Chapter-1: Introduction About the State: Location: Assam State is bounded by the States of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura in the south ; Bhutan and the State of Arunachal Pradesh in the north and northeast ; Myanmar in the east ; Meghalaya in the southwest and Bengal in the west. It has a geographical area of 78,438 km 2 , making up 2.39% of the total area of the country. It is situated between 89°42’ and 96°02’ east longitude and 24°7’ and 28°00’ north latitude. [Location Map of Assam showing districts and forest cover] Source: http://assamforest.in/forestGlance/images/forestDistribution.jpg Physical: The landscape of Assam is dominated by the floodplains of the Brahmaputra valley that covers 72 percent of the state’s total area, and the smaller Barak valley in the south. These two valleys are bisected by the hills of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar hills, granite remnants of the old Gondwana shield.
Transcript
Chapter-1: Introduction
About the State:
Location: Assam State is bounded by the States of Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura in the south ; Bhutan and the State of Arunachal Pradesh in the north and northeast ; Myanmar in the east ; Meghalaya in the southwest and Bengal in the west. It has a geographical area of 78,438 km2, making up 2.39% of the total area of the country. It is situated between 89°42’ and 96°02’ east longitude and 24°7’ and 28°00’ north latitude.
[Location Map of Assam showing districts and forest cover]
Physical: The landscape of Assam is dominated by the floodplains of the Brahmaputra valley that covers 72 percent of the state’s total area, and the smaller Barak valley in the south. These two valleys are bisected by the hills of Karbi Anglong and North Cachar hills, granite remnants of the old Gondwana shield.
The 1897 Shillong earthquake and the 1950 Assam earthquake (both above 8,5 on the Richter scale, and counted among the 10 most severe events ever recorded on the planet) have deeply modified the topography of the region. Since the Assam earthquake, the number and extension of floods in the Brahmaputra plain have increased.
The climate is dominated by the subtropical monsoon. The annual rainfall ranges from 1800 mm in the central Kamrup district to 3000 mm in the Barak Valley. Three quarter of the rains fall during the monsoon between June and September. The plains are flooded and the Brahmaputra becomes an inner sea. Autumn and winter are dry seasons and during spring, storms linked to cyclones in the Bengal Gulf occur occasionally. Temperature ranges between 50C to 320C
Political:
Assam became part of India after the British occupied the region following the first Anglo-Burmese war of 1824-26. Assam is mostly an agrarian State. It has 23 districts, 219 blocks, 2489 gaon panchayats and 25,590 villages.
Agro-climatic zones:
There are six agro-climatic zones in the State, namely (1) North Bank Plains Zone, (2) Upper Brahmputra Valley, (3) Central Brahmputra Valley, (4) Lower Brahmputra Valley, (5) Barak Valley, and (6) Hill Zone.
The coverage of the districts is:
Name of the Zone Name of the Districts under the zone1. North Bank Plain Zone Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sonitpur, Darrang2. Upper Brahmputra Valley Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dibrugrah,
Tinsukia3. Central Brahmputra Valley Nagaon and Morigaon4. Lower Brahmputra Valley Kamrup, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Nalbari,
Goalpara, Dhubri and Kokrajhar5. Barak Valley Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi6. Hill Zone Karbi Anglonlg and North Cachar Hills
Economic and Social parameters of the State:
Population Census Data of Assam shows that it has total population of 3.11 Crore which is approximately 2.58% of total Indian Population. Literacy rate in Assam has seen downward trend and is 73.18% as per 2011 population census. Of that, male literacy stands at 78.81% while female literacy is at 67.27%.
Description 2011 2001Estimated Population 3.11 Crore 2.67 Crore
Actual Population 31,169,272 26,655,528
Male 15,954,927 13,777,037
Female 15,214,345 12,878,491
Population Growth 16.93% 18.85%
Sex Ratio 954 932
Percentage of total Population
2.58% 2.59%
Area km2 78,438 78,438
Density/km2 397 340
Area mile2 30,285 30,285
Density/mile2 1,029 880
Literacy 73.18 63.25
Male Literacy 78.81 75.23
Female Literacy 67.27 51.85
Total Literate 19,507,017 14,015,354
Male Literate 10,756,937 8,188,697
Female Literate 8,750,080 5,826,657
[ source: Census of India website]
Eighty eight percent (88%) of the population of Assam lives in rural areas. The scheduled tribes constitute 12% of the total population. It is the only state of the North East where tribals are a minority.
Assam has a large human diversity, with Indo-Aryan, Tibeto-Burmese and Tai language groups being represented in the mosaic of ethnicity in Assam. The main group is the Assamese, traditionally Hindu and following the caste system. There are nine plain tribes (Boro, Deori, etc.) and fourteen hill tribes (Karbi, Garo, Dimasa etc.). Other groups include either Indian or foreign nationals settled in waves since the middle of the 19th century. They are:
(i) the tea workers (the so-called tea tribes), brought by the British and coming mainly from the states of Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. These tea tribes are mainly Santhal and Munda
(ii) Nepalese, Biharis, Bengalis and Marwaris
Hindu and Muslim are the main religious groups in Assam, with Hindus being 65% of the total population and Muslims 31%. There are some Christians (4%) and a few Buddhists and Animists.
EconomyThere are two main production systems in Assam. The first one, located in the flood plains is dominated by the Brahmaputra. The principal elements of the landscape mosaic are the bed of the braided Brahmaputra River with its shifting and ephemeral islands called chapori, the irrigated paddy fields, the beels (water bodies) devoted to fishing and the household gardens around the habitations. The tea gardens, that produce the famed Assam tea, are located on higher grounds, together with remnants of forest. The second production system is located in the
hills, where jhum (shifting cultivation) is prevalent. Bamboos, fallows, forest remnants and temporary clearings dot the landscape.
The percentage of poor in Assam is the highest among the states of the North East. Around 36% of the population lives below poverty line, against a national average of 26%. Poverty is concentrated in rural areas: four out of ten people in rural Assam are likely to live below poverty line, whereas in the cities, this proportion falls to less than one in ten.
The income and its rate of growth in Assam are both below national standards, and the trend has been increasing over the last thirty years. Assam’s per capita income was 27% lower than the Indian average in 1980. It was 46% lower in 1999.
However, now there are signs of improvement. The State GDP is better than State GDP of Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, H.P., Goa and other NE states. In the year 2010-11, at the prices of year 2004-05, the State GDP of Assam was Rs.75,082.07 Crore, with primary sector contributing 30.08%, secondary sector 13.04% and tertiary (service) sector contributing 56.51%. Within the primary sector, the contribution of forestry and logging was 7.59%. The GDP of the State is 1.48% of the GDP of the country. Per capita income of the State in 2010-11 was Rs.27,197.00. So, while at national level contribution of primary sector in GDP is only 17.2%, in Assam it is significantly high (30.08%). [ source: Government of Assam, Directorate of Economic and Statistics; http//: www.undow.com]
Assam is a major producer of oil and natural gas. Most of the oilfields are located in the Upper Assam region of the Brahmaputra Valley. Assam has four oil refineries with a total capacity of 7 MMTPA (Million Metric Tonnes per annum). Other industries worth mentioning are a chemical fertiliser plant, petrochemical industries, three paper mills, sugar mills and a cement plant. However, as mentioned above, industry sector is giving just 13.04% to the State GDP.
There is always need for review of design and implementation of a programme intermittently. As the National Afforestation Programme (NAP) is a decade-old programme and as plantation activities yield visible results after nearly three years when plants establish, this is right moment for review of the programme, not in terms of output but outcome also. Simultaneously, there is need for assessing the working of the institution of Joint Forest Management (JFM). In Assam, where the JFM started late in 2003-04 (in most cases), there is all the more need for assessing the mechanism and strengthening the partnership for yielding better results.
Implementation of NAP in Assam Forest Department has been late. In most of the Forest Development Agencies (FDAs), the programme took off in 2005-06, although fund was released by the Central Government in 2004-05. However, the programme did not run seamlessly down through the years. In many FDAs, it had been disrupted due to stoppage of flow of fund intermittently. Moreover, like many of our afforestation programmes, the fund flows are out of sync with the planting activities determined by the rains. Now, the double whammy of the disruption and mistimed flow of funds leads to partial defeating of the real purpose of the programme. Hence, this report is important for review and effective implementation of the programme.
Scope of this report is assessment of whole lot of activities starting from planting of different types of trees, shrubs and herbs to building of the institution of JFM and rural development through forestry sector. It is an assessment for the sustainability of the activities by way of development of village development or revolving fund, value addition of products, development of self-help groups and income generation of the villagers in the programme with the help of other rural development departments.
Chapter-2: Forest Resource Base
Forest Area
The Recorded Forests Area (RFA) of Assam is 26, 748 km² (35% of the total geographical area). It includes Reserved Forests (312 RFs, 13,870 km², 52% of the RFA), Proposed Reserved Forests (145 PRFs, 3,103 km², 12% of the RFA), Protected Areas (3,925 km², 15% of the RFA) and Unclassed State Forests (5,865 km², 33% of the RFA).
Protected Areas
Assam has 5 National Parks and 18 Wildlife sanctuaries. Together they cover 3,925 km², which is nearly 5% of the total geographical area of the State.
Forest Cover
The forest cover in the State, based on interpretation of satellite data of October 2006 – January 2007, is 27,692 km2, which is 35.30% of the State’s geographical area. In terms of forest canopy density classes, the State has 1,461km2 very dense forest, 11,558 km2
moderately dense forest and 14,673 km2 open forest.
Comparison of the latest forest cover (satellite data of Oct 2006 – Jan 2007) with the previous assessment (satellite data of Nov – Dec 2004 and Jan-Mar 2005) shows a loss of 66 km2 of forest cover, as shown below.
CategoryForest Cover (Km2)
Net Change (Km2)
Assessment 2005 (SFR-2007)
Assessment 2007 (SFR-2009)
Very Dense Forest 1,464 1,461 -3Moderately Dense Forest
11,653 11,558 -95
Open Forest 14,641 14,673 +32NET CHANGE -66
Expenditure on Forestry:Assam Forest Department: Plan Outlays and Expenditures during the last five years (in Rs.lakh) 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Total Plan Expenditure3491.20 6075.68 8102.02 15172.45 4989.13
Non-Plan Expenditure:
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Expenditure (in Rs. Lakh) 11,785.14 14,037.21 13,370.52 16,540.00
24,783.49
Total of Plan (Centre and State both) and Non-Plan Expenses in Forestry Sector:
2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
Amount in Rs. lakh
15,276.34 20,112.89 21,472.54 31,712.45 29,772.62
Expenditure under National Afforestation Programme:(Rs. in lakhs)
Year Expenditure2005-06 548.002006-07 1367.642007-08 853.162008-09 978.002009-10 1447.712010-11 607.87 (UC to be submitted)
The allocation and expenses are given in Annexure.Major ongoing afforestation schemes (under State and Central Government):
1. Assam Bikash yojna:
The scheme “Mukhya Mantrir Assam Bikas Yojana” was launched as a State Plan Scheme in 2008-09. Initially, an amount of Rs.450.00 lakh was allotted for the following works:
(i) Planting of fruit-bearing/ valuable trees in the school campuses -1163 number
(ii) Enhancement of productivity and livelihood support to JFMC – 16 number of JFMCs
In the year 2009-10, besides plantations in school campuses, 2 plant nurseries were created and 300 ha of forest area was planted. The allotted amount was Rs. 1,18,83,200.00
In the year 2010-11, against the allotted amount of Rs 200.00 lakh, besides plantations in school campuses, the nurseries and plantations of year 2009-10 were maintained.
2. National Bamboo Mission:
This is a Central Scheme whose one of the objectives is to increase the coverage of area under bamboo in potential areas with improved varieties of bamboos to enhance yields. This scheme was launched in Assam in 2007-08 with an allocation of Rs.1546.19 lakh for overall promotion of bamboo sector in the State, plantation activity being one small, although important, component. In 2008-09, the State got Rs 755.16 lakh and in 2009-10, Rs164.44 lakh under the scheme. Upto 31.12.2010, the scheme has created 22 centralised nurseries and 10,044 ha of bamboo plantation in forest areas.
3. Rehabilitation of Degraded Forests(RDF):
This is a State Plan scheme, which was started in the year 2008-09 with an outlay of Rs.200.00 lakh. The fund allotted for 2009-10 was Rs 150.00 lakh and for 2010-11 Rs.200.00 lakh. Under this scheme degraded forest areas to the extent of 30ha to 50 ha in each forest division are planted.
4. Natural Resource Management and Integrated Livelihood (NaRMIL) Project:
This is a component of World Bank aided Assam Agricultural Competitiveness Project (AACP), which was initially launched in 2005-06 on pilot basis in 2 Forest Divisions, but later was implemented in 8 Forest Divisions. The project is coming to end at the end of calendar year 2011. Nearly 3,300 ha area has been planted under the scheme. This year alone, plantation in 2,200 ha been done. The expenditure under the scheme was Rs 175.80 lakh in 2006-07, Rs.283.79 lakh in 2007-08, Nil in 2008-09 and Rs.2298.78 in 2009-10.
5. Assam Project on Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation (assisted by AfD, France):
This project is to be launched in coming months of this financial year. However, the plantation component is not big in the project.
Major Forest Types with list of major species:
In the “Revised Survey of Forest Types in India”, Champion and Seth categorized as many as fifty one different forest types/ sub types for north-east region. However, broadly speaking the forests in Assam can be described into the following types/ sub-types.
1. Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests2. Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests3. Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests4. Sub-tropical Broadleaf Hill Forests5. Sub-tropical Pine Forests6. Grassland and Savannahs7. Littoral and Swamp Forests
1. Tropical Wet Evergreen Forests are found in the districts of Golaghat, Jorhat, Sibsagar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and in a narrow stretch in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts along foot hills. These forests also occur in the southern part of the State at lower elevations in Borail Range, and in Loharbund, Sonai, Longai and Dholia Reserve Forests in Cachar and Karimganj districts.
Top canopy consists of Dipterocarpus macrocarpus (hollong), Ailanthus integrifolia (Borpat), Altingia exelsa (Jutuli), Artocarpus chaplasa (sam), etc. The middle canopy consists of Mesua ferrea (Nahar), Michelia champaka (Teeta chopa), etc. Third storey is bamboo, etc.
Forests in Southern Assam have, however, top canopy consisting of Dipterocarpus terbinatus(Garjan), Palanquium polyanthum (Kurta), Diospyros embryopteris (Kendu), etc. Middle canopy has Mesua ferrae (Nahar), Bischofia javanica (Urium), Podocarpus nerifolia (Jiri), etc. The third storey has bamboo etc.
2. Tropical Semi Evergreen Forests have mostly medium sized trees with few large trees. Shrubs, lianas, climbers, orchids and ferns grow copiously. At the fringe bamboos and canes occupy the space.
Species association and frequency of their occurrence vary from forest to forest, but the ones commonly found are Actinodaphnae obovata (Petarichawa), Aesculus species (Ramanbih), Artocarpus chaplasa (Sam), Albizia stripulata (Siris), Albizia procera (Koroi), Lagerstromia parviflora (Sida), Lagerstromia speciosa (Ajar), Anthocephalus chinensis (Kadam), Duabanga grandiflora (Khakan), Castonopsis species (Hingori, Dhobahingori, Kanchan),Dillenia indica (Ou-tenga), Bauhinia purpurea ( Kanchan), Magnolia insignis (Phulsopa), M.griffithii (Gahorisopa), M.bailonii (Khariksopa), Terminalia belerica (Bhomora), T.chebula (Silikha), Terminalia myrocarpus (Holok), Pterospermum acerifolium (Hati pulia), Trewia nudiflora (Bhelkor), etc.
3. Moist Deciduous Forests can further be described as Sal Forests and Mixed Deciduous Forests. Sal Forests occupy considerable forest area in the Central and Lower parts of the State in the Districts of Nagaon, Morigaon, Kamrup, parts of Nalbari and Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Kokrajhar and Goalpara.
In these forests, Sal grows in association with Lagerstroemia species( Jarul, Ajar), Schima Wallichii (Ghugra), Stereospermum personatum (Paruli), Adina cordifolia (Haldu), Artocarpus species (Sam), Ficus species (Bor, Dimoru, Dhupbor, Bot, Athabor, tengabor, Lotadioru, Khongaldimoru), Bischofia javanica (Uriam), Gmelina arborea (Gomari), Michelia champaca(Teeta champa), Terminalia species (Hilikha, Bhomora, Bahera), Toona ciliata (Poma), etc
Moist Deciduous Mixed Forests occur at the foot of hills in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Karbi-Angong and N. C. Hills districts. Trees are mostly deciduous with sprinkling of few evergreen and semi-evergreen species. Important plant species growing in these forests include Adina cordifolia (Haldu), Albizia species(Siris, Kolasiris, Koroi, Sau), Alstonia scholaris (Satiana), Artocarpus chaplasa (Sam), Careya arborea (Kumbhi), Dalbergia species(Sissoo, Medelua), Ficus species (Bot, Bor, Dimoru), Lagerstroemia species (Jarul, Ajar), Mallotu species (Senduri, Joral, Dudhloti), etc.
Bordering Moist Deciduous Forests in rain shadow areas are found forests which has been referred to as “Dry Forests” by Kanjilal. Important species include, Aegle marmelos(Bel), Albizia species(Siris), Cassia fistula(Sonaru), Bombax ceiba (Simul), Alstonia scholaris(Satiana), Ficus bengalensis (Bor), Litsea species( Loban, Bagnola, Mezankori, Honwalu,Digloti) Melia azedarach( Neem), Moringa oleifera(Sajana), Oroxylum indicum(Bhatgila), Mallotus species(Senduri), Terminalia belerica, T.chebula, etc.
5. Sub-tropical Broad Leaf Hills forests and Sub-tropical Pine forests occur in the districts of Karbi-Anglong and N. C. Hills. Species commonly occurring are Alseodaphne petiolaris(Ban-hanwalu), Antidesma bunius, Betula alnoides, Cleidon speciflorum etc. Higher up pure stands of Pinus kesiya(Khasi-pine) are found, particularly in the Hamren sub-division in Karbi-Anglong district.
6. Grass land and Savannahs are grass dominated biomes and form the major part of vegetation in Kaziranga National Park, Orang N.P., , Dibru-Saikhowa N.P., Pobitora, Sonai-Rupai, Laokhowa, Barnadi, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries and some part in Manas National Park. Grasslands support important wildlife population in Assam. Important grasses are Apluda mutica, Phragmatis karka, Sclerostachya fusca, Saccharum species, Arundodonax etc. These species grow gregariously at the onset of monsoon and grow even upto 6 metres tall.
7. Littoral and Swamp forests have almost lost their identity because of biotic pressure on land. Presently sedges and grasses form the largest component of vegetation. Important species include Ageratum conyzoides, Alocasia species, Alpinia species., Amaranthus species., Bacopa species., Blumea species., Bombax species, Crotolaria species, etc
Chapter 3. Progress of National Afforestation Programme (based on Part-I of data)
Objectives and Goal of NAP:
As per the guidelines of 2009 of the N.A.E.B., there are following objectives of the National Afforestation Programme:
1. Improvement of natural forest stock
2. Increasing and improving the forest and tree cover
3. Initiation of participatory forest management by supporting the immediate needs of the fringe community
4. Bringing about long term participation of fringe community in forest management
5. Increasing soil and moisture conservation
6. Improving productivity of trees and forests
7. Increasing capacity of fringe community and frontlines staff to develop and manage natural resources
8. Enhancing opportunity for local forest-based micro-enterprise
9. Internalization of review and independent monitoring process
10. Promotion of tree cover in non-forest areas
11. Rehabilitation of problem lands
Goal: Increasing of forest and tree cover
Super-Goal: Sustainable development and management of forest resources
Analysis of tables as given in Annexure-Part-I:
The final compiled report for Part-I, showing table-1 (physical and financial achievement), table-2 (afforestation under NAP), table-3 (ancillary activities – expenses) and table-4 (social parameters), is given in annexure to this report. Table-1 of Part-I is reproduced below.
1.
Part - I: Status Report of NAP: Physical and Financial Progress of NAPTable 1 : Physical and Financial Achievement
The graph for seven years shows that physical achievement went up during the first four years, but later fell down continuously. This is also directly correlated with the flow of fund. Thus, so far there has not been much promising sign for the future of the project.
Similarly, financial achievement during the seven years of NAP in Assam in graphical form is as below:
This curve is little erratic, showing a fall in 2007-08 with a rise subsequently. However, there has been sharp drop in 2010-11. Again this is due to sharp fall in fund allocations to the FDAs.
The inconsistent flow of fund should be discontinued. Both at central and state level, mechanisms should be put in place to see that release of funds synchronises with the planting schedule and field functionaries also do not give any alibi for failure of plantations. This is decades-old problem, but not yet fully solved.
2. Among the afforestation activities under the NAP, maximum target and achievement had been in artificial regeneration (AR) followed by aided natural regeneration (ANR). The lowest target and achievement was for silvi-pasture. Cane plantation was the second lowest. This is as expected, since there is considerable area which has degraded over the years and for rehabilitating those areas, artificial regeneration and aided natural regeneration are the first choice. Silvi-pasture development should have been given attention, as it would have reduced cattle pressure on the forest areas. A combination of high yielding nutritious grasses and fodder trees in combination with promotion of stall feeding can reduce cattle pressure on young plantations and natural forests. This is known to all foresters.
3. Ironically, the FDAs have not booked any expenditure on training and capacity building, although some of them have reported a few trainings. They have booked these minor expenses in other heads of account.
However, the expenses are very small and it can be safely inferred that there were no major efforts for training and capacity building of JFM communities. This does not augur well for the institution of JFM, where the objectives are promotion of self-help groups, micro-level entrepreneurship, enrichment and efficient conservation of forest resources.
4. No effort during the last seven years of the project has been made by any of the FDAs for value addition and marketing of forest produce. This is where the FDAs should have enlisted support and knowhow from the other departments in the State, and even from outside like Madhya Pradesh Forest Department.
5. Similarly, there has been no effort in the treatment of problem lands. In this category, weed infestation of wetlands could have been taken up, as wetlands are ecologically and economically very important for the local people.
6. Like the above two, there has been no effort by any FDA to make expenses on improved technology. Here, some of the identified technologies of ICFRE, clonal propagation technology (ITC Bhadrachalm or others), technologies related to harvesting and value addition of NTFPs, particularly medicinal and aromatic plants, orchids and bamboos, can be used to enhance production and generate income in shorter intervals.
Main points of JFMC resolutions:
1. Constitution of Committees: Under different Ranges of Forest Divisions, for the purpose of regeneration, maintenance and protection of forest areas in the State, Forest Protection and Regeneration Committees have been constituted under provision of Rule-7 of the Assam Joint (people’s participation) Forestry Management Rules, 1998 published in Assam Gazette dated 20th February, 1999. In case a minimum of 50% of the total number of adults in a village, residing adjacent to a forest area, accepts the proposal of the concerned forest division for constitution of Joint Forest Management (JFM) Committee, then the Divisional Forest Officer shall constitute the Forest Protection
and Regeneration Committee, within the framework of the above-mentioned rules. Under the rules, families act as members. Later these committees were registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860.
2. Types of areas selected: The types of area selected include all areas outside Reserved Forests and only peripheral degraded areas of Reserved Forests. Next level of selection of area is based on the working scheme prepared by the Division in consultation with the JFM members and duly approved by the concerned circle Conservator of Forests. On the size of the area, Rule-5 of the above-mentioned rules has the following to say. The area under the protection of such committees may usually be limited to 3 (three) hectares per beneficiary family for natural regeneration and 1 (one) hectare for intensive planning. The area for natural regeneration and artificial regeneration will depend upon number of beneficiary families in the committee. The performance of the committees shall be closely monitored and the extent or limit of the area reviewed and revised, if considered necessary.
3. Usufruct Sharing: As per the Rule-10 of the said rules, following usufructry benefits are given to the members of the JFM committees.
(i) In case of natural regeneration/ plantation taken up under the scheme, the beneficiaries shall have to protect the forest to be eligible for sharing of usufructs under the programme.
(ii) The beneficiaries shall be permitted to collect minor forest produces, free of cost without causing any damage to the forest/ plantations.
(iii) 25% output from silvicultural thinning shall be set aside for distribution to the beneficiary families through the Executive Committee for meeting their bona fide household needs. In case of shortfall, the Executive Committee shall prioritize examining the requirements of the individuals and arrange smooth distribution. In case of surplus, the Forest Department will dispose it of through the approved system of sale and deposit the said proceeds in the fund of Forest Protection and Regeneration Committee for utilisation for the cause of common interest of the beneficiaries. Balance 75% shall be disposed of by the Forest Department and 1/3rd of the net receipt ( after deduction of proportionate cost of creation and harvest) shall be deposited to the Executive
Committee for proportionate distribution to the members of the Forest Protection and Regeneration Committee.
(iv) The output from the harvest from main fellings shall be sold by the Forest Department. The beneficiaries will be entitled to 25% of the net receipts from main fellings. The net receipt will mean the sale value of produce less the direct cost of creation and harvest. The concerned Divisional Forest Officer shall set apart proportionate amount from the sale proceeds as above and shall arrange distribution of the same to the eligible beneficiaries in consultation with the Executive Committee upon satisfactory performance of the duties and functions detailed herein before.
(v) The receipt from the harvest of plantations under Social Forestry shall be distributed as above, amongst the beneficiaries after deduction of cost of plantation and cost of harvest.
Abstract of Evaluation done in past by Independent Agency:
The central project carried out mid-term evaluation of the implementation of the schemes and the institutional mechanisms in place in all the FDAs. Some of these evaluations were done when the scheme was hardly one or two year old. However, in some FDAs, evaluation wad done when the implementation of the scheme was already in third or fourth year. Most of the independent evaluators have more or less similar observations. All evaluators have been appreciative of the scheme, particularly of its income-generating potential and development of rural infrastructure. However, irregular fund flow and its being out of sync with the plantation activities have been complained by all the evaluators. The essence of their observations and suggestions is captured in the following sample of 16 FDAs of the State.
Sl.No.
Name of FDA Abstract of evaluation
1. Aie Valley Evaluation of this FDA was done by Aranyak, NGO, Guwahati for the year 2003-04 to 2006-07. Out of 17 JFMs evaluated, 4 were found outstanding, 7 very good and 6 good. While the
2 Cachar Evaluation of this FDA was done by Prof.A.Gupta of Department of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Assam University, Silchar in 2005 for the year 2003-04 to 2005-06. (i) Entry Point Activities were found successful in
building trust with the people. More such activities should be taken up.
(ii) There is need for coordination between Forest Department and other development departments for better implementation of project activities and integrated development
(iii) Better nursery techniques should be put in place
(iv)Fund flow should be regular and matching with the plantation activities
3 Digboi Evaluation was done by Dr.M.Islam of Dibrugarh University for the period 2004-05 to 2007-08. Work was assessed as commendable, and participation satisfactory. Project was found good for wage earners in the villages. Fund flow was found irregular and out of sync with the planting schedule
4 Dibrugarh Evaluation done by Dr. Muhibil Islam, former head of Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University for the period 2003-04 to 2005-06. Project works were found satisfactory and participation of the public also very good. But, the issue of fund flow and need for better
5 Dhemaji Evaluation of this FDA was done for the years 2003-04 to 2006-07. Entry Point Activities (EPA) were appreciated for building trust with the villagers. Participation of the public was also found satisfactory. However, the evaluator made following important observations.(i)Fund flow was irregular and not timely, resulting in high weed growth in plantations and poor maintenance of plantations(ii)Monitoring by senior officers should be more frequent
6Doomdooma
Evaluation of this FDA was done in 2008-09 for the years 2004-05 to 2008-09. Performance was found satisfactory. Survival of plants was found to be 70% to 75%. The evaluator made following observations and suggestions.(i) Fund flow not timely(ii) There is need for better nursery techniques(iii) Inter-cropping of agricultural cash crops
should be allowed to provide income to the villagers
(iv) Fencing and regular weeding were lacking(v) Cultivation of medicinal and aromatic plants
should be promoted7 Golaghat Evaluation was done by a senior scientist of
Rain Forest Research Institute (RFRI), Jorhat in 2007-08 for the preceding years. Works were found satisfactory. Women participation was also found good. Fund flow was found to be a problem area for effective plantation.
8 Haltugaon Evaluation was done by Discovery Club, NGO, Kokrajhar and Kokrajhar Science College, Guwahati University. While some of the JFMCs were assessed to be very good, some were found good and a few miserable failure. There has been found very good coordination between President, JFMC members and Member Secretary. In successful cases, there was a sense of ownership among JFMC members. The evaluators found that in some cases choice of species was wrong.
9 Hamren Evaluation was done for 2003-04 to 2006-07 by a senior Scientist of Assam Agriculture University. He found the project work satisfactory. His suggestions were:(i) Local species of economic importance
should be planted(ii) Cattle grazing should be stopped and
fencing posts should be of cement concrete(iii) Fund flow should be timely
10 Jorhat Evaluation was done for 2005-06 and 2006-07 by a Researcher of Aranyak, an NGO of Guwahati. Works and public participation were found satisfactory. However, streamlining of fund flow and effective monitoring were suggested.
11Kamrup West
Evaluation was done by a professor of Regional Agricultural Research Centre, Assam Agriculture University during 2005 for the years 2004-05 and 2005-06(half year). Overall grading was outstanding, with very good (70% to 80%) survival rate of plants. Participation of women was also found satisfactory. However, timely flow of fund and better monitoring by officials was suggested.
12 Nagaon Evaluation was done by a senior scientist of Assam Agriculture University for the years 2003-04 to 2006-07. Performance of the FDA in implementation of the NAP works was very good. Entry Point Activities were appreciated for developing trust in the public. The evaluator gave following main suggestions.(i) fund flow should be made regular
(ii) Nursery techniques should be better(iii)Other line departments should also be
involved in the works, wherever needed(iv)Senior officers should pay more visits to the
field sites
13
Nagaon South (Hojai)
Evaluation was done by a Principal Scientist of Assam Agriculture University for the period 2004-05 to 2006-07. Implementation of the project was found very good . Suggestions were similar to those given above. In addition, it was suggested that given the impact of Entry Point Activities,
14 Lakhimpur Evaluation was done by Dr.A.K.Singh , Scientist of NERIWALM (North Eastern Regional Institute for Water and Land Management) in 2007-08 for the years 2004-05 to 2006-07. Observations were similar to those in other cases. In addition, it was suggested that as the maturity period of tree crop is long, villagers should be allowed to do inter-cropping by agricultural crops to get early returns.
15 N.C.Hills Evaluation was done in 2007 by Bosco Reach-out, Haflong for the period 2003-04 to 2006-07. The implementation of the plan scheme was found satisfactory. Suggestion was made for more allotment of under bamboo plantations and more employment generating schemes. It was also suggested that fund flow should be timely.
16 Sibsagar Evaluation of this FDA was done by a former Head of Department of Life Sciences, Dibrugarh University for the period 2004-05 to 2005-06. The implementation of project activities was found satisfactory. His main observations and suggestions are:(i) There was general lack of basic information. Documenting and information sharing should be improved.(ii) Forest Department has inadequate linkage with other line departments. It needs to be corrected for integrated development(iii) Cattle grazing and weed control should be addressed properly
Involvement of Women, SC and ST in the Programme:
As per rule 7(ii) of the Assam Joint (people’s participation) Forestry Management Rules, 1998, membership of each family in the JFM committee will be in the name of the husband and wife or a male and a female member of the family and shall be considered as one unit of beneficiary. Hence, involvement of women is ensured by the rules itself. This notwithstanding, Assam is a society where there is hardly any
discrimination due to sex, caste or tribe. Hence, participation of women in JFM is expected to be strong and encouraging for the project. In most of the nursery works, women are being involved. In some JFMCs, they take active part in management and political side of the institution of JFM. In many cases, they are presidents of the JFM committees. For example, in Digboi FDA, out of 26 JFMCs, 20 have women as president.
But, in most of the JFMCs, the number of women members in the executive committee is less than 30%, in some cases even nearly 10%. Now, as the norm has been made for 1/3rd members in the executive committee to be women members, situation will improve.
Although there are many JFMCs which have predominance of tribal people, but even in the JFMCs where there is mixed caste composition, tribal and scheduled caste people have very good representation. There is no discrimination of any sort against them.
Major innovations/ contributions/ significant achievements of JMCs of FDA:
Sl. No.
Name of the FDA
Abstract of significant achievements/innovation
of JFMC of FDA/JFMC contributions(FDA wise, where such works have
been done)
Tel. no/Mobile no. of CEO and Range
officer
1
Dibrugarh FDA:
JFMC: Barah (12) Gharia Borbum Tongia Forest Village
This village JFMC has raised 30 Ha with an active participation of the members of the JFMC. The villagers have realized the concept of the JFMC and have come forward voluntarily for making the plantation successful.
Tel no. of CEO-0373/2318096
2 Lakhimpur FDA; Each of these two JFMCs CEO –
(i) Tariyani JMC
(ii) Bokanalla JFMC
has been successful in :
Creation of ANR – 10 Ha.
Creation of AR – 30 Ha.
Creation of Cane plantation – 10 Ha.
Total – 50 Ha. under each JFMC.
Survival percentage 60-70% average.
The people`s participation is exemplary and encouraging.
9401667001
R.O- 9864166646
Chapter – 4: Status of JFM (based on Part-II of data)
There are following 30 Forest Development Agencies under the Assam Forest Department.
14Hamren (Jhum) [ now known as Karbi Anglong (Jhum)]
29Sonitpur East
15 Jorhat 30 Sonitpur West
Placing the FDAs in alphabetical order with taking Hamren (Jhum) by its new name of Karbi Anglong (Jhum), the 25% sample of FDAs for the purpose of knowing various parameters on two randomly selected JFMCs of the FDAs was selected by suggested systematic random sampling method. However, the FDA of N.C.Hills (Jhum) was inadvertently left out from the list at the time of sampling. As a result, the list of 25% FDA came out as follows:
1. Cachar FDA; 2. Dibrugarh FDA; 3. Golaghat FDA ;
4. Jorhat FDA; 5. Karbi Anglong East FDA ; 6. Lakhimpur FDA;
7. North Kamrup FDA
However, the Jorhat FDA could not provide information on most of the tables for the years given. As a result, it was replaced by Hamren FDA. Hence, in this report the sample of FDAs is finally as follows:
1. Cachar FDA; 2. Dibrugarh FDA; 3. Golaghat FDA ;
4. Hamren FDA; 5. Karbi Anglong East FDA ; 6. Lakhimpur FDA;
7. North Kamrup FDA
From the parameter values given for the two randomly selected JFMCs of the sampled 7 FDAs, following broad inferences can be drawn.
1. There is inconsistency in allocation of fund, resulting in disruption in creation and maintenance of plantations. In case of Lakhimpur FDA, there was no allocation of fund for 2009-10 and 2009-10.
2. It is seen that fund received by JFMCs of the sample FDAs during the last four years ranged from a few thousand rupees to five lakh rupees, majority being around one lakh to three lakh of rupees. For a year, this is a paltry amount to sustain the stake of the JFMC people in the development of forestry activities. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that some of the independent evaluators have suggested promotion of inter-cropping in forestry plantations by agricultural cash crops of economic value.
3. In all the FDAs, there is very poor effort for capacity building of the members of the JFM committees.
4. In none of the FDAs, village development fund of any sort has been generated.
5. There has not been any attempt in pasture/ silvi-pasture development.
6. Similar is the case with the regeneration of perennial herbs and shrubs.
7. There has been almost nil effort on the part of the FDAs to form self-help groups (SHG). Formation of SHGs would have been an important step forward in initiation of income generating activities, development of micro-enterprises, opening door for institutional credit to JFMCs and consequent raising of stake of villagers in augmentation of all those forest resources which are beneficial to their micro-enterprise. It would also lead to development of entrepreneurship spirit among the villagers of same and different JFMCs.
8. The information provided by the sample FDAs and discussion with the divisional level officials suggests that maintenance of records by the FDAs is not good. Even basic registers, like attendance register, protection duty register and nursery journal are not being maintained by some JFMCs of some FDAs. This is an indicator of lack of devotion to the task of record keeping and easy retrieval of data by the Range Officers of such JFMC areas and the Divisional Forest Officer of the division. It seems some of the evaluators also did not examine the actual functioning of the JFM meetings and record keeping by the JFMC critically.
9. From the sample JFMCs of the sample FDAs, it is seen that the number of women members in executive body of the JFMC is far less than the desired. In one sample JFMC of North Kamrup FDA, out of 12 executive members, there is only one woman member. This imbalance needs to be corrected, as it is well known that rural women are better natural resource managers and have more stake in conservation of natural resources and development of livelihood alternatives. In many states, they are successful in developing and running Self Help Groups.
10. The data from the sample also shows that just 2 to 4 meetings of JFMC are held annually. If the FDAs are involving JFMCs in preparation and modification of microplans, protection of forests, capacity building of JFMC members etc., then conduction of merely 2 to 4 meetings of the executive body in a year will not cut much ice in keeping villagers engaged with the department, particularly when the fund flow is irregular and paltry.
11. So far, the only benefit that has flowed to the JFM community from the NAP is in terms of entry point activities (EPA) and wage earning by some members of the JFMC. Most of the independent evaluators have appreciated the NAP for developing trust between
villagers and forest department through the EPAs and wage earnings to the villagers. However, many of them have suggested that for better results (through EPA and income generating activities), the Forest Department should develop better coordination with other line departments. They have also suggested planting of economically important local species and, as mentioned earlier, allowing inter-cropping in tree plantations by cash crops which will provide benefits early. For hill areas of North Cachar and Karbi Anglong, the evaluators have suggested more allocation of fund for bamboo plantation, as bamboo will start paying dividend to the villagers after four years and there is large demand for bamboo, provided strategies, like large-scale production and uninterrupted supply (by making a confederation of JFMCs, for example), leveraging e-governance (developing rural service centres through ICT including mobile technology), arbitrage facility, value addition, diversification of products, positioning of products in the market, etc are properly addressed.
Chapter -5: Conclusion
NAP was launched in Assam in 2003-04. Joint Forest Management also started nearly at the same time in Assam, although the State Government had notified “The Assam Joint (people’s participation) Forestry Management Rules, 1998” on 10th November, 1998. At the nascent stage of the joint forest management, many forest officials and villagers were confused about this new mechanism of forest management. Many field foresters still do not realise that there is need for constant engagement, finding of real stakeholders and public- spirited persons among the villagers, search for innovations and cross-sectoral approach for meeting energy and developmental needs of the village communities. The implementation of JFM in Assam still has many shortcomings. Process is not transparent to the villagers, representation of women is inadequate in some areas, record-keeping is poor, coordination with the community and other departments is inadequate, capacity building and use of better technologies are not paid due attention and the level of engagement is far from enough. The JFM and FDA should be properly institutionalised for making any participatory
forestry development programme successful and sustainable. The experience in NAP shows that JFM can be successful in Assam only when means of income generation are ensured on regular basis in the forestry projects/schemes. This is the reason that some of the independent evaluators of the NAP suggested that more funds should be allotted for entry point activities (EPA) and inter-cropping through agricultural cash crops should be allowed in joint forest management plantations.
For making NAP successful, it is essential that FDAs receive funds regularly. Moreover, release of funds should be synchronous with the plantation schedule. This problem can be solved, but it is still persisting and is resulting in wastage of efforts made earlier. Even if the fund is less, the fund should be provided till the plants are fully established. Only then it can be considered as mission approach for afforestation. Moreover, as suggested by some independent evaluators, better nursery technologies and clonal technology should be deployed for faster returns. In order to increase the stake of villagers in the forest conservation, value addition of produces, development of self-help groups, development of revolving or development fund, building of capacity of villagers, etc. are essential. So far, FDAs of Assam are lacking in all these areas of the repertoire of initiatives that constitute the current philosophy of joint forest management. However, there is one mitigating circumstance in the favour of these FDAs, and that is, the joint forest management is less than a decade old in Assam and forestry crops take long to provide any usufructuary benefit to the villagers.
