Experiences in Community Forestry Approaches to ...

Experiences in Community Forestry Number 6, July 2001

Major Conclusions Social/Institutional

Approaches to Participatory Natural Resource Management

• Initial response of village communities towards afforestation on the forest and community land is lukewarm. It is difficult to get a general consensus in the village so that most of the plantations tend to be project’s agenda. However, in villages, which were facilitated on process-oriented basis, plantations have proven successful and have generated enthusiasm. • The sensitization, capacitating and empowerment of created institution (e.g. VDC/VFDS) in the major social and forestry aspects are of great significance and can strengthen the VDC’s for other issues of NRM. • Participation or contribution (cash or kind) of local communities towards forestry works is very low (3.6%, project norm =5%). It is more seen as disincentive as livestock-keepers have to look for fresh grazing land, benefits are seldom short-term, many users are skeptical about the impact, usufruct and final yield sharing is unclear. Wherever plantations were raised with project’s mandate, local communities have not protected and are not very much interested in the management either. Disinterest in management may also be getting hampered because trees cannot be felled when people want it. • The trust of people in the multiple benefits of a plantations is easily lost if plantation does not establish within 2/3 years. Plantations in which people were involved from the beginning are usually better protected. • Despite forest management trainings conducted with user groups, it is seldom that effort is made to do things on their own. Mostly tips and techniques have been applied on private trees (Rarely on Shamlat).

Technicalities • Mortality rate is very high and growth of plantation can be hampered if not accepted by the community. However, the invasion of natural regeneration compensates for the mortality. The number of trees planted on community plantation is high (1100/ha). • The compacted sites are disturbed (e.g. overgrazed sites) considerably through planting operations (0.51m 2 area/pit ). • Density of natural regeneration can be very high (700/ha within 6 years) and is benefited by old- growth trees in or around the plantation. Approximately 70 plant species dominated by trees species (e.g. Jamun, Harar, Amla, Alsan, Badaren, Omren, Tremblu, Biul, Tun, Pajja, Amaltas, Khair, Shisam etc.) have been recorded so far. • Plantation closure immediately (both on Shamlat and Kharetar) increases the grass production (double and multiple cuts) but gets reduced by year no. 5. • Die-back of some species planted is a big problem (Khair, Shisham) and reduces the survival while growth is delayed. • Survival and height growth can be easily enhanced by proactive silvicultural operations including preventive fire management from year No. 2. • The technical know how of field staff (Forest Guard, Deputy Ranger) in various forestry aspects (sitebased forestry, nursery management, silvicultural operation) is unsatisfactory. • Grazing is a practice which will take a long time to cease but it can be controlled. • The problem of wildlife is going to exacerbate within next 5 years as it is not only putting sustainable farmThe Indo-German Changar Eco-Development Project is jointly implemented by HPEDS® (Himachal Pradesh Eco Development Society) and GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft füer Technische Zusammenarbeit) German Agency for technical Cooperation and . Funding is provided by the Government of Himachal Pradesh and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.


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ing to test but also the survival of innovations and growth of plantations.


Ecological • Plantations if raised with good technical standards and protected by the villagers during initial years (3 to 4 years), are the most effective and cheaper tools for rehabilitation (natural regeneration, species spectrum and biodiversity, soil conservation and water recharging)

Economical • Forestry can prove to be of great interest economically and this will be the case also in future (Grass, Fuel wood). The need of the hour is multipurpose forestry, proactive silviculture and flexible usufruct sharing and regular yields. It is concluded that plantation monitoring is a good tool:

ØFor reflection on the overall impact of plantations ØProvided early signals for the technical management ØAllows assessment of the local institutions.

Major Recommendations Social/Institutional • Plantations should be raised only if there is a general consensus reached in the village. Facilitation done with visionbuilding helps to get consensus on afforestation. This also must include intensive extension work on economic benefits and rights of the user groups when plantations pro-duce marketable yields. The selection of species should be made by the local communities with foresters facilitating the adjustment of the species as per the site conditions. Plantations must demonstrate the early impact and this goes long way in generating the interest of the community. • Within the IRMP, a Community Forest Management Plan should be agreed upon with the local communities, which consists of all rules and regulations, management details with plantation map and MoU. MoU must fix the responsibility of all the στακεηολδερσ (including FD). This CMFP must get recognition and become part of the Forest Management Working Plan. Forest Department must adjust to the new role of Technical Consultants to forest users. • To generate the interest of the local communities towards forestry “Lesotho Model” can prove effective. Incentives are given to local communities out of maintenance fund based on the survival and growth of the planted trees. This can certainly arouse the interest of unemployed village youth and school children alike. • For the long-term management of plantations, the involvement of Panchayat is must and it has to be involved in the beginning itself (Multiplicity of grassroots village organizations). Also registration of such organization can be avoided. • Local communities must be involved in participatory impact assessment

Technical • Number of trees with a wide range of species (need-based and having multipurpose function and different times of yield) as proposed by community should not exceed 700/ha (on community / forest land) and on private hay land the number should be max. 250/ha (50-75 as upper canopy). The aim should be to have 225/250 trees/ha (on community/forest land) as regular cover (50-75 as upper canopy). Regular yield through Coppice Selection System. The natural regeneration must be used intensively to rehabilitate the degraded area. • Plantation design (with appropriate adjustment to fire prevention) consisting of a plantation map in which species combination proposed by the users is adjusted to specific sites or blocks must be part of the CFMP. • Plantation area should not exceed 2 ha. This will help in facilitating the livestock-keepers who want grazing land continuously. By showing the impact on the enclosed land, it is easier to get more area for afforestation. Such small rotational closures will help towards a faster rehabilitation and flow of multiple natural products. • Proactive silvicultural interventions conducted with resource users must start from Year No. 2. These will help in reducing the rotation period of various trees species by enhancing the growth, producing quality products, reduce fire hazards, provide regular yield and even reduce the damage (dieback). • Training of field staff and resource users are of great significance given the fact that multi-layered vegetation has to fulfill multipurpose functions including conservation and short-term benefit for the resource users. • Preparation of Model Plantations which can be used as training and know how building objects.


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• Nursery techniques and management need updating for being cost effective, diversified and based standardization techniques (e.g. provenances, mother tree orchards) • The wildlife-Problem has to be solved through biological means. Buffer zones of vegetation preferred by the wild animals have to be created.

R&D must continue • Nutrient dynamics • Integrated weed management • Post empowerment research • Effective silvi-pastoral systems • Improved hay/silage making

Ecological • Multi-species plantations and there protection in the initial phase are ideal for the enrichment of bio-diversity. Hence need based multi-purpose plantations should be pursued on any kind of degraded land.

Economical • Focus has to be on value addition (Bamboo), • Management and marketing aspects need immediate attention (e.g. Medicinal Plants, apiculture, small timber). • The rules and regulations concerning harvesting and marketing must be made flexible. • Certificate aspects must earn our attention.

Indo-German Changar Eco-Development Project Tel: +91 1894 230567 / 230678

PO Box 25, Palampur, District Kangra, HP 176 061 Fax: +91 1894 230695 / 230678

Email: [email protected]