Joint Forest Management in - Case Studies of Two Villages in District

Dr. Deep Pandey IFS, Director Forestry Farming Institute,

Rural development through participatory forestry is a dynamic process for promoting the economic, social and environmental growth, increased agricultural and silvicultural productivity, and enhancing the prospects of basic needs and services in rural areas. Forestry promises a vast potential to achieve the indigenous rural development through the integrated management of natural resources. The achievement of the aims of rural development to a large extent depends upon the availability and use patterns of natural resources including land, forests, soils, water and trees etc.

Planners in India have now realised the importance of forestry and integrated ruraldevelopment planning to enhance the availability of goods and services to the rural people.

Potential of Forestry for Local . Forestry can playa vital role in . There is big gap in supply and People increasing fodder availability in demand of forest produce in the Serious researches have concluded rural areas. This, in turn, supports country. With the restoration of that despite several development the animal husbandry, a core forest cover and enhanced achievements, the performance of economic activity over a major productivity of the land, the yield programmes directly targeted to the part of the state. of timber and non-timber rural poor has been disappointing. . Forest and trees playa significant forest produce will increase. This This had led to a relentless search role in the people's farming will not only lead to establishment for sustainable and alternative paths systems, and supplement their of indigenous cottage industry but for rural development. Chambers, daily income. Collection, storage, also provide purchasing power to Saxena and Shah (19a9) conclude processing and marketing of the rural people (Mukerji 1991). 'lift irrigation and trees fit the non-timber forest produce can . In addition to economic benefits to livelihood priorities of the poor, for provide a gainful employment to the rural poor, development of both resource-poor farmers and the rural poor, and support forest- forests and better managemenf labours reliable earnings to lean based industries in the region. of natural resources will also months of the year, reduces risk, and (Srivastava, 1993). strengthen the essential often removes the need for seasonal . Many forestry related activities ecological process and life- out migration. For their part, trees are season-bound as with Safed- support systems in the nature. provide subsistence and income Musli collection, seed collection through minor forest produce, for forestry plantation, tendu-Ieaf Policy Changes for Participa- firewood, fodder and seasonal crops. plucking, and the se,asons when tory Forestry Where they can be cut and sold they become available may not Forestry assumes great significance freely, trees owned by poor people coincide with the general in the era of participatory strategies. can enhance their security, as availability of the market for Experiences from West Bengal, savings banks cashable to meet wage-earners. Thus, people may Haryana, Orissa, Himachal Pradesh, contingencies and avoid debt'. not only earn a livelihood but Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu & Forestry forms the core-sector for also contribute to the local Kashmir and Tamil Nadu have rural people for various reasons: development. made it amply clear that under the [ill FinancingAgriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture& Rural Development JANUARY-FEBRUARY2007 prevailing socio-economic and for the Forest Department to enlist per year wood can be produced demographic situation in India, co-operation of village communities leavingasidethe trees plantedto yield participatory forest management and NGOs in re-greening of the non-wood forest products. offers one of the most important degraded and barren forest lands in Today Rajasthan has more than survival strategy for threatened Rajasthan. This is one of the most 1700 Village Forest Protection and Indian forests. Imposition of State important initiatives for sustainability Management Committees. Success ownership on forests during the of forests in Rajasthan. This order of Joint Forest Management British rule disrupted the community has been updated in the year 1999 demonstrate that vast tracts of management systems. Natural to make it more operational and degraded forests inAjmer, Banswara, resources in village neighbourhood effective for partnerships. Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Jaipur, were taken over by the state. This Rajasthanpresentsa pictureofvast Jhalawar, Kota, Sirohi and Udaipur action initiated the Green Mango contrast in climatic conditions can show rapid ecological recovery Picking Phenomenon, a condition influencing the distribution of through community forestry where everyone decides to harvest vegetationwhich rangesfrom scrubby programmes. In most of these his/her own produce before it is and thorny bushes in the north and districts, secondary species extracted by somebody else. semi-evergreen forests on the hills of dominate with vigorous coppice Forests, thus, were exploited Mount Abu in the south. Prior to growth and rootstock. Human beyond silvicultural regenerative independence, most of these forests activitiescausing degradation include capacity, resulting in habitat were managed by erstwhile princely very high incidence of repeated insularisation and local extinction states for Shikar. Exploitation was grazing and non-regulated over- of much biological diversity. done on permit-cum-royalty system exploitation for rural fuelwood. Prevailingtrends of deforestation in that resulted in heavy felling without Through participatory forest India have raised doubts about the regeneration except in shikar management, communities can take management system that began preserves which were protected up protection, artificial planting of more than a hundred years ago for game hunting. "Systematic wood and non-woodbio-massyielding in the name of "Scientific Forestry". management of forest was adopted trees, cleaning of surviving stumps, A growing number of foresters, after the merger of the princely states shoot singling and enrichment environmentalists, ecologists and but the conditions did not change plantingto enhanceproductivityofthe sociologists, after years of debate, significantly, mainly on account of forest lands. Tribal hamlets in have come to conclude that we need financialconstraintsand heavyburden southern Rajasthanoften comprisea to adopt a more people-friendly of rights, concessions and open homogeneous group of less than 125 approach to help revive threatened grazing on these lands. The average families and dependence on forests Indian foreSts. productivityofthe once' commercially for livelihood is high. Since minimum With this background, the workable' forests is estimated to be requirementfor ecological recoveryis Government of India's Ministry of 10 tonnes or 15m3per hectare. Out protection, enrichment planting and Environment and Forests issued the of total 31,660 sq.km. forest area seed-sowing, the JFM approach historic June 1,1990 guidelines more than 22,000 sq. km. support should help develop the forest facilitating the development of forest either degradedforests or are barren. resources. This shall be an important management partnership between About half of the degraded forests issue for rural development. village communities and forest have rootstock still capable of departments. The guidelines pr.ovide regeneration through protection. Village Organisation for rightsto usufructand all non-wood These areas form the most suitable issued a forest products and percentage potential territories for Joint Forest second order on April 26, 1991 share of final harvest to organised Management. It is estimated that enabling the constitution of Village communities willing to help after rehabilitation through Joint Forest Protection and Management regenerate depleted forest and Forest Management, these are likely Committee in every revenuevillageto waste lands. to produce 130 quintals of wood per enlist people's co-operation for The Government of Rajasthan hectare at rotation. It is safe to protection and management of issued an order on March 15, 1991 assume that at least 2 m3per hectare Social Forestry plantations on [ill Financing Agriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY-FEBRUARY2007 panchayat and Government waste VFPMC. Half of the share of VFPMC Forest Division (Pandey 1991a,b & lands. Membership is open to one will be distributed equally among the c), Shyampura (Chaudhury 1993), adult member willing to participate members and the remaining half will Eklingpura (Pandey 1992b), Gorela from each family of the village or be reinvested in plantation and forest (Zutshi 1993) and Dataramgarh village-clusters. A list of members will development. Incase a VFPMC does (Mathur and Ghose 1991) are such be prepared by Forest Range Officer not exist, the income will go to village examples. There are other examples (FRO) in consultation with village panchayat subject to its supportive where World Food Programme panchayat. Deputy Conservator of role in protection for a minimum assistance is provided for welfare Forests will issue formal orders of period of 10 years. activities to participating village constitution of VFPMC. Members of communities in 13 districts of the VFPMC shall elect executive Rural Productivity Enhance- Rajasthan. body of 7 members, giving due ment We shall discuss two examples representationto members of SC/ST. Forestry activities can enhance the where participatory forestry has Elected members of the village productivity of the forest ecosystem shown initial promise. panchayat, village secretary and by supporting bio-ecological inputs. patwari shall be non-voting members A sustainable package of location J.F.M. in Village Ambua of executive body.The Foresterof the specific eco-development for a Situated at about 18 km. from the area from FD shall be the member community living in and around a city of Udaipur, Ambua3 is a small secretary of the VFPMC. Executive forest reserve may thus, include hamlet of village Kanpur, located in body will meet at least once a year.A development of biomass required by Girwa block of in treasurer appointed by executive human and cattle population, Rajasthan. It comes under the body will maintain the accounts. enhancement of the resource Udaipur south Forest Division. It is VFPMC will be responsible for productivity through soil and water connected with Udaipur by a 12 km protection from cutting, grazing, fire, conservation, improved agriculture, metalled and 6 km. fair-weather road. unauthorised use or encroachment, pisciculture, poultry, piggery, A 3 km. walking path across a collaborative micro-planning, veterinary care, development of nearby hillock connects, village to production, management, resource cottage industry that is based on Udaipur-Salumber road near sharing, dispute resolutions and traditional knowledge and renewable Haldughati forest check post. It is marketing of the final harvests. raw material, introduction of wood- home to 140 households with a total VFPMC is required to protect and saving devices such as fuel-efficient population of 1057 in the year 1994. manage forest/plantation area for at chulha and improved crematoria, There are 134 households belonging least ten years to earn rights to forest human resource development to scheduled tribes, 1 household of produce. Before the final harvest, through education, health care and schedule caste and 5 household of villagers can collect non-wood forest involvementof villagecommunitiesfor others. Predominant community products otherthan Munj, Bhuari and managemenF and equitable sharing (97%) belongs to the bhil tribes. Khus grass free of charge. Munj, of benefits derived from protected Literacy rate is as low as 3%, thus Bhuari and Khus will be sold through areas. This will not only support the making the extension activities auction. After the final fellings, timber essential ecological processes and among the people difficult. People of less than 20 cm girth shall be life support systems but also provide are essentially engaged in distributed among the members of the livelihood security to the rural subsistence farming where average the VFPMC free of cost, and timber poor (Pandey 1993a, Bapat 1992 & size of land-holding per household of greater than 20 cm. girth will be 1993, Bohra 1993). is about 16 bighas. Crops grown sold, in consultation with VFPMC, to include makki, tilli, jawar, urad, villagers at the prevailing rates in the Development Initiatives wheat and rice. Village has 128 local market. Half of the income There are several examples to marginal farmers and 12 landless generatedfrom these auctionswill go show that participatory forestry can families, who either practice rainfed- to the State exchequer and 50% will be a viable option. Joint Forest agriculture or work for wages in be deposited in the account of the management in Udaipur South farmlands.

[E] Financing Agriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007 Some of the families are also villagers to outmigrate during the Economy of people is dependent on dependent on collection of dead and months, of November to June. several other trees, such as making fallen wood to sell it in Udaipur and selling of mats from Khajur market. Seasonal collection of Forest Resource Use leaves, Pattal (Plate) from Khakhra several non-timber forest produce Ambua is located close to forest leaves, collection of Tendupatta, and includingtendu leaves,seedsofforest block called Raniji Ka Beed which mahua flowers and seeds during trees, Mahua, Flowers and seeds, is close to Kewda ki Nal forest block. summer. Aonla fruits and dhavra gum provides Forests in the vicinity are degraded additional income to the people. though some of the areas have good Plantation Forestry Though,village has a largenumberof forest of 0.3 to 0.4 canopy density. First plantationwas carried out in the livestock, there are only few Vegetation includes Aam Mangifera year 1992 on 50 ha. of lands. Area household who sell milk in Udaipur. indica, Mahua Madhuca indica, Ber falls on gently undulating land There are in all358 cows, 241 bullock, Zizyphus mauritiana, Khajur sandwiched between human 114 buffaloes, 305 goats, 37 sheep, Phoenix sylvestris, Khakhra Butea settlement along hills runningparallel 116 camels, 3 horses, 5 mules and monosperma, 1mIi Tamarindus to their settlement. People 51 poultry chickens. A large number indica, Jamun Syzygium cuminii, suggested if lower reaches of hillock of peopleseasonallycollectgrassand Tendu Oiospyros melanoxylon, Bad are protected, tree-bearing upper carry it on camel back to sell it in Ficus benghalensis, Pipal Ficus slopes will automatically get Udaipur city. religiosa, Bamboo Oendrocalamus protected. Thus, since 1992, 200 ha. Though there are 45 wells in the strictus, Godal Lannea of plantation has been carried out village, only 12 households irrigate coromandelica, Neem Azadirachta and another unit of 50 ha. is under their land by traditionalwater drawing indica, Rohan Soymida febrifuga, advance soil work. Plantation not system called Chadas. Only limited Karanj Oerris indica and Sitaphal only provide employment to the irrigation is available to the crops for Annona squamosa etc. Shrubs people but also enhance the most of the wells run dry after the include Negad Vitex negundo, productivity of wastelands. This month of March. Awanl Cassia auriculata and provided people an eco-friendly Jharberi Zizyphus nummularia. employment who otherwise might Resource Availability Ethnosilvicultural use of trees is have continued with illicit felling of There is a public well, and 2 shown in table 3.2. People trees and its sale in nearby market. handpumps (including 1 handpump also graze their cattle in the Plantations have yielded bumper dug in the year 1994 from WFP forests, collect fodder by cutting crop of grass. Camel owning families generated funds). The village does grass and lopping of tree branches. have switched over to collection of not have a Primary Health Centre An obvious result of overuse of their share of grass, its transport to (PHC). Nearest PHC is 10 Km. away resourceswas scarcity of fodder and local market on camel-back and its from the village. Absence of livelihoodgoods. Peoplefelt the need sale. They also get additional communicable road, especially to regenerate their forests and some revenue by transporting grass of during the rainy season, further of them approached the forest other families who do not own a compounds problem. Forests of the department with their problem. camel, but still have surplus grass village are under depletive grazing A few years ago families use to to be sold for additional income. On pressure exerted by 1679 cattle collect Ohavraand Kadaya gum and an average, one camel owning including 805 goats, 358 cows, 241 sold it in local market, however, family earns about Rs 100/- a day bullock and 112 buffaloes. depleting forest yielded less and less for 80-120 days in a year. Low productivity of farm-land and of such products. small land holdings (avg. 1.4 ha/ About 80 families were earlier Microplanning household) make population involved in green felling and wood To get the desired results from dependent on daily wages for was transported on camel-back to societal, financial and technical sustenance.Absence of employment Udaipur. Villagers feel this was the inputs, it is necessary to know the opportunities force majority of the most depletive practice to forests. people's problems and their IJIl FinancingAgriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY-FEBRUARY~7 solutions as suggested by them. construction of small anicut for village was prepared as per Participatory rural appraisal was irrigation, midwifery training to SOme guidelines issued by Directorate, carried out to collect the information women, a metalled road connecting World Food Programme. The from primary sources. Patwari and Ambua and Umarda. People also following needs were expressed by forester's records were scrutinised to demanded health services. the villagers: get the information from secondary 1. Employment opportunities sources. Men and women from Participatory Forestry 2. Electric supply different castes and economic status Consequent upon Government 3. Two handpumpsfor drinkingwater were involved for interaction. circulars dated 15th March,1991 and 4. Culvert construction and road Informationgathered during the visits 26th April 1991, Forest Department improvement at different periodsof time of different officials in Udaipur South Forest 5. Cattle trough for drinking water group of people was consolidated Division started interacting with the 6. Construction of platform for and it was verified and corrected by villagers and explained to them the meeting villagers themselves during the necessity of developing forest and 7. Earthen bunding of agricultural discussions. Special efforts were importance of forests for their fields for soil conservation made to involve the so-called non- survival. Discussions with the 8. Deepening of private wells participatingor marginalisation-prone villagers were held in formal as well 9. Improvement of cattle breed people including poor women and as informal groups. Village Forest disabled. The documents prepared Committee was formally formed and The MicroplanProposalswere placed reflect the aspirations, needs, registeredon 27th February, 1993 by before Project Level Implementation priorities,problems and their solution DCF Udaipur South. Nine member Committee (PLlC). Earthen bunding given by the people. It is not prepared Executive Committee was elected by and deepening of private well were for presenting priorities but for an the villagers. The forester of the area not considered as these were integrated approach to land, water, was made member secretary. The individual beneficiary activities which agriculture, livestock and village executive body had only male could not be funded from generated infrastructure. members but later on the VFPMC funds. Improvement of cattle breed Species-ranking for plantations nominated 1 woman member also. was to be taken up after habit of stall was done with the help of different WFP Project 2773.01 has feeding was developed.The VFPMC use groups such as men, women, participatory forest management as had agreed to construct the cattle children, farmers, fuelwood gatherer, one of its main objectives and trough through their own contribution. livestock-owning households, and generated funds were to be used for They have also agreed to contribute NTFP collectors. People suggested development of the village after Rs. 2000/- in form of labour towards Bamboo, Mahua, Baheda, Aonla, microplanning through people construction of platform. Afte.r lOlli, Bad, Pipal, Shisam, Havan, participation. Intensive interaction approvalof the microplanby the PLiC Desi babooL, Khair, Kumtha, Jamun with villagers for need assessment, and sanction of the works by and Neemfor plantations.Conceding over a long period of time, was done the State Level Implementation to the people's suggestions forest by the local foresters. Informal Committee(SLlC) in the year 1993- department selected these species meetings were held with individuals 94, 50 ha of forest plantation for plantations. They also suggested as well as in small groups from was undertaken for employment the apportioning of the species as different sections of the society. The generation, 1 handpumpwas dug for 20% bamboo, 30% NTFP species, women were also contacted for need drinking water purpose and platform 30% fuelwood and 20% timber assessment and to determine the for meeting was constructed. In the species for plantation. species to be planted in the forest year 1994-95, another 50 ha of Microplanning exercise also area. Information gathered from plantation was undertaken for identified other developmental VFPMC meetings and PRA/RRA sustainable employment generation (non-forestry)priorities which include exercise was used for need and culvert construction work was drinking water, a meeting platform assessment and prioritisation of also undertaken. Primary health care near the Devra (village shrine), needs. Detailed microplan for the was providedthrough mobilemedical IJI] JANUARY-FEBRUARY2007 Financing Agriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development unit. The VFPMC is protecting 200 provided by the generated funds has to committee pool everyday. This ha of plantations raised in the village made drinking water easily decision will be implemented in and equitably distributing grass yield accessible to about 30 households. the current year during grass from the area. Villagers patrol the Cattle trough constructed from harvest season. Villagers have area in groups of 2 or 3 in rotation. contribution of villagers is being filled full access to chabutara (open Grass production has increased due with water by the committee cement platform) and handpump to protection provided by the members itself. The platform established from generated funds. villagers. constructed from generated funds, . Sustaining the Process: Income and 20% contribution from the transfer in the form of wages on Benefits and Beneficiaries villagers in form of free labour, is forestry works has, to a great As per the government circular on being used by entire population for extent, compensated for shortage JFM, the villagers are entitled to meetings as well as social functions. due to closure of forest areas for take non-timber forest produce Mobile medical unit provided them development in the initial 5 years. (NTFP) free of cost from the area health care in the village itself. During Increased yield of grass and its being protected by the VFPMC. an out-break of malaria epidemic, importance in village economy is The committee will also get 50% medical unit not only provided adequate in itself to make the share in profits at the time of final medicines but also collected blood process sustainable. In coming harvest. If one analyses it for forest samples and conveyed the results years, NTFP yield from planted production system, the total after getting the samples tested at area and bamboo will further production in the form of NTFP is district hospital. reinforce sustainability. much more than timber that can be . Asset Management: VFPMC has obtained by harvesting after the Status of Joint Forest opened a bank account where rotation period. Therefore, for Management money collected by the VFPMC optimisingreturnsto the villagers,the Joint forest management through is deposited. So for, Rs 9000/- forest production system under JFM people's participation can be have already been deposited should be managed for NTFP, and evaluated on the basis of following in the account. This fund will on a natural rotation. The villagers criteria: be used for maintenance of collect grass free of cost from the . Equitable sharing of usufruct developed assets. The decision of area protected by them. The area Sustainability Mechanism for as- VFPMC to make contribution of yielded grass worth more than set management Commitment of grass to the committee pool is an Rs. 1.75 lac in the year 1994. the community and government indicator of collective resource In the' initial years, when the staff management. returnsfrom area closed are low,the . Sharing of Benefits: Village . Commitment: The members of the. villagers who are landless or poor community has evolved sharing Village Forest Protection and face difficulty in procuring fodder and mechanism in which every Management Committee are fuelwood.Therefore, it is essentialfor household is given a token and aware of importance of forests to success of JFM that alternative only one person can enter the their life and the society. The sourceof income is providedto them. plantation. Till year 1994-95 no preservation of sacred grove by In the village Ambua alternative contribution towards VFPMC pool the villagers, and increasing the source of income was provided for was being made. Grass cutting area of protection to grove as well the first 3 years by generating was allowed during limited period as plantation, is clear proof of employment near the village on and one member from each commitment of the community. afforestation activities. Villagers household could bring one Local forester has played a very working on afforestationactivity were headload.Those who did not need important role in formation and also providedfood underWFP Project grass for consumption were free to functioning of VFPMC. Continuity 2773.01. Employment generation sell in the market. Recently, of the staff will definitely help in through forestry works is likely to VFPMC members have decided to sustaining the participatory continue for next 3 years. Handpump contribute a small bundle of grass process. [ill Financing Agriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2007 VFPMC Ambua has received the forest in this area. The villagers along with increasing demand for highest state honour given by the described these issues with fuelwood in Udaipur forced peopleto Govt. of Rajasthanfor their work. The reference to three time periods, the embark on a three stage process of award known as Amrata Devi Award period before 1972, through the 70s, forest cutting. In the first stage, wood was given in 1998 (Rs. 50000/-) for and the period after 1980. These was collected from the forest for sale the work on JFM phases were crucial in the history of in the city of Udaipur. In the second the forest. The year 1972 was stage, pruning and later truncating JFM in Village Gorela characterisedby a severefamine and the tree was done. In the last stage, Gorela village is located in the Girwa 1980 was the beginningof plantation trees were uprooted and sold in the Block, at a distance of 10 Km from and protectionactivitythat culminated market. the city of Udaipur in Rajasthan4. It in the formation of a forest protection An obvious result of deforestation is home to 230 families (and 1650 committee in 1992. was scarcity of fodder and other people), who represent wide social History of the forest was also livelihood goods. This weigheddown diversity in terms of occupation, traced back to 1947 when the then heavily on the community, a large social composition and land Maharana had given rights to the section of which pursued commercial ownership patterns. Predominant village to graze their cattle and dairying as a major economic activity. communities here are Gujjars, collect fallen wood and grass in The villagersapproachedthe FD with and Gametis. 'The Gujjars return for a fee called "lagan". Later their forest management problems. are the land owning community who on the fee was collected by the FD. It was easy for foresters to convince are essentially engaged in At that time, the forest was dense the villagers about the benefits of commercial dairying. The Gametis with a crown density of more than forest protection. As early as 1980 are either landlessor have very small 0.4. Naturally growing species in this the FD had brought 100 hectares of holdings, ranging from 1 to 2 bhigas. area included Kumtha, Salar, Godal, degraded forest under a plantation Most of the Gametis work as Desi babool, Khair, Amla, Mahua, scheme called Tree Planting labourers in the city. Almost all Neem, Bistendu and Khirni. Salar Programme. Subsequently forest families in the village practice and Bistendu are fodder species. department carried out plantation in subsistence agriculture. Ninety Kumtha is a fodder and fuel species the year 1985,1987,1991 and 1992. people are engaged in dairying and and Khirni is used for making toys. The total plantation area today is over 700 people work as labourers Apart from this, people collected 450 ha. in the city of Udaipur.The village has many other products from the forests 1186 hectares of forest land. such as Amla, gum and fodder. Salar Regeneration of Forest Land Agricultural land-holding per family gum tapping was common and Earlier, the choice regarding the varies form 1-2 bhigas to 6-7 bhigas. lopping was done to meet fodder composition of species for Main crops grown are wheat and needs. People were allowed to plantations was primarily governed maize. In areas where water is not collect dead and fallen wood and by technical factors such as the available only maize is grown. The graze their animals in the forest. climate, soils and topography. But villagers keep cows, buffaloes and As part of the wildlife conservation now the trend has changed in favour goats. There are, in all, 1300 cows drive, FD converted a part of the of the species recommended by and buffaloes and 3000 goats in this grazing land and near by areas into villagers. village. Infrastructuralfacilitiesinclude what is now called the Sajjangarh Emphasis earlier was more on a primary school, a post office, 30 Wildlife Sanctuary. As a result there fuelwood and timber yieldingspecies. wells and electricity connections. was less land available to people to Prosopis(fuelwoodyielding),bamboo meet their fuel and fodder (timber) and Inga dulce (fuelwood History of Harvests requirement. This, coupled with and timber yielding) were planted We discussed with villagers and FD increasing human and livestock under the rural fuelwood plantation officials about the evolution of forest numbers, led to increasing pressure scheme in 1987. Fruits, medicinal protection systems, management on land. The situation grew worse trees and species yielding other non- practices and composition of the after the famine in 1972. The famine timber forest productswere given low ill] Financing Agriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2007

- priority. Only few Am, Am/a and Ber Felling of trees in the regenerated non-forest purpose. However,people saplings were planted, but natural area is strictly prohibited. The of Gorela adopted an interesting saplings of these species were VFPMC has conventional powers to protection mechanism. They provided assistance in regeneration detain anyone caught breaking rules contributed voluntary labour to area. Am/a, and Karanj, which yields and may impose fines also. In case develop the remaining areas as oil, were planted only as late as of animal grazing in the regenerated plantation. With technical support 1992. Gum yielding trees such as area, the fine ranges from Rs. 10 to from Udaipur South forest division, Salar and Godal were not planted, 20 depending on the type of animal. they have closed the land by however, assistance to natural In case of illegal tree cutting, the fine stonewall fencing, constructed soil regeneration of these species is five times the value of timber cut. and water conservation structures yielded excellent results. Villagers However, there have been no and resorted to planting and noted with satisfaction that Neem, a incidents of tree cutting. Sometimes replenishment seeding. This is an multipurpose tree was planted since the villagers even resort to a social interesting example of people's 1987 in the area. boycott of the person who has action against perceived external broken rules. The money collected threat of forest encroachment. Forest Protection System as fines from illegal grazing and tree The Gorela Village Forest Protection logging is deposited in the account Harvesting of Forest Products and Management Committee of VFPMC. (a) Grass: (VFPMC) was formed in July 1992 This shows that the villagers have On the plantations carried out in the with 117 members comprising of high stakes in protecting the forests. year 1990, 1991 and 1992 the Gujjars, Rajputs and Gametis Protection has led to an increase in indigenous species of grass found (scheduled tribe). Only one person the production of grass which the include Ap/uda mutica, Sehima from a household is a member of the villagers value most. The reason is nervosum, Eragrostis tennela and Forest Protection Committee. simple - a large number of people in Dicanthium annulatum. These grow ExecutiveCommittee was chosen by the village are Gujjars who are on steep slopes and are also consensus. Members include the engaged in cattle rearing.The growth resistant to canopy closure. village patwari, a forester and 15 of commercial dairying can also be The most immediate benefit of persons from the VFPMC. Members attributed to the fact that the village forest protection activity in Gorela is of the executive committee take is situated just 10 km from the city, the regeneration of grass. It is most of the routine decisions on thus access to local market is easy. collected after the rains during the forest management. Forest months of October, November and protection-isundertakenon a rotation Protection of Forest Land December. Members of the VFPMC basis by two community appointed from Non-forestry Use can collect it by first obtaining a watchmen.VFPMC is responsiblefor In October 1993, members of the permit for Rs 15 that is valid for a organising regular patrols ofthe area Village Forest Protection and period of 1 year. The cash collected by members on a rotational basis. Management Committee came to from permits is deposited in the Everyday, two villagers and a forest know that brick-making industry was community fund by the cashier of guard take roundsof the regenerated being planned to shift to the forest the committee. Grass collection is area. Village problems and forest land adjoining the Kaler clusture subject to a ceiling of about 30 kg protection matters are discussed in plantations. VFPMC members (one head load) per day. One small meetings of VFPMC. The VFPMC approached the forest department to bundle of grass has to be deposited met 7 times during the year 1994. help them construct a fence wall and in the common pool which is later The minutes of the meeting are plant saplings before the land went auctioned in the village. Grass is maintained by the chairman of the to the outsiders. Forest department used as cattle-feed by the Gujjars VFPMC. In return for protection, the explained the situationthat under the whereas it is a source of villagers have rights to collect fallen provisionsof the Forest Conservation supplementary income for the wood, fodder grasses and other non- Act 1980 it will not be possible for Gametis who sell it in the local timber forest products. anybody to use the forest land for market. Villagers report that there [ill FinancingAgriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY -FEBRUARY 2007 has been a considerable increase in People's Perceptions for local people in plantationactivity with grass yield leading to substantial Future Forest Management training and supervision by the FD returns to the villagers. In the last (a)Timber harvesting & benefit staff. Moreover, one needs to harvest 600 quintals of grass was sharing: consider the opportunity cost of collected which has a current market From interviews it was apparent that protection activity. The terms of value of Rs one lakh and twenty some villagers were not clear about distribution then will have to be thousand. timber harvesting and sharing rules. reworked to take into account this A largenumber,however,know about opportunity cost. If local people are (b) Regulated grazin: the distribution and sharing of the involved in plantation and soil and In the month of November 1993, final timber harvest. Moreover, the water conservation activities, the VFPMC members discussed the villagers are not clear that their share benefit to the community will have arrangements and allowed a limited- is from net revenue and not gross to incorporate these returns from time grazing for the first time since revenue from sale of timber. labour invested. the planting in the areas regenerated Procedurefor harvestingand sharing in 1980 and 1985. Cattle were should be clearly communicated to (c) Preferred species: released daily for 15 days in the people. Most Gujjars are not interested in regulated number so as to minimise Since harvesting of timber has not any non-timber forest products other the damage to regenerated area. been done as yet, people were than grass. However, a few did Originally this arrangement was asked if they would prefer timber or suggest some species that yield promised and documented in the money from the final harvest. Most minor forest products.The significant plantation journal at the time of land revealed a distinct preference for ones are - Am/a, Karanj, Bamboo being taken up for regeneration.After cash. Many felt that this revenue and Neem. Some suggested that FD limited grazing entire stonewall should be maintained as a should plant eucalyptus for its poles fencing was repaired to ward off any community fund. Majority of these make very good straight timber stray cattle. people are Gujjars. Some Gametis needed for rooftops. Some people revealed an interest in timber. They are against planting more trees (c) Regulated pruning: said that they would either use it for because they say this will inhibit In the month of January 1994, Ber construction purpose or sell it in the growth of grass. The Gametis,on the (Zizyphus sp) branches were pruned market. Distribution of benefits other hand revealed a distinct leaving the leading shoot to develop should be done according to the preference for species that yield into tree form. This was done on an needs and preferences of the minor forest products. Kumtha, experimental basis. Leaves from the villagers. This would go a long way Khair, Safar and Goda/ for gum, loppedbranchesare excellentfodder. in engaging people's interest in the Ratanjot and Karanj for extracting Small brushwood was used over the programme. Villagers pointed out oil were suggested by them. They fence wall for an extra protection that their opinion should be taken are also interested in Am/a because against grazing by free-rangingcattle before any felling programme. fruits fetch a good price in the and enhances its durability. market. (b) Rules for benefit sharing: (d) Dead and fallen wood: The villagers are entitled to 60 (d) Management of forest Women collect fallen and dead wood percent of the net revenue from the resources: from forest and agric!,..llturallandsfor final sale of timber. Net revenue is First, people suggested that meeting their requirement of fuel. arrived at after deductinggovernment abundantly growing Lantanacamara, Woodcollectionis done over a period expenditure on plantation, fencing, that suppresses the growth of grass of one month in a year. Unlike grass soil and moisture conservation, in the area, should be removed. collection, there is no permit system raising of seedlings and weeding. Second, people suggested that or upper limit for the collection of It would perhaps be useful if Prosopis julliflora should be wood. Community does not permit FD could develop a comprehensive eradicated because it does not allow green felling. employment programme to absorb other speciesto grow. In areas where

[]ID Financing Agriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY-FEBRUARY2007 Prosopis is growing the growth of sale either to the Gujjars or in the the VFPMC, while there are a total Bamboo is stunted. Moreover, since nearby market. The Rajputs, only of 230 household in the village. A fuelwood needs are met by fallen a few households, also collect concerted effort should be made wood that is collected from forest grass for their livestock. to persuade others to join the and agricultural lands, people of this . More than a homogenous social VFPMC. village do not see any advantage in structure, it is therefore, the . The Gorela VFPMC has only two having this species. Third, thorny availability of livelihood products women members. Increasing Ber bushes are growing in many that motivates people to protect women's participation by patches in this area. Villagers want their forests. Joint Forest increasing their representation as these to be pruned because they Management (JFM) should, well as allowing them to participate hamper grass collection. Fourth, therefore,be linkedto the livelihood in decision-making is essential for villagers feel that grass productivity needs of people. Immediate the success of the programme. is likely to decline in the future economic benefit on sustainable The reasonis simple.Women have because of closing crown cover. basis would be an important great dependency on forest Most people suggested that determinant of effectiveness of resources. It is they who are branch cuttingand pruningon regular participatory forestry. responsible for the collection of basis would ensure that trees . Grass is valuable because of the fuelwood, fodder and NTFPs. grow only in height and grass can growth of commercial dairying in Therefore, they have a strong grow uninhibited. These pruned this village. More so because of vested interest in improving branches can be used as fuelwood the proximity of the village to the productivity and management of and fodder. city. Commercial dairying will not the forest. Declining forest be a lucrative business for villages productivities affect women Conclusions that lie in the interior areas unless adversely in the sense that they . Contrary to conclusions drawn by there is a nearby town where have to spend moretime and effort many workers from other parts of people can sell milk or there is in collection activity. Moreover, as the countrythatforestmanagement scope for some milk processing part of the JFM programme, some partnership may not work in activityin the village. Insuch areas, income-generating activities for heterogeneous villages, the forest products other than grass womenfolkcan be created.Thiswill programme has done exceedingly might be preferred. One such ensure greater participation and well in manyvillages where a great example is that of Mohandungri also sustain the interest of people. deal of heterogeneity exists in village,wherepeopleare interested A variety of local forest products respect of social composition. in increasing supplies of fuelwood. can be used for such activities; for Similarly, Gorela too shows signs They are presentlyfacinga chronic instance,use of bamboofor basket of success. There are mainly three shortage of this resource. making, Salar gum tapping, communities in Gorela - Gujjars, . It is therefore imperative for the collection of ratanjotoil-seeds and Gametis and Rajputs. The Forest Department to undertake khirnifor toy making. For all these requirements of these intensive research before activities, it would be worthwhile if communities vary as far as forest embarking upon any JFM the Forest Department or local produce is concerned. The need programme. Some issues that NGOs could providetechnical and for foddergrass isfelt most strongly ought to be investigated include financial support. . by the Gujjars since cattle rearing livelihoodneedsofthe localpeople, and milk selling is their main species ranking and access to The above article by Deep N occupation. The Gametis, on the local markets. Pandey has been excerpted other hand, seem more interested .The membership of the VFPMC Beyond Vanishing Woods, in other marketableforest products needs to be increased to include Himanshu/AFN, New Delhi/Udaipur, such as gum, timber and even every household so that more 1996 with additional inputs from A.C. grass.Although,theydo not require peoplebenefitfromthe programme. Chaubey, Meenu Kakapuri and P. fodder grass, they do collect it for Today 170 people are members of Zutshi. . [ill Financing Agriculture - A National Journal of Agriculture & Rural Development JANUARY. FEBRUARY 2007