Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand: An Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development

Transcription

1 Regional sharing workshop on Assessment of Challenges and opportunities in the Asia Pacific region for Rio +20 (ICIMOD :23-25 August 2011) Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand: An Institutional Framework for Sustainable Development Dr. Rajendra Singh Conservator of Forests Western Circle, Nainital, Uttarakhand (India)

2 Location Map Uttarakhand

3 UTTARAKHAND AT A GLANCE CREATED ON 9 TH NOVEMBER 2000 TOTAL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA Sq.Km. TOTAL FOREST AREA (64.81%) POPULATION(2011) Male Female Sex Ratio 963 (National 940) Literacy over all 79.63% (National 74.04%) Male literacy 88.33% (National 82.14%) Female literacy 70.70% (National 65.46%) Growth Rate (.84% of country s population with 1.8% of geographical area)

4 Forestry Sector : the basic facts Forest Category by Mgt. Control By Land Category

5 Uttarakhand Van Panchayat Rules: Evolution through history Van Panchayat Rules 1931 Van Panchayat Rules 1972 Van Panchayat Rules 1976 Van Panchayat Rules 2001 Van Panchayat Rules 2005

6 Relevance of VP with Sustainable mountain development and Rio % of geographical area classified as forests/climate change induced threats Heavy dependence of people on forests for livelihood Presence of time tested (Since 1931) village level institutions for forest governance VPs covering ~5.45 lakh ha forest land. Enabling policy and legal environment Better approach for SFM (Integration of Dev. And env.) Requirement of democratic governance and need for inclusive growth and has all three basic elements of SD namely: Economic, social and environmental concerns

7 SOME UNIQUE FEATURES OF P.F.M. IN UTTARAKHAND Technical support by FD, administrative control of Revenue department. Decentralization and Empowerment of village community Liberal benefits/revenue sharing mechanism Net income sharing 30:40:30 : : GP:VP: community Dev. works by VP Concept of forest users groups/shgs in VP Empowerment of women, SC, ST and other weaker sections of society VP/JFMC has the status of forest officer.

8 Case-study: some interventions INTERVENTION I: Community Carbon Forestry (K:TGAL) period: led by university of Twente,Regionally coordinated by ICIMOD,Implemented by CHEA INTERVENTION II; Integrated approach for strengthening VPs for livelihood ( ) INTERVENTION-III: Pine needle briquetting INTERVENTION-IV:CAMPA

9 Key issues Size of Van Panchayat :60% VPs are of <15 ha while 13 % VPs are having < 3 ha forest area under their management; Availability of staff for micro-planning and other technical support Availability of fund and equity in its distribution Criticality of continuous motivation and support Leadership and capacity building issues Institutional arrangement and linkages with PRIs. ( Integration of Dev. And Env.) Lack of law enforcement ability of the community organisations

10 Opportunities Extension of van panchayat area. Resource mobilisation through MNREGA (working agency)/campa/13th FC/Green India Mission Carbon trading through CDM and other mechanisms. Micro-planning and capacity building issues. Instutional building

11 Recommendations pertaining to Green Economy Creation of fodder banks and integrated organic farming Developing capacity to make biodegradable eco-friendly plates and bowls from the tree leaves of Kweral (Bahunia variegata), Palash (Butea monosperma), Sal (Shorea robusta) etc. Use of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) needles for energy production. Plantations of species like Triphala, Thuner (Taxus baccata), Chaura (butter tree- Bassica butyracea) and Seabuckthorn (Hippophae spp.) Short rotation crops like bamboos, Ringal (Arundinaria spp.), and NTFPs with buyback arrangement Medicinal and Aromatic Plant cultivation e.g. oil extract from lemon grass etc. Oil seeds, Fiber and Natural dyes Resin Tapping and allied products Eco-tourism including Adventurous tourism Rafting/rock climbing/trekking etc. Potable water as forest produce from VPs./payment of royalty to the community

12 Recommendations pertaining to Institutional Governance UPFR year working plans in place of five year Consolidated management plans Need for optimum area of Community Forest/VP forest (at ha/family). The name "Van Panchayat" should be retained and the word "Management Committee" should be done away with. Develop horizontal and vertical linkages of VP as institution,with Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) at village, block and district levels. Need to reward community for management and conservation of forests as carbon sinks.

13 Key findings and lessons learnt Integrated and flexible approach approach Institutional building including Timely elections Capacity Building & development of local leadership Introduction of short rotation cropes Resource mobilisation (Carbon trading/other sources) for sustainability/ppp Adequate area necessary for VP to be viable unit of CFM

14 Key messages to policy-decision makers VP should be recognized by GOI ( MoRD and MOEF )/Resource mobilisation. UPFR2005 to be amended a) To Prepare 10 year management plan in place of five year consolidated plan for each district b) to retain the name Van Panchayat instead of management committee and to. Extension of VPs area to make them viable units of forest management and earning forest based livelihood Providing vocational training to the people to provide them alternative options for livelihood.

15 Key messages to policy-decision makers More emphasis on protection and conservation models (ANR)of forestry than target oriented afforestation Forestry to be given adequate importance in development planning and reward community forest conservation efforts Allowing management and maintanance of existing forests to be eligible for Carbon credits under CDM (Kyoto protocol)/red+ Mitigating human animal conflicts THANKS

16 THANKS