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Subject
:-
Chhattisgarh State Forest Policy, 2001 |
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1.
PREAMBLE |
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1.1The
GOI vide resolution no. 3-1/1986/F.P. dated the 7th December
1988, enunciated a National Forest Policy that provided a
national perspective on forest management problems and specified
actions required for tackling them. |
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1.2
The
new state of Chattisgarh came into being on 1st November 2000.
There is a necessity to review the situation and to evolve for
the future, a new strategy of forest conservation, which
encompasses the special characteristics of the state as well as
provides it a new direction. Since forest is a concurrent
subject under the constitution of the country, the state's
forest policy has to remain in tune with the current National
Forest Policy. |
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1.3
The
state of Chhattisgarh, lying between 17 0 46 ' N to
24 0 6 ' N latitude and 80 0 15 ' E to 84 0
51 ' E longitude, has about 44 percent of its geographical area
(135,224 sq. km) under forests and provides catchment to at
least four main river systems, i.e., Mahanadi, Godavari, Narmada
and Ganges. Major rivers of the state are Mahanadi, Indravati,
Hasdeo, Sheonath, Arpa and Ibb. The climate of the state is
generally sub humid with an
annual rainfall ranging from 1200 to 1500 mm. |
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1.4
Over
the years, the forests in the state have suffered serious
depletion. This can be attributed to relentless pressures
arising from ever-increasing demand for fuelwood, fodder and
timber; inadequacy of protection measures; diversion of forest
lands to non-forest uses without ensuring compensatory
afforestation and essential environmental safe-guards; and the
tendency to look upon forests as a revenue earning resource. |
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1.5
The
forests of the state fall under two major forest types, i.e.,
Tropical Moist deciduous forest and the Tropical Dry deciduous
forest. Sal (Shorea
robusta) and Teak (Tectona
grandis) are the two major tree species in the state. Other
notable overwood species are Bija (Pterocarpus
marsupium), Saja (Terminalia
tomentosa), Dhawra (Anogeissus
latifolia), Mahua (Madhuca
indica), Tendu (Diospyros
melanoxylon) etc. Amla (Embilica
officinalis), Karra (Cleistanthus
collinus) and bamboo (Dendrocalamus
strictus) constitute a significant chunk of middle canopy of
the state's forests. |
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1.6
Biogeographically,
the state falls in Deccan bio-region comprising representative
fauna of central India like the tiger (Panthera
tigris), leopard (Panthera
pardus), gaur (Bos
gaurus), sambhar (Cervus
unicolor) , chital
(Axis axis),
nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa). The state is a proud possessor of rare wildlife like the
wild buffalo (Bubalus
bubalis) and hill myna (Gracula
religiosa) which have been declared as the state animal and
bird respectively. |
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1.7
The
state is richly endowed with mineral resources like the coal,
iron, bauxite, limestone, corundum, diamond, gold, tin, etc
which fall mainly within the forests of the state. |
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1.8
The
population of the state is predominantly tribal, who have
significant economic and cultural dependence on the forests of
the state. There is a large population of non tribal landless
and economically backward communities
in the state who derive livelihood security from the forests of
the state |
| 2.
BASIC
OBJECTIVES |
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2.1
The
basic objectives that should govern the State Forest Policy are
the following: |
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Unlocking
of the vast array of forest resources on sustainable
basis for enhanced well-being of local people by
converting these open access resources (OAR) into
community controlled, prioritized, protected and managed
resources. |
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A
shift in accent from major to minor forest produces,
from crown to multi tier forestry and from flagship
species to smaller denizens of the forests. |
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Maintenance
of environmental stability through preservation and
where necessary, restoration of ecological balance that
has been adversely disturbed by serious depletion of
forests in the state. |
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Conserving
the Bio- cultural heritage of the state by preserving
the biologically rich natural forests that provide the
essential cultural milieu to the tribals of the state. |
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Checking
the denudation of forests and soil erosion in the
catchment area of the rivers, and reservoirs for soil
and water conservation; mitigating the floods and
droughts; recharging of water bodies, aquifers and for
the retardation of siltation of the reservoirs. |
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Increasing
the forest / tree cover in forest deficient districts
through afforestation and agro forestry/ farm forestry
programmes, especially on all denuded, degraded and
unproductive lands. |
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Meeting
the requirements of fuel wood, fodder, minor forest
produce and small timber of the rural and tribal
population with due regard to the carrying capacity of
the forests. |
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The
derivation of direct economic benefit from the forests
of the state shall be subordinated to the requirements
of the environmental stability and maintenance of
ecological balance in the state. |
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Creating
appropriate policy and legal framework for the
achievement of these objectives. |
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| 3.
ESSENTIALS
OF FOREST MANAGEMENT |
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3.1
Existing
forests and forest lands should be fully protected and their
productivity increased. It is necessary to promote efficient
methods of timber harvest and utilisation to maximize economic
returns from the forests. |
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3.2
The
network of national parks, sanctuaries, biosphere reserves and
other protected areas should be strengthened and extended
adequately for the conservation of total bio cultural diversity
in the state. |
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3.3
Targeting
on broad range of goods and services in terms of physical,
material, human, social, cultural and environmental
assets in conjunction with appropriate entitlement regime, People's Protected Area (PPA)
envisions a proactive and people's friendly framework to
ensure long term protection
and maintenance of biological diversity and providing at the
same time a sustainable flow of natural products and services to meet
local community needs.
Therefore, a network of PPAs should be established as poor people's pool of assets for strengthening livelihood security
of forest dwellers. |
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3.4
Provision
of sufficient fodder, fuel and small timber to local people,
especially in areas adjoining forests, is necessary to prevent
further depletion of forests beyond their sustainable capacity.
As fuel wood continues to be the predominant source of domestic
energy in rural areas, the programme of afforestation should be
intensified with special emphasis on augmenting fuel wood
production to meet the requirements of the people. Furthermore,
to reduce the pressure on forests due to increasing demand for
fuelwood, its substitution by alternative sources of energy
should be promoted. |
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3.5
Minor
Forest Produce (MFP) including medicinal plants provide
sustenance to the tribal population and to other communities
residing in and around the forests. Such produce should be
protected, improved and their non-destructive harvesting methods
enhanced with due regard to providing employment and income
generation opportunities to the dependent people. MFP is the
major source of livelihood of tribals and other forest based
rural communities. Therefore, rather than exporting MFP in raw
form, efforts should be made, as far as possible, to promote
processing and value addition of the same, at the local level. |
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3.6
Supply
of timber and poles to urban centers from non-forest sources is
necessary to reduce pressure on natural forests.
Therefore, state government should encourage agro-forestry, farm
forestry and on-farm cultivation of timber trees. |
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3.7
Establishment
of appropriate instruments including policy and legislative
measures to protect the rich bio -cultural heritage of the state
in view of increasing threats of bio piracy and infringement of
IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) from within and outside the
state. |
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3.8
All forest areas in the state should be managed in
accordance with a duly approved management/working plan. |
| 4.
STRATEGY |
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The
objectives and essentials of forest management for the state
should be achieved
through a well-defined strategy as under: |
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4.1
Area
under forests |
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The
national goal is to have a minimum of one-third of the total
land area of the
country under forest or tree cover. Though the state has the
rare distinction of having more than one third of its
geographical area under forest, there are few districts, where
the forest area is less than the norm, and where there is a need
to expand the forest cover in addition to preserving the
existing forest cover.
There
is a necessity to preserve the existing tree cover on hill
slopes and landscapes providing catchment to rivers originating
or flowing through the
state. |
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4.2
Management
of state forests |
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4.2.1
No forest should be permitted to be worked without a duly
approved working/management plan, which should be in a
prescribed format and in keeping with the National Forest Policy
/ State Forest Policy and the
principles of sustainable forest management. The effects
of forest
management on forests should be periodically measured
with the help of
set criteria and indictors (C&I). The state should
issue necessary
guidelines to put in place a monitoring mechanism to
ensure regular compliance of management/working plan
prescriptions. |
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4.2.2.
In
order to meet the growing needs of people for the essential
goods and services that
the forests provide, it is necessary to enhance the forest cover
in forest deficient districts and to increase the productivity
of the existing forests through appropriate scientific and
technical inputs. |
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4.2.3.
No
exotic species should be
introduced, through public or private sources, unless
long-term scientific trials undertaken by specialists in
ecology, forestry, sociology and agriculture have established
that they are suitable and
have no adverse impact on indigenous
vegetation, ecology and bio cultural environment of the state. |
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4.2.4.
Joint
forest management (JFM) practices should form the basis of
forest management in the state. Necessary provisions
should be made for the adequate participation at all levels of
decision making by the landless, marginal farmers and women in
all JFM bodies like the VFC (Village Forest Committee), FPC
(Forest Protection Committee) and EDC (Eco Development
Committee).
The
abundant potential of people living in rural and forest areas
should be tapped for sound participatory forest management.
Efforts should be made to facilitate assistance from financial
institutions to the forest dwellers engaged in forest based
economic activity for furthering participatory forest management
in the state. |
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4.2.5.
For
sustainable forest development, livelihood security and bio-
cultural diversity conservation, People's Protected Areas
(PPAs) should be established. This paradigm shift of adaptive
management can reconcile the dichotomy of threat perception
arising out of conservation-development orthodoxy by taking into
account the human sensitivities like their socio-cultural norms,
beliefs and systems borne out of history, culture and traditions |
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4.3
Rights
and Concessions |
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Forests
of the state recognize traditional rights and concessions of
entry into forests and use of the produce there of, by the
people living in and around the forest areas. Such rights and
concessions, popularly called 'Nistar', have sometimes legal as
well as customary basis and the state is obliged to provide for
them. In due course of time such rights and concessions with the
exception of cultural rights, may no longer be required with an
improvement in the standard of living of the majority of people
in the state. |
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4.3.1.
The
provision of Nistar, should always remain related to the
carrying capacity of the forests. The capacity itself should be
optimized by increased
investment in
sylvicultural research and socio-economic development of the
area. Stall feeding of cattle should be encouraged. The
requirements of the community, which cannot be met from the
existing forests, should be met from plantations under social
forestry/agro forestry/ farm forestry in areas outside the
natural forests. |
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4.3.2.
The
holders of customary rights and concessions in forest areas
should be motivated to identify themselves with the protection
and development of forests from which they derive these
benefits. The rights and concessions from forests should
primarily be for the bonafide use of the communities living
within a radius of five kilometer from the existing natural
forests. It is visualized that the JFM practices will motivate
people to keep their customary rights and concessions on forests
within the carrying capacity of the forests. |
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4.3.3.
The
socio-economic and cultural life of tribals and other
communities living within and near forests revolves around the
forests. Their domestic requirements of fuel wood, fodder, minor
forest produce and construction timber should be the first
charge on the forests of the area. The rights and concessions
enjoyed by them should be protected,
with due regard to the demands of the conservation of
biological diversity in the area. |
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4.4
Management
of Sal and Bamboo Forests: |
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Sal
and Bamboo forests in the state constitute an important
component of the forest ecosystem of the state. The state
has large
chunks of ecotone forests between Sal and Miscellaneous
forests
requiring special management practices. Such forests are
not only
ecologically sensitive, but also provide bamboo and other
basic needs
that constitute the essential elements of the livelihood
security of the
poor and tribal people of the state. Therefore, special
treatment of
ecotone sal forests and the restoration of the degraded
bamboo forests as
well as the maintenance of good bamboo forests should be
the state's
priority. |
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4.5
Conservation
of Minor Forest Products (MFP) |
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Non
timber forest produce called the Minor forest products or MFP
like Tendu leaves, Sal seed, Imli, Chironji, Kullu and Dhawra
gum, Kosa cocoon, Honey etc., form an essential element of the
means of livelihood of the tribals and the landless, marginal
farmers and other rural poor communities of the state. It is
often suggested that it is the MFP and not the so called major
forest produce like timber that is the mainstay of the rural
poor. MFP like the Tendu patta (leaf) and sal seed also add
sizeable revenue to the state exchequer, which is now
distributed among the gatherers. |
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4.5.1
The
state should take appropriate measures through the Chattisgarh
State MFP (Trade and Development) Cooperative Federation Ltd for
sustainable utilization and long term conservation of all MFP
found within the forests of the state. |
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4.5.2
The
state should take necessary steps for endowing the ownership
rights of MFP on local communities as per the provisions
of the Panchayat Upbandh (anusuchit chetron ka vistaar) Adhiniyam 1996. |
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4.6
Conservation
of Medicinal Plants |
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Forests
have been the source of invaluable medicinal plants since the
time man realized their preventive and curative properties and
started using them for human health cover. In view of the
richness of
medicinal and herbal plants in the state, a mechanism
should
be
developed for in situ and ex situ conservation,
domestication and
non- destructive
harvesting with the
active support
from
local
people including traditional healers
and vaidyas. The socio-cultural, spiritual and medicinal
arena of the rural populace particularly the tribal should
form the backbone of community based conservation and
utilisation of
medicinal and herbal plants. |
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4.7
Protection
of Forests |
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Forests
being an open access resource (OAR) are vulnerable to various
kinds of pressures like theft, fire, illegal grazing and
encroachment. Theft of forest resources like timber, and animal
parts and products is considered as high return and low risk
offence. Uncontrolled forest fire result in significant loss of
biodiversity, loss of forest regeneration, burning of biomass
and destruction of micro organisms necessary for essential
forest ecological processes. Unregulated grazing by livestock
inside forests is a major cause of forest degradation and
decrease in its regeneration.
Encroachment on forest lands for agricultural diversion
has been a major cause of forest loss. Therefore there is a need
to strengthen forest protection measures. |
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4.7.1
Protection
mechanisms should be strengthened by involving
local people through village level committees. These
committees should be empowered and provided special incentives
to prevent the forest offences.
A
'Forest Crime Bureau' with an adequate legal and statistical
base should be established for a systematic tackling of crimes
and criminals in
the forest areas. |
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4.7.2
Steps
should be taken for the establishment of special courts at
the district level for quick disposal of forest offence
cases. |
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4.7.3
Grazing
regulation in forests should be made more effective
through community participation. Grazing by livestock
inside the forests should not exceed the carrying capacity of
the forest. |
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4.7.4
Fire in forests should be strictly controlled. Improved and
modern techniques for forest fire prevention and control
as well as tools like GIS (Geographical Information system) and
remote sensing should be utilized for fire control. |
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4.8
Diversion
of Forest Lands for Non-forest Purposes |
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4.8.1
Forest
land or land with tree cover should not be treated
merely as a resource readily available to be utilized for
various projects and programmes, but as a state asset which
requires to be properly safeguarded for providing sustained
benefits to the entire community.
Diversion of forest land for any non-forest purpose
should be subjected to the most careful examination by
specialists from the standpoint of ecological, environmental and
social costs and benefits. Projects, which involve diversion,
should provide in
their investment budgets, funds not only for prior
regeneration/compensatory afforestation, but also for the
development of social infrastructure in the area. |
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4.8.2
Beneficiaries
who are allowed mining and quarrying in forest land and in land
covered by trees should be required to adopt cluster approach in
mining and to repair and re-vegetate the area, after having used
it, in accordance with the Government of India guidelines and
established forestry practices. Rehabilitation of the mined
areas should be done to ensure ecological restoration of the
affected site. |
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4.9
Bio-
cultural diversity Conservation |
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4.9.1
The
State is extremely rich in its bio cultural diversity. This
diversity should be
preserved through action as under: |
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Intensification
of surveys and inventorization of bio- cultural
resources in different parts of the state. The survey
should include information on the distribution pattern
of various species \ population \ communities and the
status of ethnobiologically important groups. |
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Conservation
of biodiversity through the establishment of a
representative network of protected areas including
Biosphere Reserves, National Parks, Sanctuaries, Gene
conservation centers, and People’s Protected Area.
Such areas should cover sites of exceptional
taxonomic and ecological value in terms of flora and
fauna with adequate emphasis on the lower vertebrate,
invertebrate and micro flora, which are important for
the maintenance of healthy ecosystems. Tribals and the
rural people displaced if any, due to creation of such
national parks \ biosphere reserves \ or gene
conservation centers should be fully and properly
rehabilitated on such sites and in such manner that
their standard of living after the rehabilitation is
markedly improved. |
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Legal
and administrative measures should be taken for the protection
of state's bio cultural diversity against bio piracy and
for sustainable use of plant and animal genetic
resources. Intellectual property rights (IPR) of the
people of the state specially the tribals should be
zealously guarded. Domesticated species \ varieties of
plants and animals should be conserved as an integral
part of the state's rich genetic diversity. |
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Crucial
corridors between national parks, sanctuaries, forests
and other protected areas should be identified and
notified for linking them to maintain genetic continuity
of flora and fauna.
Such areas should be managed with prescriptions
favoring wildlife requirements like the retention of
snags, natural gaps, grassy areas, special lithic
habitats, caves, cliffs, den sites and water bodies etc. |
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Modern
techniques of ex situ conservation like 'tissue culture'
and biotechnology should be promoted for the
preservation of endangered and threatened species of
wild flora and fauna. |
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Monoculture
and planting of exotic floral species should be avoided
unless sufficient experimentation on strict scientific
lines has established their usefulness. Exotic faunal
species should not be introduced into the forests of the
state. |
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Tribals
and other indigenous people of the state, residing in
and around forest areas, with rich cultural traditions
and practices, should be encouraged to maintain their
unique relationship with the forests for mutual benefit.
Unique geographical and cultural landscapes existing in
protected areas should be managed keeping in view the
conservation of bio- cultural diversity of the state. |
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4.9.2
Forest
management should take special care of the needs of bio-cultural
diversity conservation of the state and the forest
management/working plans should include specific prescriptions
for this purpose. Wild life management plans should be prepared
for each protected area of the state. Biotic pressures on
protected areas should be managed through eco developmental
activities with the active involvement of the local communities. |
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4.10
Afforestation,
Social Forestry & Farm Forestry: |
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4.10.1
A
need-based and timebound programme of afforestation and tree
planting, with particular emphasis on fuelwood and fodder development, in all the forest deficient districts of the state is
an urgent necessity
to meet the growing needs of the forest dependent
sections of the society specially the landless and those
identified as BPL(Below
Poverty Line). |
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4.10.2
Planting
of trees along side of roads, railway lines, rivers,
streams and canals, and on other unutilized lands under
the state, corporate, institutional or private ownership should
be encouraged. Green belts should be raised in urban/industrial
/mined out areas. Such
a program will also help to improve the microclimate of the
concerned area. |
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4.10.3
The village and community lands not required for other productive uses, should be taken up for the development of tree
crops and fodder resources. Technical assistance and other
inputs necessary for initiating such programs should be provided
by the State Government, public sector undertakings and the
agricultural universities.
The
revenue generated through such programs should belong to the
panchayat where the lands are vested in them. In all other
cases, such revenue should be shared with the local communities.
The vesting, in individuals, particularly from the weaker
sections (such as landless labor, small and marginal farmers,
scheduled castes, tribals, women and BPL) of
ownership rights over trees, should be considered,
subject to appropriate regulations. Beneficiaries should be
entitled to usufruct from the trees and in turn be responsible
for their safety and maintenance. |
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4.10.4
The
state Land Revenue Code (LRC) and the forest laws
should be suitably modified along with the simplification
of felling, transit and
trading rules, wherever necessary, to facilitate and motivate individuals and institutions to undertake tree-farming and the growing of tree crops on their own land. |
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4.10.5
The
management plan/working prescriptions should be strictly
followed for raising plantations inside the government forest
areas. |
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4.10.6
Irrigated
and high input plantation of tree crops should
be encouraged for meeting the timber demand of the state.
The State Forest Development Corporation, FDC should
play a pivotal role in this endeavor. |
| 4.11
Production
of Biomass |
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For
the vast majority of the people in the state, the foremost need
is for fuelwood, timber, fodder and fiber. The issue of enhanced
production and sustainable resource utilization should therefore
be prioritized in favour of and with due regard to the
requirements of the rural people. |
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4.11.1
The
management/working plan prescriptions should guide the
production of biomass including timber from the forests of the
state. Necessary steps to promote efficient conversion and
utilization of timber should be promoted for the maximization of
resource use. |
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4.11.2
Promotion
of alternative sources of domestic energy should be taken up on
a priority basis to reduce pressures on forests for the supply
of fuelwood. |
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4.12
Forest
based Industries |
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In
consonance with the National Forest Policy 1988, forest based
industries should be encouraged to produce their own raw
material through private forestry and to use alternative raw
material. |
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4.12.1
No
forest based enterprise, except that at the village or cottage
level, should be allowed in future without a proper ecological,
cultural and social impact assessment. The fuel, fodder and
timber requirements of the local population should not be
sacrificed for raw material supplies to such enterprises. |
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4.12.2
Direct
relationship between forest based industry and farmers should be
encouraged to meet the raw material requirements of the
industry. This
industry-farmer collaboration should in no way be allowed to
result in diversion of prime agricultural lands and displacement
of small and marginal farmers. |
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4.12.3
The
bio- mass resources of the state should not be subsidized to the
industry, which should be encouraged, to the extent possible, to
use alternative non-forest raw material. |
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4.12.4
Allotment
of land to the industry should be subject to land ceiling
and other land laws of the state. Such industry should
not in any way be allowed to adversely affect the socio-cultural
traditions of the tribals and other communities living in the
state. |
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4.12.5
Appropriate
institutional and technological systems should be developed to
enable rural artisans to sustain their biomass-based crafts and
enterprise. |
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4.13
Tribal
People and Forests |
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HHaving
regard to the symbiotic relationship between tribal and forests,
a primary task of all agencies responsible for forest
management, including the forest department, the Forest
Development Corporation and the Minor Forest Produce Federation
should be to associate the tribals closely in the protection,
regeneration and development of forests as well as to provide
gainful employment to people living in and around the forests on
following lines. |
|
Having regard to the symbiotic relationship between tribal and forests, a
primary task of all agencies responsible for forest management, including the
forest department, the Forest Development Corporation and the Minor Forest
Produce Federation should be to associate the tribals closely in the protection,
regeneration and development of forests as well as to provide gainful employment
to people living in and around the forests on following lines. |
|
Protection, regeneration and non-destructive harvestingal">span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Conversion
of forest villagesof minor forest produce in collaboration with the local people specially
tribals, and provision of institutional arrangements for the marketing of such
produce. |
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Conversion of forest villages into revenue villages; |
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Community based schemes for improving the economic status of the tribals; |
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Undertaking integrated area development programmes to meet the needs-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman; color: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Forest
Extension |
|
Forest
conservation programme cannot succeed without the willing
support and co-operation of the people. It is essential, to
inculcate in the people a direct interest in forests, their
development and conservation, and to make them conscious of the
value of trees, biodiversity and nature in general. This can be
achieved through the involvement of educational institutions,
right from the primary stage.
Farmers
and other interested groups should be provided opportunities
through different institutions to learn and adopt
agri-sylvicultural techniques to ensure optimum utilization of
their land and water resources.
Suitable programs should be propagated through mass media
using audio-visual aids and the extension machinery already
existing with the universities and the government departments. |
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4.14.1
Promotion
of nature-tourism
Nature
tourism or eco tourism that utilizes the forest scenic spots as
well as the opportunities provided by the protected areas for
wildlife viewing should be seen as a forest extension activity.
This activity should also be promoted as a revenue generating
mechanism that can benefit the rural communities through their
active involvement in promotion of eco tourism. |
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4.15
Forestry
Education |
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Forestry
should be recognised both as a scientific discipline as well as
a profession.
Universities and institutions dedicated to the
development of forestry education should impart academic
education and promote post-graduate research and professional
excellence, keeping in view the manpower requirements of the
state. Academic and professional qualifications in forestry
should be kept in view for the recruitment of the State Forest
Service personnel. |
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4.16
Forestry
Research |
|
An
increasing recognition of the importance of forests for
environmental stability, as a source of energy, and as a
provider of essential requirements and employment to rural poor,
calls for scientific forestry research, by adequate
strengthening of the
research base as well as by setting new priorities for action.
The state should promote, aid and coordinate research projects,
to be undertaken by research organizations like the ICFRE
(Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education), and
universities, in a transparent and competitive manner. Some
broad priority areas of research and development needing special
attention in the state are: |
the research base as well as by setting new priorities for action. The
state should promote, aid and coordinate research projects, to be undertaken by
research organizations like the ICFRE (Indian Council of Forestry Research and
Education), and universities, in a transparent and competitive manner. Some
broad priority areas of research and development needing special attention in
the state are:
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Evolving innovative multi tier sylvicultural systems with integrated ecosystem
approach. |
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Increasing the productivity of non-wood forest produce per unit of area per unit
time by the application of modern scientific, silvicultural and technological
methods. |
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Revegetation of barren/marginal/waste/mined lands and watershed areas. |
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Effective conservation and management of existing natural forest resources. |
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Social forestry, farm forestry and agro-forestry. |
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Establishment of modern nurseries in all districts by the department as well as
by private individuals. |
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Emerging areas like the joint forest management and appropriate sylvicultural
practices; efficient utilization of forest resources; women and tribal
empowerment; role of forestry in poverty alleviation; social and livelihood
analysis of forest dependent communities; forest policy; cultivation and
marketing of medicinal plants; conservation of threatened and endangered species
of wild flora and fauna; forest management at landscape level; conservation of
bio-cultural values of forests; etc. |
Government
should aim at enhancing the professional
competence status of foresters. It should attract and
retain qualified and motivated personnel, and provide conducive
working atmosphere, in view of the arduous nature of duties they
have to perform, often in
remote and inhospitable places.
Capacity
building of local people specially the members of VFC (Village
Forest Committee), FPC (Forest Protection Committee) and
EDC (Eco Development Committee) should form an integral
part of
the human resource development (HRD) strategy of the
state.
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4.17.1
The
government should ensure sustained availability of trained
manpower at every level of the forest department's hierarchy.
There should be regular recruitment of forest staff. |
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4.17.2
Specialized
and orientation courses for in-service foresters should be
conducted on a regular basis.
Management Development
programs incorporating the latest developments in
forestry and related disciplines, should be promoted. |
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4.18
Application
of Information Technology into Forestry. |
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4.18.1
Development
of a comprehensive forest database |
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Priority
needs to be accorded to developing a comprehensive
database regarding the forest resources in the state and
to update it
on a regular basis. A Forest Information Centre (FIC)
should be
set up and well provided for in terms of man power as
well as
computation hardware and software resources. |
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4.18.2
Use
of Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) in forest management. |
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Geographical
Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning
System (GPS) technology has important applications in
forestry.
A full-fledged GIS center for rapid adoption of these
technologies into the planning, implementation and
monitoring
of forestry plans and schemes should be established. |
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4.18.
3 Promotion
of Electronic Governance in Forestry. |
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Electronic
governance, which is the application of information technology
to the process of governance, has assumed importance in all
walks of life. Forest administration should be encouraged to
maximize the use of e- technology in all its operations
specially that which pertains to public dealing. |
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4.19
Legal
Support and Infrastructure Development |
|
Appropriate
and adequate legislative and infrastructure support would be
necessary for an effective implementation of this policy. |
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4.20
Financial
Support for Forestry |
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The
objectives of the state policy cannot be achieved without the
adequate investment of financial resources on a scale which is
appropriate to the need. The state should endeavour to arrange
financial resources for the implementation of forestry programs
flowing from this policy document. |
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4.21
Epilogue |
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It
is envisaged that this policy should usher in forest management
programs in Chattisgarh, that will respect the thresholds of
environmental stability, promote
conservation of bio- cultural heritage, and fulfil basic
requirements of forest based and forest
adjacent tribal and analogous communities. |
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By
order and in the name of the
Government of Chhattisgarh |
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(Ram
Prakash)
SSpecial Secretary |
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