Regional sharing workshop on Assessment of Challenges and

opportunities in the Asia Pacific region for Rio +20

(ICIMOD :23-25 August 2011)

Van Panchayats of Uttarakhand:

An Institutional Framework
for
Sustainable Development

Dr. Rajendra Singh

Conservator of Forests
Western Circle, Nainital, Uttarakhand (India)
Location Map

Uttarakhand
 UTTARAKHAND AT A GLANCE

CREATED ON 9TH NOVEMBER 2000

TOTAL GEOGRAPHICAL AREA 53485.00 Sq.Km.

TOTAL FOREST AREA 34661.52(64.81%)
POPULATION(2011) 10116752
Male 5154178
Female 4962574
Sex Ratio 963 (National 940)
Literacy over all 79.63% (National 74.04%)
Male literacy 88.33% (National 82.14%)
Female literacy 70.70% (National 65.46%)

Growth Rate 1981-91 24.23

1991-01 19.20
2001-11 19.17
(.84% of country’s population with 1.8% of geographical area)
 Forestry Sector : the basic facts

Forest Category by Mgt. Control

By Land Category
Uttarakhand Van Panchayat Rules: Evolution through
history

 Van Panchayat Rules 1931

 Van Panchayat Rules 1972

 Van Panchayat Rules 1976

 Van Panchayat Rules 2001

 Van Panchayat Rules 2005

Relevance of VP with Sustainable mountain
development and Rio +20
 65% of geographical area classified as forests/climate change induced
threats
 Heavy dependence of people on forests for livelihood

 Presence of time tested (Since 1931) village level institutions for forest
governance
 12089 VPs covering ~5.45 lakh ha forest land.

 Enabling policy and legal environment

 Better approach for SFM (Integration of Dev. And env.)

 Requirement of democratic governance and need for inclusive growth

and has all three basic elements of SD namely: Economic, social and
environmental concerns
SOME UNIQUE FEATURES OF P.F.M. IN UTTARAKHAND

 Technical support by FD, administrative control of Revenue

department.

 Decentralization and Empowerment of village community

 Liberal benefits/Revenue sharing mechanism

 Net income sharing 30:40:30 : : GP:VP: community Dev. works by VP

 Concept of forest users groups/SHGs in VP

 Empowerment of women, SC, ST and other weaker sections of society

 VP/JFMC has the status of forest officer.

Case-study: some interventions
 INTERVENTION –I: Community Carbon Forestry
(K:TGAL) period:2003-09 led by university of
Twente,Regionally coordinated by
ICIMOD,Implemented by CHEA
 INTERVENTION –II; Integrated approach for
strengthening VPs for livelihood (2009-13)
 INTERVENTION-III: Pine needle briquetting
 INTERVENTION-IV:CAMPA
 Key issues
 Size of Van Panchayat :60% VPs are of <15 ha while 13 % VPs are

having < 3 ha forest area under their management;

 Availability of staff for micro-planning and other technical support

 Availability of fund and equity in its distribution

 Criticality of continuous motivation and support

 Leadership and capacity building issues

 Institutional arrangement and linkages with PRIs. ( Integration of Dev.

And Env.)

 Lack of law enforcement ability of the community organisations

Opportunities
 Extension of van panchayat area.

 Resource mobilisation through MNREGA (working agency)/CAMPA/13th

FC/Green India Mission

 Carbon trading through CDM and other mechanisms.

 Micro-planning and capacity building issues.

 Instutional building
Recommendations pertaining to Green Economy
 Creation of fodder banks and integrated organic farming
 Developing capacity to make biodegradable eco-friendly plates and bowls
from the tree leaves of Kweral (Bahunia variegata), Palash (Butea
monosperma), Sal (Shorea robusta) etc.
 Use of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) needles for energy production.
 Plantations of species like Triphala , Thuner (Taxus baccata), Chaura
(butter tree- Bassica butyracea) and Seabuckthorn (Hippophae spp.)
 Short rotation crops like bamboos, Ringal (Arundinaria spp.), and NTFPs
with buyback arrangement
 Medicinal and Aromatic Plant cultivation e.g. oil extract from lemon grass
etc.
 Oil seeds, Fiber and Natural dyes
 Resin Tapping and allied products
 Eco-tourism including Adventurous tourism Rafting/rock
climbing/trekking etc.
 Potable water as forest produce from VPs./payment of royalty to the
community
Recommendations pertaining to Institutional Governance

UPFR 2005
 10 year working plans in place of five year Consolidated management
plans
 Need for optimum area of Community Forest/VP forest (at least @b2.5
ha/family).
 The name "Van Panchayat" should be retained and the word
"Management Committee" should be done away with.
 Develop horizontal and vertical linkages of VP as institution,with
Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) at village, block and district levels.
 Need to reward community for management and conservation of
forests as carbon sinks.
Key findings and lessons learnt

 Integrated and flexible approach approach

 Institutional building including Timely elections

 Capacity Building & development of local leadership

 Introduction of short rotation cropes

 Resource mobilisation (Carbon trading/other sources) for

sustainability/PPP

 Adequate area necessary for VP to be viable unit of CFM

 Key messages to policy-decision makers
 VP should be recognized by GOI ( MoRD and MOEF )/Resource
mobilisation.

 UPFR2005 to be amended

a) To Prepare 10 year management plan in place of five year consolidated plan for
each district

b) to retain the name “Van Panchayat” instead of “management committee”

and to .

 Extension of VPs area to make them viable units of forest management and
earning forest based livelihood

 Providing vocational training to the people to provide them alternative

options for livelihood.
Key messages to policy-decision makers
 More emphasis on protection and conservation models (ANR)of
forestry than target oriented afforestation

 Forestry to be given adequate importance in development planning

and reward community forest conservation efforts

 Allowing management and maintanance of existing forests to be

eligible for Carbon credits under CDM (Kyoto protocol)/RED+

 Mitigating human animal conflicts

THANKS
THANKS