Working Plan for Jammu Forest Division (2013-14 to 2023-24)
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WORKING PLAN FOR JAMMU FOREST DIVISION (2013-14 TO 2023-24) Submitted by: Ashok Kumar Kalsi (Divisional Forest Officer Resource Survey Division) Working Plan Officer Jammu Forest Division INTRODUCTION Jammu Forest Division derives its name from its headquarters situated at Jammu city. Earlier it was known as Soil Conservation Division, Jammu , which came into existence in 1947 A.D by splitting up the then Jammu Range of Udhampur Forest Division into Jammu and Bahu ranges and by transferring some area of Reasi Division and renaming it as Kalidhar range. the fourth Range namely Jindrah was added to this Division by transferring forest areas of Jammu side of Karaidhar from Udhampur and a part of erstwhile Jammu range lying on the northern aspect of Nandini and Mansar-Surinsar ridges. The first working plan of the then Soil Conservation Division, J3ammu was prepared by Sh.M.S. Jamwal,IFS for the period 1971-72 to 1981-82. This plan was revised by S.J.B Singh after the reorganisation of the department had taken place in 1981 in which certain parts of erstwhile Division were changed to Forest Division Jammu. This working plan is a revision of Sh. Manoj Pant’s plan for the period 1998-99 to 2007-08. It covers the Jammu Forest Division as it exists now with some changes in area. Some minor changes that were found necessary in the method of treatment have been brought in. These changes have been made keeping in view the State Forest Policy-2011 and latest development in the field of forestry. Chir Forests of this Division have been subjected to heavy biotic pressure, repeated forest fires and excessive resin tapping for a long time in the past. Now, from doctrine of timber primacy, the emphasis has shifted to ecological conservation, so it is the need of the hour to make appropriate and effective efforts for improvement of quality and stocking of these forests. Therefore Chir Improvement Working Circle of previous plan has been continued with some minor changes. For treatment purposes, this working has been divided into two substrata. Stratification is done as per regeneration status in different chir areas and each substratum has been dealt with accordingly. The middle and lower parts of the Division are characterized by poor vegetative cover, soil erosion and heavy biotic interferences. Treatment of these areas requires a multidimensional approach depending upon precise requirements of various areas. Therefore Rehabilitation cum Reboisement Working Circle of previous plan has been continued with some changes in the allotment of compartments. Now this working circle has been divided into three substrata instead of four as in previous plan because division of the areas into four substrata is confusing particularly in case of substratum-I and substratum-IV, as it is difficult to differentiate between the two in the field on the basis of the condition and composition of the crop. This Working Circle is constituted to treat those areas which were productive earlier but got degraded due to increasing biotic pressure, grazing, fire and illicit damage. Some areas have also been identified for rotational closures. Nursery techniques and characteristics of some broad leaved species of subtropical zone have been discussed in detail which will help the executive staff to choose suitable species for plantation in different areas. Locations for temporary nurseries for plantation at different locations have also been identified. Grazing by livestock of nomadic graziers and local livestock is a major problem in the rehabilitation of forests of Jammu Forest Division. At the same time this problem needs to be seen from an humanitarian angle as it is related to the whole lifestyle and livelihood of nomadic graziers. These people are dependants of forests from ancient times. Keeping these points in view an attempt has been made in Grazing Overlapping Working Circle to make a balance between grazing pressure and sustainable forest development. Plantation Overlapping Working circle being a mandatory working circle has also been constituted to meet the demand of locals for fuel wood, fodder, small timber and also to reduce the pressure on natural forests by erecting buffer zones between villages and natural forests. To explore and document the ethno-botanical knowledge of local species of medicinal plants, Non- Timber Forest Produce Overlapping Working Circle has been constituted for the first time for Jammu Forest Division. In this working circle possibilities of resin extraction have been analysed on the basis of resin channel survey exercise conducted in the field and accordingly, extraction of resin from chir forests has been proposed to be banned during this plan also. Eco-Tourism Working Circle and Forest Protection Overlapping Working Circle being mandatory working circles have also been constituted perhaps for the first time for Jammu Forest Division. In Forest Protection working circle, fire protection measures, encroachment, grazing and browsing management, illicit damage and management of pests & diseases have been discussed in detail. Special chapters on wood-based industries of Jammu Forest Division, participatory forestry management, wildlife management and development projects have also been incorporated in this working plan. A large number of furniture, plywood and joinery industries are there in and around Jammu Forest Division. An attempt has been made through the chapter wood-based Industries to know their economic turn over and strategies are suggested to provide them raw material in sustainable way. The field work for the preparation of the new plan was started in the year 2011-12 and completed by 2012-13. Forest inventory was prepared by stratified random point sampling technique and the results obtained from the field were put to various statistical tests. Only growing stock has been calculated and yield neither calculated nor prescribed because of the poor condition of chir crop. The Stock Maps showing compartment boundary and other important information about the crop have been prepared by using satellite imageries i.e LISS-III (Geo-coded) on a scale of 1:50,000. The Stock Maps for the individual compartments were prepared on a scale of 1:15,000. It is my great pleasure that I express my sincere gratitude to the persons directly or indirectly associated with preparation of Working Plan of Jammu Forest Division. I am greatly indebted to Sh. Vinod Ranjan, IFS, Ex-Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, for providing the opportunity to take up the revision of this Working Plan, as well as, for according the approval to the Preliminary Working Plan Report. My sincere thanks are also due to Sh. Abhai Kumar, IFS, the present Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, for providing all expedient help and valuable suggestions during the final stage of the preparation of this working Plan. I am highly grateful to Sh. S.P Sharma, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Working Plan Circle and Sh. Ravi Kumar Kesar, IFS, Ex- Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu for their valuable suggestions and adept guidance during the various stages of the preparation of this plan. Thanks are also due to Sh. Roshan Jaggi, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests Jammu for his valuable ideas and constant encouragement during the preparation of plan. I place on record my special thanks to Sh. Vasu Yadav, IFS, Conservator of Forests Working Plan Circle for his expert, technical and valuable guidance provided from time to time. It was under his adept guidance that the field work as well as the compilation of the final Working Plan Report was carried out. His expertise in Working Plan as well as his helpful suggestions helped me to improve the final Working Plan Draft and present it in the current format. I am very much thankful to Dr. V.S. Senthil IFS, DFO, Jammu Forest Division for his valuable suggestions and help during the execution of field work as well as during the final stage of the preparation of this working plan. Special thanks are also due to Sh. Hitender Singh Chandel, Ex-DFO Resources Survey Division and present DFO Demarcation Division-II Bhaderwah for his crisp planning in execution of field work. Thanks are also due to Sh. Rakesh Abrol ACF and Sh. Bishan Dass ACF for their valuable ideas and tips during the preparation of plan. My sincere thanks are also due to Sh. Mohinder Singh Jamwal , Sh. Gian Singh , Sh. R. N Pandita (Range officers) and Sh. Romesh Zutshi, Sh. Shashi Kant , Sh. Sushil Kumar and Sh. Sanjeev Kumar (Foresters) and Sh. Gulab Hussain, Sh. Dev Krishan (Fgds), Sh. Vijay Kachroo, Sh. Rajesh Lala (Helpers) who are associated with the field work. Finally, the words of appreciation also goes to Smt. Rajni Ganjoo Jr. Assistant, Sh. Anil Kumar Bhat, Sh. Manoj Bhan, Smt. Nimmi Bakshi and Sh. Balbir Kundal (Helpers) who were associated with office, accounts as well as computer work during the preparation of Plan. Sd/- (Ashok Kumar Kalsi) (Divisional Forest Officer, Resources Survey Division). Working Plan Officer Jammu Forest Division GLOSSARY OF TREES, SHRUBS AND GRASSES COMMONLY FOUND IN THE TRACT (Sorted as per common name) TREES VERNACULAR NAME BOTANICAL NAME FAMILY Aam Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae Amla Emblica officinalis Euphorbiaceae Arjun Terminalia arjuna Combretaceae Badh or Pipal Ficus religiosa Moraceae Bahera Terminalia bellerica Combretaceae Bans or bamboo Dendrocalamus strictus Poaceae Ber Ziziphus jujuba Rhamnaceae Bohar Ficus bengalensis Moraceae Chir Pinus roxburghii Pinaceae Darhuni Punica granatum Punicaceae Dhaman Grewia