Forestry Operations

PEOPLES PARTICIPATION JFM IN SOUTH BENGAL

· West Bengal is pioneer state in India where the environmental consideration is integrated into social and economic welfare in the form of a policy and is called Joint Forest Management (JFM).

· The dispersed nature of geo-distribution of forests and almost total dependence of huge population on forests in South West Bengal, the efficient implementation of JFM demanded the services of a professional body/organization to ensure steady and expeditious harvesting operation, marketing the produce, distributing the usufruct shares to the FPCs according to governing G.O. on regular basis.

· To accomplish the task of harvesting the forest produce and disbursement of usufruct shares and implementation of activities for successful practice of JFM on long term basis, the WBFDC Ltd., in collaboration with West Bengal Forest Directorate has formulated a Project entitled Project on Consolidation of JFM and Enhancement of Forest productivity.

· With the help of institutional finance, the WBFDC Ltd., embarked upon a 12-year project in 1998-99. The corporation has also been entrusted by the State Government with the harvesting and marketing of timber, poles, pulpwood and firewood on agency basis from all the territorial Divisions under the territory of the Forest Directorate.

FORESTRY OPERATIONS IN NORTH BENGAL

· WBFDCL holds a lease of 400 sq.km. of forest areas primarily in Kalimpong Forest Division. Entrusted by Govt. of West Bengal, the WBFDCL undertakes management of such leased out areas in terms of prescriptions of approved Working Plan and the relevant orders.

· In order to ensure optimal use of its manpower, the management of WBFDC took to undertaking the timber operation works in the Forest Divisions of North Bengal situated in the Terai and Dooars region. The operation was on the agency basis. This ensured freeing the territorial staff to concentrate more on other forestry operations including protection.

· The West Bengal Forestry Project (funded by World Bank) saw a spurt in forestry activities across the State. Many new initiatives like modern nurseries, replantation on degraded forests were initiated. The WBFDC also designed and formulated a project to ensure flow of funds to the forestry activities in North Bengal to ensure continuance of basic forestry operation in that area. This was indeed essential to ensure that the job portfolio to the fringe population did not dry up completely and abruptly. The project has been duly examined by the State Govt., and after due approval from the appropriate quarters, has been put into operation with effect from March 2004. It may be worth mentioning here that this is a project first of its kind in the country and we have been receiving queries from various other States about its formulation and success of implementation.

· As a part of shift in afforestation plan in the hills, the plantations are now being enriched to maximum extent and varieties of broadleaved indigenous species are promoted instead of raising mono crop of conifers. WBFDCL taking up the afforestation work of degraded forest areas in the hills of North Bengal on annual scale of 200-250 ha.