Prasant Kumar

Abstract

While extensive studies have been carried out on the role of Government-owned forests in the national economy and livelihoods of the people living in and around the forests in India, not much is known about the role of privately owned forests in employment generation and poverty alleviation, which also has the potential to kick-start the rural economy. The scheme of Lok Vaniki, a scheme of its own kind in the country launched in the State of Madhya Pradesh for the management of private forests, attempts to address the same. The paper also makes a comparison between Lok Vaniki and a major ongoing employment generation scheme of Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, i.e. Sampoorna Grameen Rozgar Yojana (SGRY). Unlike Lok Vaniki, SGRY requires significant investment by the Government. Moreover, stakeholder participation, capacity building, entrepreneurship development and ultimately poverty alleviation make Lok Vaniki worth emulation by other States and Union Territories.

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Prasant Kumar

Abstract

Considerable Private Forest areas in Madhya Pradesh are managed scientifically on a sustained basis, under the Lok Vaniki Act, through management plans, prepared by Chartered Foresters. This ensures continuity of management and improvement, as it strikes a balance between aspirations of Bhumiswamis and legal framework including directions of the Supreme Court. The advantages of Chartered Foresters are being realized who want this new concept to be further expanded and become a long. term association. Chartered Foresters are generally retired experienced foresters but there is need to ensure upgrading their professional knowledge periodically, so that he does not become only a middleman, lacking perfect technical skill in preparing management plans which are finally approved by competent authority. However, if the plans are prepared by Bhumiswami's, delays in approval are likely to occur, as the bhumiswamis are unlikely to possess technical competence and adequate regard for sustained exploitation of forests. Chartered Foresters serve as independent third party. Expansion of the role of Chartered Foresters, developing a system of accredition, periodical renewal of knowledge, constituting a regulatory body will go a long way in strengthening this institution as well as removing the maladies which might have crept into this new concept of Private Forests management.

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Prasant Kumar ¹, Arabinda Mishra ¹, Shivani Wadehra ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Policy Studies, TERI University, New Delhi

Abstract

Single variable, i.e. forest density, is generally used by the foresters to evaluate forest management outcomes. Joint Forest Management (JFM), has given a role to local communities in forest management. This indicates towards the requirement of a multivariate approach to assess outcomes that includes both ecological and anthropogenic variables. In the study carried out in 24 JFMCs in 3 districts of Madhya Pradesh, having Sal (Shorea robusta), Teak (Tectona grandis), and Miscellaneous Forests, the outcomes were compared on both single variable of forest density and rd multiple variables (Index Value arrived at by Principal Component Analysis). On single variable 1/3 of the 24 JFMCs were found to have better outcomes but when multivariate approach was used the number of JFMCs increased to 12 (half of 24 villages). Multivariate approach indicates more realistic assessment as social context variables are also used. Moreover, this assessment reflects the capacity of these 4 additional JFMCs to contain anthropogenic influences while being weak on the technical aspects of forest management. Thus multivariate approach gives a tool in the hands of policy makers and forest managers to make precise policy interventions - on technical or social aspects - in a particular JFMC. However, more studies would be required before it is adopted.

Keywords

Forest Management, Multi Variate

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