also to:
PS to MEF/PS to MOS/PPS to Secretary/IGF & SS/PS to SS(VV)JS & FA
(Dr. V.K. Bahuguna)
Deputy Inspector General of Forests
No.22-8/98-FPD
Government of India
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Forest Protection Division
Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex, Lodi road,
New Delhi - 110 003
NOTIFICATIONS
Dated: 12th November, 1999
As per the decision
taken in the meeting of Nodal Officers of Joint Forest Management held in Delhi on
27.10.99, the following committee is constituted to submit its report to the JFM cell on
the Terms of Reference outlined below.
1) Shri R.M. Das, CCF, West Bengal - Chairman
2) Shri I.D. Pandey CCF, U.P. - Member
3) Shri Venugopal, CF, Karnataka - Member
4) Shri S.K. Srivastava, CF, Rajasthan - Member
5)Shri R.S. Pathan, JFM Cell, GEER Foundation,Gujarat - Member
6) Shri Munindra, DCF, Andhra Pradesh - Member
7) Shri Anil Oberai, Cf, Madhya Pradesh - Coordinator
2. Terms of Reference
(a) To prepare formats for Monitoring of
JFM programme at all levels (Division, State and National) with respect to its impact on
protection and development of forests.
(b) To suggest Ways and Means for sharing
of experiences between various states.
(c) To identify items for systematic
funding of JFM programme keeping due regard to its long term sustainability.
3. The Committee can co-opt any other
official member.
4. The Committee will submit its report by
31st December 1999.
This issues with the
approval of IGF & SS.
(Dr. V.K. Bahuguna)
Dy. Inspector General of Forests Copy to :
i)All concerned
ii) PPS to IGF&SS/PPS to Addl.IGF(MK)
No.22-8/2000-JFM
(FPD)
Government of India
Ministry of Environment and Forests
(Forest Protection Division)
Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex,
Lodi Road, New Delhi.
Dated: 21st February 2000
To
The Secretaries
Forest Departments
(All States/UTs)
Subject: Guidelines for strengthening of Joint Forest
Management (JFM) Programme.
Sir,
As per the provisions of National Forest Policy 1988, the
Government of India, vide letter No. 6.21/89-PP dated 1st June, 1990, outlined and
conveyed to State Governments a framework for creating massive people's movement through
involvement of village committees for the protection, regeneration and development of
degraded forest lands. This gave impetus to the participation of stakeholders in the
management of degraded forests situated in the vicinity of villages. The joint forest
management programme in the country is structured on the broad framework provided by the
guidelines issued by the Ministry. So far, during the last ten years, 22 States
Governments have adopted resolutions for implementing the JFM programme in their
respective states. As on 1.1.2000, 10.24 million ha of forests lands are being managed
under JFM programme through 36075 committees.
2. The JFM programme in the country was reviewed by
Government of India from time to time in consultation with State Governments, NGO's and
other stakeholders in view of several emerging issues. In order to further strengthen the
programme, the State Governments may take action on the following suggested lines.
(A) Legal backup to the JFM Committees:
- At present, the JFM committees are being registered under
different names in various States as per the provisions contained in the resolutions.
Except in a few States where the committees are registered under the relevant acts in most
of the states there is no legal backup for these committees. It is, therefore, necessary
that all the State Governments register the JFM or village committees under the Societies
Registration Act, 1860 to provide them with legal back up. This may be completed by 31st
March 2000. Completion of such formation of existing JFM committees may please be reported
to this Ministry.
- There are different nomenclatures for the JFM committees in
different States. It would be better if these committees are known uniformly as JFM
committees (JFMC) in all the states. Memorandum of Understanding, with clearly defined
roles and responsibilities for different work or areas should be separately assigned and
signed between the State Governments and the committees. All adults of the villages should
be eligible to become members of the JFM committees.
(B) Participation of women in the JFM programme:
Considering the immense potential and genuine need for
women's participation in JFM programme, following guidelines are suggested for ensuring
meaningful participation of women in JFM.
- Atleast 50% members of the JFM general body should be women.
For the general body meeting, the presence of atleast 50%women members should be a
prerequisite for holding the general body meeting.
- Atleast 33% of the membership in the JFM Executive
Committee/Management Committee should be filled from amongst the women members. The quorum
for holding meeting of such Executive/Management Committee should be one-third of women
executive members or a minimum of one whichever is more. One of the posts of office bearer
i.e. President/Vice-President/Secretary should be filled by a women member of the
Committee.
(C) Extension of JFM in good forest areas
For better resource planning and collective management
distance from the village and dependency on forests should be the main criteria for
allowing JFM programme to operate. Therefore, JFM programme should cover both the degraded
as well as good forests (except the protected area network). The micro-plan or treatment
plan and memorandum of understanding should be different for degraded forests and good
forests (crown density above 40%). In good forest areas, the JFM activities would
concentrate on NTFP management and no alternation should be permitted in the basic
silvicultural prescription prescribed in the Working Plan but to promote regeneration,
development and sustainable harvesting of NTFP which can be given free or on confessional
rates as per existing practice in degraded areas under JFM. The benefit sharing mechanism
will also be different for the good forest areas. The JFM committees will be eligible for
benefit sharing for timber, only if they have satisfactorily protected the good forests
for a minimum period of the last 10 years and the sharing percentage should be kept
limited to a maximum of 20% of the revenue from the final harvest. The felling of trees
and harvesting of timber will be as per the provisions of the working plan. A certain
percentage of revenue from final harvest should be ploughed back in the silviculture &
management of the forests. The extent of good forest areas to be allowed will depend upon
the number of village household and should be restricted to a maximum limit of 100 ha and
generally limited to 2 km from the village boundary. For degraded forests also as far as
possible JFM should be first concentrated on areas upto 5 km from the village boundary.
The implementation of JFM in good forest areas shall be done in a phased manner on pilot
basis. The pilot areas may be monitored closely for a few years and based on the feedback
and success achieved the programme can be extended further in consultation with the
Central Government. Before allowing the good forests on pilot basis, all the degraded
forests of the locality should be covered simultaneously.
(D) Preparation of microplan in JFM areas:
- In case of new working plans a JFM overlapping working circle
should be provided to incorporate broad provisions for micro plans. To achieve this
flexible guidelines should be evolved for preparation of local need based micro plans. For
this purpose, the working plan officer will work in tandem with the territorial DFO and CF
for finalisation of the prescriptions of the JFM overlapping working circle. The micro
plans should be prepared by the Forest Officers and Village Forest Protection Committees
after detailed PRA exercise and should reflect the consumption and livelihood needs of the
local communities as well as provisions for meeting the same sustainably. It should
utilise locally available knowledge as well as aim to strengthen local institutions. It
should also take into account marketing linkages for better return of NTFPs to the
gatherers and should also reflect and needs of local industries/markets. This should be
done with due regards to the environmental functions and productive potential of the
forests and their carrying capacity as also their conservation and biodiversity values.
- In areas where the existing working plans are in force (till
their revision in future), for incorporation of micro plans in the working plans, a
special order may be issued by the PCCFs for implementation of the microplan. In these
areas, microplan should aim at ensuring a multi product and more NTFP oriented approach.
Without changing the basic principles of silviculture, deviations may be approved in the
existing working plans if necessary. To ensure this, the concerned DFO and CF should
dovetail the requirements of micro plans with the working plans.
- The micro plan should also take into conservation and provide
suitable advice for areas planted/to be planted on community lands and other Government
lands outside the notified forest areas including tin the district council areas of North
East.
- Infrastructure /Eco-development under micro plan should form a
separate entity for funding it through concerned development agencies.
(E) Conflict resolution
In order to resolve conflicts in the functioning of JFM
committees and to maintain harmony among different group participating in the JFM, State
Governments may constitute divisional and state level representative forums or working
groups. This forum/group should include representatives from all the stakeholders
including NGOs. The model prescribed by the Andhra Pradesh Government for this purpose is
a case in point for consideration.
(F) Recognition of Self-initiated groups
The community groups in many places in Orissa, Bihar,
Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are performing the essential functions of forest
protection and regeneration. These groups need to be identified, recognized and registered
as JFM Committees after proper verification of records and enquiry. The period of their
existence and duties performed for protection and regeneration should be suitably assessed
and proper weightage given to them for deriving benefits under the JFM programme.
(G) Contribution for Regeneration of Resource:
- For long term sustainability of resources, it is essential
that a mechanism is created for ploughing back a certain percentage of the revenue earned
from final harvest. For this purpose, no less than 25% of the share of village community
should be deposited in the village development fund for meeting the conservation and
development needs of the forests. A matching contribution may be made by the forest
department from its share of such sales. There should be transparent mechanism for
computation of income for haring the benefits between different stakeholders.
- Monitoring and Evaluation:
Concurrent monitoring of progress and performance of this programme should be undertaken
at Division and State level. Evaluation of the programme should be planned at an interval
of 3 years and 5 years at Division and State level respectively.
Yours faithfully,
(C.P. Oberai)
Inspector General of Forest & Special Secretary
Copy for information and necessary action to:
- Principal Chief Conservator of Forests/Chief Conservator of
Forests (All States/Uts).
- Special Secretary, National Afforestation and Eco-development
Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests. New Delhi.
- Secretary, National Wasteland Development Board, Ministry of
Rural Development, New Delhi.
- Chief Conservator of Forests (Central) of all Regional Offices
located at Bhubaneshwar, Bangalore Bhopal, Shillong, Lucknow, Chandigarh.
- DG, ICFRE, Dehra Dun
- Director, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
- Director, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehra Dun.
- Director, Forest survey of India, Dehra Dun.
- Director, Forest Education, Dehra Dun.
- Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.
- All Officers of the Ministry of Environment and Forests.
(Dr. V.K. Bahuguna)
Dy. Inspector General of Forests
No.22-8/2000-JFM (FPD)
Government of India
Ministry of Environment and Forests
(JFM Cell)
Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex,
Lodi Road, New Delhi.
Dated: 24thDecember, 2002
To
1. The Secretaries
Forest Departments
(All States/UTs)
2. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests
(All States/UTs)
Subject: Strengthening of Joint Forest Management (JFM)
Programme.
Sir,
Attention is invited to the guidelines issued
by the Central Government on JFM to the States vide No.22-8/2000-JFM (FPD) dated 21st
February, 2000. The Government of India has received considerable feedback from the States
on various issues contained in these guidelines. To incorporate these suggestions,
following guidelines are issued to further strengthen the JFM programme in the field.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
To ensure smooth working relationship
between the forest department and the JFM Committees and also to bring in a sense of
empowerment and accountability, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) should be signed
between the forest department and the JFM committees outlining the short term and long
term roles and responsibilities, implementation of work programme, pattern of sharing of
usufructs and conflict resolution. In the MOU, JFM Committees should form the basic Forest
Management Units to provide them a feeling of empowerment and enable them to effectively
protect and conserve the forest resources. The MOU for each committee shall have location
specific work programme based on site- vegetation profile and mutual understanding. The
MOU should reflect the consumption and livelihood needs of the forest dependent
communities, plan for restoration of vegetation and clearly spell out the roles,
responsibilities and powers. The MOU should define the procedure for necessary transparent
accounting of all types of forest produce (seasonal, annual and periodical) accrued from
the forests as per the working plans and micro plan prescriptions, financial
accountability and distribution of sharing mechanism including ploughing back of revenue
for the regeneration in terms of Government of India letter No.22-8/2000-JFM (FPD) dated
21st February, 2000. All JFM Committees should be assigned specific roles for
boundary demarcation, fire prevention and control of grazing, encroachments and illicit
felling as well as ensure sustainable non-destructive harvesting of NTFPs including
medicinal plants and for this, the Committees should be given authority to act, monetary
and other incentives as genuine stakeholders. A provision to assist the JFM Committees has
been made under the Centrally Sponsored Plan Scheme ‘Integrated Forest Protection
Scheme’. Similar provisions should also be made in other State sector schemes. A GIS
based map of the JFM area of the States along with village boundaries may be prepared
every two years to monitor the performance and to ascertain the status of vegetation.
Similarly, the socio-economic changes brought about by JFM should also be monitored by
obtaining regular feedback from the committee members. The action programme should also be
linked with the State Forestry Plan activities in order to make JFM integral to the
overall forestry activities including afforestation on all types of lands. The MOU should
also include planning and development of grasslands, other common lands, agro-forestry and
water bodies as a reflection of peoples voluntary action for holistic land use planning
and management. Agroforestry models developed in various states under different conditions
should be studied and adopted. A case in points is the agro-forestry model developed by
Nagaland under the Indo-Canadian Environment Project to control shifting cultivation.
- Relationship with Panchayats:
The relationship between Panchayats and
JFM Committees should be such that the JFM Committees take advantage of the administrative
and financial position and organisational 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.
In order to achieve a better coordination
with Panchayat raj institutions, a committee may be constituted at the district level
under the chairmanship of President, Zila Parishad and under Collector in those districts
where the Zila Parishad is non-functional for the time being with the DFO acting as
Convener and other district level officers as members.
- Capacity building for the management of Non-Timber Forest
Products (NTFPs):
The success of JFM in good forest areas
would depend upon the sustainable development and harvesting of Non-Timber Forest
Products. The sustainability of JFM would also depend upon the remunerative prices for the
gatherers of NTFPs. This requires a well organised setup and plan of action for the
collection, transportation, storage, processing and marketing of Non-Timber Forest
Products. For better return to the gatherer and the Committees, State Governments may
initiate non-destructive harvesting (in accordance and within the overall prescriptions of
the working plans), equity in sharing, institutional reforms and also strengthen the set
up of NTFP management based on the experience in different States. The guiding principles
should be to first ensure sustainability of the resources and then maximum benefit to the
gatherers and value addition. Panchayats and State Forest Corporations should assist the
JFM Committees for developing skills for handling the NTFP collection, storage, marketing
etc.
This issues with the approval of the Minister
for Environment and Forests.
Yours faithfully,
(M.K. Sharma)
Director General of Forests & Special
Secretary
Copy for information and necessary action to:
- Chief Secretary, All States/UTs.
- Addl.Secretary, National Afforestation and Eco-development
Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi.
- Secretary, National Wasteland Development Board, Ministry of
Rural Development, New Delhi.
- Secretary, Department of Rural Development, New Delhi.
- Secretary, Planning Commission, Government of India, New
Delhi.
- Secretary, Department of Tribal Welfare, Government of India,
New Delhi.
- Chief Conservator of Forests (Central) of all Regional Offices
located at Bhubaneshwar, Bangalore, Bhopal, Shillong, Lucknow, Chandigarh.
- Director General, Indian Council of Forestry Research and
Education, Dehra Dun.
- Director, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal.
- Director, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy, Dehra Dun.
- Director, Forest Survey of India, Dehra Dun.
- Director, Forest Education, Dehra Dun.
- Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun.
- All officers of the Ministry of Environment and Forests,
Government of India.
(Dr. V.K. Bahuguna)
Inspector General of Forests
No.22-8/98-FPD
Government of India
Ministry of Environment and Forests
Forest Protection Division
Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
Lodi Road, New Delhi -110003
NOTIFICATION
Dated: 11th February 2000
The Ministry of Environment and Forests hereby constitute a "JFM Network" with
the following members.
1. Constitution of the Network
1. Inspector General of Forests & Special
Secretary
Chairman
2. Addl. IGF
(MK)
Vice Chairman
3. A representative of
NAEB
Member
4. Five PCCFs (one from each zone) by rotation for a period
of one
year
Member
5. A representative of World Bank in
India
Member
6. A representative of Ford Foundation, New
Delhi
Member
7. A representative of DFID, New
Delhi
Member
8. A representative of
SPWD
Member
9. A representative of
WWF
Member
10. A representative of OECF,
Japan
Member
11. A representative of Tata Energy Research
Institute
Member
12. Two young field officers (one women) implementing JFM
in the field by
rotation
Member
13. Two representative of grass root level NGOs (one women)
by
rotation
Member
14. A representative of National NGO Working in Forestry &
Rural
Development
Member
15. One international NGO active in the field of
JFM
Member
16. DG, ICFRE, Dehra
Dun
Member
17. Director, IIFM ,
Bhopal
Member
18. Director, IGNFA, Dehra
Dun
Member
19. Director, FSI, Dehra
Dun
Member
20. DIG, Forest Policy Member
21. DIG, Forest
Protection
Member Secretary
22. AIG, JFM
Cell
Joint Member Secretary
2. The Network will have following terms of
reference.
i) To act as a regular mechanism of
consultation between various agencies engaged in JFM work in the country.
ii) To obtain constant feed back from various stakeholders on the JFM
programme for proper policy formulation and suitable direction to states.
