Poverty Alleviation and Forest Conservation- A Case StudyMCT Phase IV Dehradun

Date:25.06.2013

Rajive Kumar, Project Director, Uttar Pradesh Participatory Forest Management and Poverty Alleviation Project

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Issues about Poverty and Forest Conservation• The rural poor often depend on forests for a wide range of

natural resources and ecosystem services essential for their well-being, and are therefore potentially affected by its degradation.

• Against this backdrop, conservationists, development practitioners and policy makers often have differing opinions on how—and whether—to link forest conservation with poverty reduction.

• Despite the promises of conservationists that they can deliver green sustainable development, around the world extreme rural poverty continues to show a disturbing correlation with the richest forests.

• Natural riches, however well protected, do not translate into better lives for the most vulnerable. Indeed, often those who live closest to nature seem to gain the least from its protection.

Indeed, the linkages between forest and poverty are much more complex and dynamic that often assumed.

Exploring potential of forests• Forest largely viewed as natural capital but they also add to

• Financial CapitalFinancial Capital: Income from forest • Human CapitalHuman Capital: Improved food security, agriculture.• Social WellbeingSocial Wellbeing:

• Forest provide non material goods that contribute to livelihood by enhancing social and human capital.

• Forestry initiatives that support• access to resources,

• participatory decision making and

• equity

assist in increasing well-being specially that of the poor

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Exploring potential of forestsMore than 1.6 billion people in the world depend to varying degrees

on forests for their livelihoods.Worldwide, forest industries provide employment for 60 million

people. Some one billion people depend on drugs derived from forest

plants for their medicinal needs (World Bank, 2001)Fuel wood continues to be vital for many poor producers and

consumers. Bulk of rural households in developing countries use firewood as

domestic source of energy.Firewood markets share important pro-poor features with other

NTFPs.

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Exploring potential of forests

Of the 68 million tribal population of India, 50% still depend on the forest resources for various livelihood requirements viz., food, fodder, medicine, small timber and variety of other NTFPs (Bhattacharya and Hayat, 2004)

In India, over half of its forest revenues and about 70% of export income is contributed by NTFP (Shekhar et al., 1993)

The enterprise supports about 10 million people in the cottage industry of rolling the final product.

NTFP collection accounts for 1063 million person-days (2.9 million persons years) of employment in India

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Exploring potential of forestsAmong the Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs), tendu

leaves (leaves of Diospyros Melanoxylon) used as wrapper for making bidis (country cigarettes) are the most important.

The importance of forest product income is usually more in the way it fills gaps and complements other income, than in its absolute magnitude or share of overall household income (Byron and Arnold, 1999)

Thus forest has large potentials for livelihood.Forest has also large potential for gainful employment.

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THE GREATEST OF EVILS AND THE WORST OF CRIMES IS POVERTY

George Bernard Shaw

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Poverty scenario in India –

Poverty is more than just being economically weak or having a low income. It involves broader deprivation of well-being and quality of life,

including social isolation and powerlessness.

- Narayan et al., 2000; Sunderlin et al., 2005

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Link between Forest and Poverty

The state of forests is actually as much as threatened by wealth as by poverty.

Poverty is a cause of forest loss.Forest loss contributes to maintain or even

increase poverty.This implies that economic development and poverty

reduction should help to improve forest condition, andDevelopment of forest resources and improvement in

forest conditions can be an important vehicle for poverty reduction.

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Link between Forest and Poverty

People dependent on forest for their livelihood : Around 350-400 million

No. of villages located in and around forest : 1.73 Lakhs

About 40% of poor people of India live in forest fringe villages.

Strong correlation between the tribal concentrated areas, forest and poverty.

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How to Link Conservation With Poverty Alleviation• Forest management together with poverty alleviation

programmes.• Involve communities in decision making.• Livelihood Security Enhancement and Income Generating

Activities.• Conservation strategies must be linked with livelihood.• Issue of benefit sharing.• Non forestry Income generating activities should be

promoted.

With this in background we have a JICA assisted project in UP.

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A brief onUttar Pradesh Participatory Forest Management and Poverty Alleviation Project

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FORESTS ON THE ROAD MAP OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE Enhancement of forest and tree cover from existing 9.26%

of the State’s geographical area to 20% by the year 2019-20 would not only fullfil an obligation emanated from National Forest Policy but also provide a launching pad for the development of the State in terms of production of renewable resources in shape of timber, NWFP; employment generation, equity, social justice ,sustained supply to industries like paper and pulp wood and other timber based industries. The enhancement in tree cover and improvement of forest would also help the State in contributing to nullify ill effects of climate change by providing the tree cover as a sink against the noxious pollutants.

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Logo of the project

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1616

Project area Project area

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Project Goals• Participatory rehabilitation and management of degraded

forests.• Enhancement of livelihood of local people

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Project Objectives Project Objectives

• To restore degraded forest and to augment forest resources.

• To secure sustainable forest management by improving Forest administration, Community organization and other stake holders.

• To conserve and better manage the wild life.

• To improve the income of target forest dependents and their livelihood options.

Project Approach

There are four approaches to be followed to achieve the project goals:

Participatory forest management by JFMC/ EDC together with UPFD formulating micro-plans;

More emphasis on NWFP and fodder grasses and establishing benefit-sharing mechanism to support livelihoods and incomes

Focus on village-level micro-enterprises to be managed by JFMC/ EDC/ SHG; and

Capacity building

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Project Components

Consulting Services

Preparatory Work

Main ComponentSupporting Comp. Supporting Comp.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Phase-out/Phase-in Work

Forest Area Development (JFM Mode)

Forest Area Development (Non-JFM Mode)

Wildlife Conservation & Management

Community Development & Livelihood Improvement

Survey & Research

Communication & Publication

Institutional Strengthening

Capacity Building OfJFMC/EDC/SHG

Institutional Arrangement Soil Survey Site Selection

Demarcation, Survey & Mapping Preparation of Guidelines, Manuals & Handbook

Institutional Arrangement for UP-PFMPAP

As grants

PROJECT IMPLEMENTING Unit (PMU)(Autonomous registered society)

HEADQUARTERChief Project Director: APCCF/ CCF

Governing Body Chairperson: PS, ForestsVice Chairperson: PCCFMember Secretary: CPD

EMPOWERED COMMITTEE Chairperson: Chief SecretaryFinance Department

Forest Department

Office of PCCF

Through Budgetary allocation

Divisional Management Unit (DMUs)Within DFO office

Zonal Office [CCF]

Circle Office [CF]

District Level Project Advisory Committee

Oversight responsibility

Project Management Consultant (PMC)

NGO Support Organisations

Field Management Units (FMUs)Within RO office

Partner NGOs

Implementing organizations

JFMCs EDCs

SHGs

Fund

Advise

Resource Organisations

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What make this Project different22

No. of Beneficiaries Ground of Estimation*JFMCs 96,000 800 JFMCs x 120 household (HHs)EDCs 22,400 140 EDCs x 160 HHsTotal 118,400

JFMC

Micro-Planning

Forest Resource base (NWFP)

Forest Department

Notification of the JFM areaFOREST

USER GROUP

Participatory M&E (Social Audits)

Dense Forest

Moderately Dense Forest

Natural Resource base

Non-Natural Resource base

Open/ degraded

Forest

SHGSHG

SHGSHG

Wetland

Forest Village

Project CostNo. Component

Cost (Rs. Million)

%

1 Preparatory Works 32.0 0.6%2 Institutional Strengthening of PMU/DMUs/FMUs 417.9 7.5%3 Capacity Building of NGO/JFMC/EDC/SHG 102.1 1.8%

4JFMC/EDC Community Development and Livelihood Improvement

827.6 14.6%

5 Departmental Forest Development and Management 717.0 12.9%6 JFM Forest Development and Management 1,701.2 30.5%7 Wildlife Conservation and Management 44.6 0.8%8 Survey and Research 41.2 0.7%9 Communication and Publication 43.5 0.8%

10 Monitoring and Evaluation 32.5 232323

11 Phase-out/phase-in Works 0.0 -12 Sub-total (Direct Cost) (No.1~11) 3,959.6 71.0%13 Administration Cost 687.0 12.3%14 Sub-total (No.12+13) 4,646.6 83.3%15 Price Contingency 225.0 4.0%16 Sub-total (No.14+No.15) 4,871.6 87.3%17 Physical Contingency 204.7 3.7%18 Consulting Services 293.5 5.2%19 Tax and Duties 209.0 3.7%20 Grand Total (No.16~19) 5,578.8 100.0%

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Item 4 and 6 contributes around 45% of the total cost

Expected Benefit24

Project Component Project Activity Benefit Value

(Rs. mil.)

Forest

Development and

Management

Timber Production Stumpage value of Teak (Tectona grandis) 1,988Stumpage value of Sal (Shorea robusta) 446Stumpage value of Sisso (Dalbergia sissoo) 330

Fuel Wood Production

Production of Fuel Wood 987

NTFP Development Production of Khair (Acacia catechu) 2,648Production of Amla (Embilica Officinalis) 9,050Production of Chironji (Buchanania lanjan) 2,789Production of Salai (Boswellia serrata) 261Production of Harra (Terminalia chebula) 10,087Production of Bamboo (Dendrocalamus strictus, etc.)

9,472

Fodder Development Production of Grass 323Forest Development and Management

Fire Damage Prevention 212Carbon Sequestration 675Soil Conservation 712

Wildlife Conservation and Management

Ecotourism

Development

Ecotourism 482

Community Development and Livelihood Development

IGA by SHGs and

SHG Consortium

IGA 5,649

Total 46,109

74% share of NTFP and 12% share of IGAs by SHGs is expected

Key Actors at Implementation level

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Partner NGO

Community

JFMC/ EDCAnimator

NSO

FMU

Gram

Panchayat

Resource

Orgs.

JFMCs/ EDCs – How are they located?

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JFMC/ EDC – emerging as Institutions

• JFMCs are created under UP Village Forests Joint Management Rules, 2002 that ensures• Notification of ‘village forest’ as defined in section 28 of Indian

Forest Act, 1927• Constitution of Forest User Group (FUG)• JFMC to sign agreement/ MOU with the UPFD to jointly manage

the village forest• Perform functions and duties, and exercise powers as defined in

JFM Rules of year 2002

• EDCs are created under resolution of Government of Uttar Pradesh made in year 1999

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Additional Features under the project• Registration under Societies Act, 1860

• Notification of village forest (with site demarcation and erection of boundary pillars) and signing of MOU with UPFD

• Allocation of forest land for plantation purpose having forest type in category of a) very dense forest, b) moderately dense, and c) open degraded and scrub forest

• Nomination of Executives officers (President, Treasurer, Book keeper, Secretary)

• Constitution of eight Working Groups

• Membership fee collection on annual basis

• Self-Help Groups (SHGs) as sub-group of FUG or forest-dependent family to be constituted for income generation

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Expectations from JFM/ EDC• Now JFMC are expected to function as autonomous

institutions, and as partner to the UPFD

• However, eco-development has focus on sustainable management, development and utilization of forest & its resources.

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How Micro Plan is visualized in the project?• Micro-plan under the project would have two dimensions:

• Participatory Management of village forest under JFM 2002 Rules and MOD provisions

• Community Development and Livelihood Improvement

It is also important to know and connect Micro-Plan with Working Plan

• Under which Working Circle notified “Village Forest” comes, and

• What prescription is made by the Working Plan officer

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• Thus, important elements of Micro-Plan are

• Vision of JFMC/ EDC for next five-years and beyond as registered society

• Plan to execute activities envisaged under the project

• Convergence and dove-tail plans (through District-level Advisory Committee - DLAC)

• Activities for which funds are available under the project for project duration

• Alternate source of fund to realize activities not supported by the project but needed and high on priority of the community

• Exit Policy and fund mobilization strategy beyond project-life

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How could Micro-Plan be evolved in this?

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Baseline of Village

Forest – stocks/

resourcesSite

demarcated and Base

map 1:5000 scale

(digital)

Built capacities of JFMCs/

EDCs

Research’s Inputs –

Work norms & JFM / NWFP

models

Technical guidance & support by

UPFD (under MOU)

Baseline: Socio-

economic - & resource utilization

MICRO PLAN

MICRO PLAN

FUG meeting in Bhujpur JFMC, Sumerpur, Hamirpur

Seed showing in Village Forest area by FUG in village Sahira, Lalganj, Mirzapur

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IS LIFE POSSIBLE WITHOUT LIVELIHOOD?

What is there for livelihood in the project?

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Definition of Livelihood• A livelihood comprises :livelihood comprises :

• the capabilities,• assets (including both material and social resources) and• activities required for a means of living.

• A livelihood is sustainable livelihood is sustainable • when it can cope with and recover from stresses and shocks and• maintain or enhance its capabilities and assets both now and in

future,while not undermining the natural resource base. - Chambers and Conway, 1992

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Income Generating Activities through SHGs

Forest based /Natural Resource Based/ Non-Natural Resource Based IGA/ Micro-enterprise activities

Formation and Funding of 2680 SHG/ Micro-Enterprise

Marketing Research and Support by resource organizations (to identify, development of the product profile and non-destructive harvesting techniques, business plan and marketing strategies)

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SHG Formation• Internal saving and book keeping (Commonly known as Rotating

Saving and Credit activities).• Financial support of Rs. 1.1 lac (Rs 1 lac seed fund and Rs10000

as support fund to each SHG)• Till date 1664 SHGs have been formed against 2680 and internal

savings started.• 579 SHGs have been funded by the Project till date.

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IGA Training in Kanwa JFMC, FMU Babhni, Renukoot Demonstration of nursery technique of Satawar & Kal megh

Map of Dhauha village forest area, FMU Chunar, Mirzapur

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Discussion on Business Plan with SHGs in Naugarh, Kashi by PMC team

SHG grading in Sonah EDC, Dudhwa, Dudhwa

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SHG members (Trainees) field visit to Udyamita Vikas Sansthan, Chitrakoot

IGA Training in Kanwa JFMC, Babhni, Renukoot

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Nursery done by Jai hind SHG under IGA; JFMC Baghnari, FMU Gurma, Kaimur

Consensus Building in Village Khadiya, FMU Motipur, Katarniaghat

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Tasar

Lac culture

Resource Organizations' Details Name of Resource Organization Task Allocated

State Forest Research Institute, M.P. Jabalpur

NTFP Resource Assessment and Development

State Forest Research Institute, M.P. Jabalpur

Harvesting and Post-Harvesting Technology of NTFP

Development Alternatives, New Delhi

Market Research, Business Plan Development, Product Profiling, Product Development Protocol, Trade Linkage and Networking for potential IGA/SME

Indian Institute of Forest Management, Bhopal

NTFP Marketing including Certification

Livelihood Security Enhancement• Also popularly known as Entry Point Activities.• Basically for the development of village.• More targeted for socio-economic weaker section of

village.• More emphasis on JFMC building construction.• Other popular activities are tent house, handpumps, wells.• Support of Rs.1.80 lacs.

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Solar light installed through Convergence, Musahidpur EDC, Chakiya, Kashi

Construction of well (EPA), Goderkhurd JFMC, Patehra, Mirzapur

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FUG listing on House wall, Kevatam JFMC, Ramgarh, Sonbhadra

Production Kit distribution, Exposure visit at Renukoot Division

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JFMC Office Building, Bihuni Khurd JFMC, Rath, Hamirpur

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Benefit Sharing

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Income = Sale Proceeds – (Actual Expenditure + Overhead expenses)

Timber, Bamboo and Tendu-patta

JFMC UFPD

50% Income

50% Income

JFMC UFPD

Balance Income

10% Income or one lakh

Situation 1: Regular course

Situation 2: Large scale

felling due to calamities

Situation 3: In case of

Bamboo only if UPFC opts out

JFMC UFPD

Royalty by JFMC

Total sale proceeds

Benefit Sharing…2

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Income = Sale Proceeds – (Actual Expenditure + Overhead expenses)

JFMC UFPD

Token money by JFMC

100% Income

JFMC UFPD

Token money

100% Income

NWFP other than Tendu-patta and Medicinal plants

Medicinal Plants (Raw form)

Budgetary Flow• Budgetary flow to JFMC/ EDC would be strictly divided with

establishing two different accounts in a JFMC/ EDC village –

• JFMC Account (for forestry work)

• Village Development Fund (VDF) (for village development work)

• This has been created to avoid probable mixing-up of expenditure between forestry work and village development work.

• Different sources and management/ utilization has been suggested to the two accounts

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Budgetary flow model for JFMC

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JFMC Account (For Forestry Work)

VDF Account (For Village Development Work)

Benefit Share of

JFMC

1/4th

3/4th

SHGSHG

SHG

Returned principal & Interest from SHG LoanCash fines for

illegal fellingGrazing Fee

DMU

Funds during project period

Utilization of Income by JFMC

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JFMC Account (For Forestry Work)

VDF Account (For Village Development Work)

Income for various sources

3/4th Benefit share / earnings1/4th Benefit share / earnings

Seed MoneyCommunity

Development

1/4th Benefit share / earnings for each

FUG Dividend

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AR-CDM initiative in UP PFMPAP• India is a signatory to Kyoto Protocol 1992• AR-CDM is a tool to get CER Credits to communities

(JFMCs)• Provision of Study within project area for registration of

AR-CDM Projects with United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

• TERI has been selected for this study and work is in progress.

• Survey of the village forests of first batch JFMCs has been completed and around 5000 ha land has been identified for submission of Project Design Document (PDD) to UNFCCC through MoEF

• 10 Prior Consideration Forms for 10 PDDs have been submitted to UNFCCC

Monitoring and Evaluation

Density Improvement Analysis:Through change detection analysis (comparison) of satellite imageries (LISS IV and Carto sat I data) of 20 forest divisions. Image based maps have been completed for 04 divisions of Vindhyanchal Region and 02 divisions of Terai 02 div of Bundelkhand

GIS

Vegetation Analysis 2009-2010Vegetation Type Area (Ha) % Area

Scrub 0.44 0.25

Open Dense 1 5.59 3.22

Medium Dense 2 53.72 30.90

High Dense 1 114.10 65.63

Total 173.85 100.00

SO-REN-Baghadu-I-Karri-12

Satellite ImageryDensity Classification

Padri Khurd - 2004

Padri Khurd - 2010

State ARM 19-20 September 2012 57

MIS Development

• The project is developing web based information flow through in-house development of MIS-10 modules.

• All major modules rolled out. • All Financial Transactions of PMU

are online from FY 2011-12.

GIS and MIS interface

• All physical activities will be evaluated on GIS based platform for pre-project and end term (spatial and temporal level) including forest type stratification and growing stock estimation

• All villages will be covered with MIS and GIS linkages.

• In the first stage the web based MIS is being developed for Divisions. After its evaluation it will be developed for range level. This can be adapted for use in the department.

M&E mechanism

• MIS: Physical and Financial Reporting (every month on prescribed formats/ template)

• Use of GIS for spatial analysis

• Performance Indicators

• Annual Work Plan (drawn on the basis of implementation schedule vis-à-vis scope defined in the TOR)

• Reviews (meetings, field visits)

• Ad-hoc Studies

• Surveys

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Project Information Reporting Plan

Status of forest Plantation activitiy Groundwater level Soil erosion Wildlife conservation

JFMC members Income level Availability of fodder Milk yield & production Crop yiled & production Income from forest (NWFP)

MIS GIS Others

Amount allocated Amount sanctioned Expenditure details Details of procurement

Planning

Physical Socio-economic Training

Financial

Progress in plantation activity Area wise species planted Progress in water/soil conservation

activities Monitoring of wildlife conservation

measures Growth of planted trees Issues concerning implementation Suggestions/ Feedback

Monitoring of activities of institutions

Alternative livelihood development activities

People’s perception toward forest

Active participation of villagers in JFM activities

Availability of fodder

Training schedule List of participants

attended Timely completion of

training Feedback Details of procurement Expenditure details

Forest legal boundary map Forest division map Village boundary map JFM location map Land use / land cover map

Spatial Attribute

Monitoring Maps

InputsfromPMU

InputsfromFTI

Reports Maps

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Social audit in Bargawan JFMC, Jugail, Obra

Social Audit in Bajaddi JFMC, Shankargarh, Allahabad

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Lessons learnt• Provide space to all stakeholders in decision making

including planning, implementation and monitoring

• Poverty alleviation could not be merely achieved through employment generation but by empowering community as a whole

• Forest alone can not sustain the livelihood of people.

• Handholding and guidance for a longer period

• Enabling Policy environment and uniform policy regime

• Rules and Regulations including amending laws to facilitate processes

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• Community centric decision making

• Partnerships

• Inter-sectoral linkage and Convergence

• Transparency and Accountability

• Institutional arrangement coherent with existing statutory bodies for local governance to avoid overlap and conflicts

• Post project budgetary support

• Continuity of Policy

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A BIRD IN THE SKY DOES NOT SING BECAUSE IT WANTS TO WIN A MUSICAL COMPETITION OR SOMEONE HAS TOLD HER TO SING

It sings because it has discovered a freedom song inside its own heart!

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Thanks for your kind attention!

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