23709 February 2002 ANDHRA PRADESH COMMUNITY SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL FOREST MANAGEMENT PROJECT ASSESSMENT provided by the Forest Department . The Executive summary Forest Department also endeavors to coordinate with other wings of Government Introduction: Andhra Pradesh is the fifth and other pressure groups for a holistic largest State in geographical area and also the development of these villages and these fifth largest State in forest area in the country. communities. The VSS are assured of The state is a distinct geographical entity employment through forest development occupying the east central plateau of India activities. The entire harvest is transferred to with 23.20% of its area being under forests. the VSS. They are however required to save These forest resources, as elsewhere in India, and replough a certain amount earned through are under tremendous pressure due to harvest and consequent sale of wood produce increasing demands and therefore, suffer from grown through their efforts on sustaining the degradation and denudation, resulting in poor initiatives initiated to improve the forests. socio-economic conditions and quality of life. Certain incentives for their active role in forest Nearly 70% of the cultivated area is rain-fed. protection like a share in the fines collected Erratic rainfall, low water table are limiting from those found guilty of committing Forest factors for intensive agriculture. The marginal offences and whom they apprehend are also in returns and low yields have induced farmers to place. On its part the Forest Department after expand their agricultural holdings into areas of formation of these samithies condtuct massive very poor potential, aggravating the problem programs for capacity building, motivation of soil erosion. Most of the rural people are campaigns, Participatory Rural Appraisal etc. Linder-employed and hence the low per capita In addition to development of forests, food income and consequent poverty. security and livelihood support occupy In the early 1990s soon after revision important status in this approach. of forest policy during 1988, there was a major Initially, there was lot of skepticism shift in focus of forest management in India in among the foresters about the effectiveness of general and in Andhra Pradesh in particular. this strategy as a solution for protection . This Forest management, wlhiclh till then was on an type of approach for managing forests was Estate approach, soon was decentralized and new to the people. Hence lot of effort was Participatory Forest Management withl active needed to convince the people about the participation of forest dependent communities, assurances of the Government on the returns especially the tribals was the new tool of forest promised to the people. if they take up Joint management. It began in the form of Joint Forest Management. With the passage of time, Forest Management (JFM) in 1992 through an both the local people as well as the forest order issued by the Government of Andhra officials started seeing the visual impact of Pradesh. It has grown into a massive JFM in rejuvenating degraded forests, and the movement withl nearly 25% of State's forests concept gained more acceptance. The success having been brought under JFM by the year stories spread from one village to another 2000. village. What was started as a small initiative Joint Forest Management is a concept has today attained gigantic proportions with or a philosophy wlherein all the forest more and more forest fringe villages being dependent villagers of a given village or its involved in joint management of forests. From hamlet/s organize themselves into a cohesive a mere 200 VSS in 1995, today there are more group with an objective of protecting, than 6700 VSSs in the state managing 1.68 regenerating and managing the Forests in the million hectares of forest area. vicinity of their village or hamlet/s. These The experience gained and the lessons cohesive groups so organized are called Vana learnt have promised an optimistic fututre. The Samrakshana Samithies (VSS). Since the forests that were fast degrading and depleting forest dependent villagers, as a matter of fact have begun to look up and improve. There has belong to poor and weakier sections, fiscal, been appreciable improvement in forest technical, managerial and moral support is density and quality. The initiative also has had r~~~~~~~~ F&>*rL e x x tr - F \ S a direct positive bearing in the economic and development with other development social status of the forest dependent initiatives of State and the Government of communities. These communities have had the India have been assessed. A comprehensive advantage of increased family income. There tribal development strategy and a tribal has been increase in agricultural productivity development plan have been prepared. and reduction in migration. These The project objective is poverty achievements have given confidence to the alleviation through improved forest State's decision makers and the result is that management and community participation. this new project will graduate from Joint The project is unlikely to cause any Forest Management to Community Forest displacement (partial or full) of the people. Management with focus on alleviating rural The project promotes economic development poverty through improved forest management (including livelihood) of the people in the and community development through project areas. The property being managed is a participation of the stakeholders. The project common property resource. However as there seeks to usher in greater synergy between is likelihood of individual livelihoods of some forest development and poverty alleviation of the forest dependent members being through a democratized participatory approach adversely affected, strategies for vvarding off and empowering forest dependent local such hardships have been analyzed and communities. As sustainability is the key provided. A framework for entitlement has word, the project balances the local needs with been developed and strategies for such external and environmental needs. This will be resettlements worked out. achieved through increased productivity of the A comprehensive and integrated forest resources, reduced dependence on Social and Environmental Assessment has forests through substitution of demand and been made wherein key issues for forestry alternate livelihood opportunities, upgradation sector in general and for the project in of living standards and above all inculcating a particular have been identified. Likely impacts sense of ownership and pride among the forest with regard to these issues, framework for dependent communities engaged in CFM. It screening and measures to mitigate negative will also address the likely conflicts between impacts and to enhance positive ones have the immediate and long-term needs by been suggested. Guidelines for Environmental adequately educating the various stakeholders Management and Social Development, on sustainable management of forest Institutional arrangements for the resources. implementation, and M&E are provided. Le2al & Institutional Environment and Though the project does not provide Forest policv: A detailed assessment of thie for any direct investments in procurement or existing Forest Policy, Legal and Institutional use of pesticides, there is remote possibilitv of Environment in the context of the various escalation in pesticide ulse due to intensive initiatives and structural and process changes agriculture and horticulture on one the hand needed to achieve the stated objective of the and improvement in livelihood and project have been made. Conformity of the incremental income among land owning poroject to the World Bank Safeguard Policies members of the target group on the other All has been made with special reference to anticipated impacts are indirect and marginal. indigenous people, voluntary resettlement and However suitable strategies for Integrated Pest environment and pest management. Management have been suggested for warding Tribals (indigenous people) constitute off any such impacts. about 30% of the population targeted. Various Legal setting: A review of the existing legal issues pertaining to clarification of rights, environment has been made. An analysis of issues peculiar to their development, strategies the A P Forest Act 1967 and its scope and for their holistic development including relevance to CFM has been made. The legal natural resource management, livelihood status of the institution of VSS and the MOU support, capacity building, empowerment, between VSS and the Forest Department also participation in the processes of planning, has been assessed. A frequently noted implementation, monitoring and evaluation, weakness in the legal framework for JFM is mainstreaming and coordinating their the absence of any legislation on the subject. 2 The entire program is built upon Orders issued the VSS has been given certain powers and by executive branches of Government, without responsibilities for managing forestlands with clear linkages to enabling language in relevant entitlement to some benefits like NTFP and legislation. The fact that Government Orders timber and bamboo. Extension of this Act has which are relatively easy to modify may have wider implications on forest resources in tribal both positive and negative aspects. On one areas (as specified in the Fifth Schedule). The hand, this allows flexibility for a new program Gram Sabha or the Panchayat is endowed with to adjust to circumstances as it goes along. right to ownership of NTFP. Further, the The MOU annexed to the comprehensive ownership to NTFP is granted to meet the order on JFM issued by the Government of bona fide requirements of local community. Andhra Pradesh during 1996. is an Endowing panchayat with the ownership of undertaking by the Managing Committee of NTFP might result into competing claims with the VSS to perform various duties and local community. In such event, the objective responsibilities as detailed under the G.O., of the Act would conflict with the demands of which include proper protection of forest and local communities. Obviously, this would plantations. The benefit sharing is subject to a warrant suitable amendment of either JFM satisfactory performance of the duties and order or Panchayati Raj Act. functions as prescribed under the Order. Institutional setting. Historically Forest Other relevant Rules framed under the A P Department has had a strong hierarchical line Forest Ac 1967 that are relevant to CFM are: of command. The 'Estate management' nature a) A. P. Forest Offences (Compounding and of job and stress on forest protection has Prosecution) Rules, 1969 regulating disposal infused a policing approach, which essentially of Forest Offence cases. The VSS members restricted public contact. However traditional will have to be trained adequately in the system of forest protection basing on forest matters dealing witlh such cases. beats has depended heavily on support from b) A. P. Forest Produce Transit Rules, 1970 local villagers and fear and respect for law. As regulating marketing of VSS forest products. years passed, there was dilution in public c) The A.P. Forest Minor Forest Produce perceptionis on conservation of natural (Regulation of Trade) Act, 1971. The A.P. resources. This and increased general Scheduled Areas Forest Minor Forest Produce lawlessness threw the traditional philosophy of (Regulation of Trade) Regulation, 1979 The forest protection oLIt of gear. This, coupled A.P. Scheduled Areas Forest Minor Forest with increased workload, has put the Produce (Regulation of Trade) Rules, 1990 organizational structure and ftinctionaries in regulating the trade of certain minor forest the forest department under great strain. In this produce by creation of a state monopoly in background the initiative of Joint Forest such trade. The regulation referred is made Management, which is now leading to under the V Schedule of the Constitution of Community Forest Management, basing India. The Government have appointed entirely on participation of local forest Girijan Co-operative Corporation Ltd.. dependent communities has provided a ray of Visaklhapatnam, as an agent for any scheduled hope. In the light of this, an analysis of areas for purchase of and trade in any minor strengths and weaknesses of the Forest forest prodtIce. . Departmnent and VSS has been made. Certain d) The Panchayat Extension Act to Scheduled institutional reforms, restructuring and efforts Areas (1996). Under the 73"l Constitutional for capacity building and empowerment are Amnendment Act. Panchayat has emerged as suggested. one of the potential stakeholders in forestry Forest policy. The Indian Forest Policy has management and sharing of benefits derived its genesis in British colonial rule. Forest from it. The panchayat is now empowered to management in India began with the policy on legislate on matters specified in the Eleventh reservation of large extents of forested lands Schedule of the Constitution. Items relating to for forest management. Initially forest forestry include land improvement, soil management had a limited purpose of conservation, waterslhed development, social exploiting the timber resources. Subsequently forestry, farm forestry, minor forest produce, as more and more trained foresters started ftiel and fodder. Juxtaposed to this scenario, practicing scientific management of forests, it 3 gained importance. Concepts like normal responsible for containing the forests, sustained yield, forest conservation diversion of forestland for non- etc. have evolved through years. A review of forestry use), evolution of forest Policy in India and in vii. Wasteland development. . The Andhra Pradesh has led to Community Forest National Waste Land Management is given below: Development Board was a) First forest policy, 1894 highlighting constituted in 1985 attracting the intention of the state to recognize forestry as a focus of the country on the land use distinctly different from agriculture urgency of need for afforestation. and earmarking area for such land use. The c) The 1988 policy: The various initiatives major objective was timber production. taken were formalized in this Policy, highlight Meeting needs of local people was not on the of which was however recognizing local top of list of priorities. This Policy paved way villagers' need for meeting their requirement for legislation and the process of settlement for fuel, fodder, etc. The other feature is that that followed the reservation of forest areas. the Government of India took upon itself the The Policy provided for state ownership and responsibility of approving management plans regulation and had very little for the local and thus heralded a regulation for reduction in communities. tree felling. Green felling was discouraged b) The 1952 Policy essentially affirming unless its silvicultural necessity was proved. forestry as an important land use category, and d) As a sequel to 1988 Policy, the Government insisting on one third of the country's land of India issued a circular for encouraging area remaining under forest, elaborating the community participation in afforestation and tenets on protecting hill slopes and land from management of degraded forests. This paved degradation, desertification, and earning the way for the concept of Joint Forest revenue from forests on sustainable basis. This Management. The Government of Andhra policy quantified that atleast 1/3rd of countries Pradesh adopted this philosophy of forest land shall be under forests. Here again resources management through a Government commercial exploitation of the forests received Order during 1992. preference and needs of the local communities e) Developments in the early 1990s witnessed received a back seat despite the fact that the a major shift in approach to forestry in India. Policy did mention the same. The focus shifted from 'estate management' to Various states took a number of 'joint' or 'community management'. The initiatives. Some of the issues relating to Government of Andhra Pradesh came out with Andhra Pradesh are: its state forest policy during 1993 focusing on i. AbolishingT system of forest participatory management of forests. contracts and encouraging Focal theme of Forest Sector Vision is departmental working, sustainable management of forest resources ii. Establishment of Forest focusing on the protection and regeneration of Development Corporations to forests and forestland. At the end of the attract investments, decade, the role of foresters at least in respect iii. Social Forestry. Agro Forestry and to the participatory management of forests is Farm Forestry, likely to change. The forester is more likely to iv. Bio diversity conservation and be a facilitator, a social mobiliser and an enactment of a special Act for the extension worker. Improved forests protection purpose. and management systems in place, reduced v. Widening the scope of Forest dependence on forests, self sufficiency of Laws to cover specific issues such communities managing forests, greater as timber in transit, regulation of transparency are the intended end results. tree felling in private lands, Past experience; lessons learnt - wav for regulating saw mills and timber future: Joint Forest Management has been depots in private sector etc. accepted as the central theme for all the vi. The Forest Conservation Act 1980 forestry activities. State is providing budgetary - a landmark in the history of support from all the possible sources. Even forestry in India singularly thoughl the World Bank aided AP Forestry 4 Project gave a fillip to JFM subsequently the population. VSS were supported from the funds by the * Combined trainings/orientations/re- district administration. The number of VSSs orientations/deliberations/ field supported through the district funds was more exposures/ inter-actions workshops are than the number supported under APFP. found to be quite effective tools for Subsequently the state took a policy decision advocacy, capacity building, social to support VSS activities under RIDF scheme mobilization, improving performance of NABARD. Among other aspects of JFM, and skills of VSS members, NGOs the following need a careful look: and functionaries or facilitators. . Joint Account System and . Integration of Forestry Micro-plan transparency with Village Development Plan, Trial * Involvemenit of NGOs Development Plan and Resettlement * Women Community Volunteers as Plan for rehabilitation of those who instruments to address Gender issues are likely to be adversely affected, Following are the independent observations of would go a long way in effective and the assessment team: overall development of the village and the forests. * Forestry and environment * Coverage, continuity and cost improvement can directly influence effectiveness of operations by VSSs the poverty problem to a great extent. for their own sustainability as well as Challenge is how "to reach the for achieving the goals require top unreached" or "the poorest of the attention and consideration by the poor" through their active State and/ or district administration. participation in planning, . Empowerment of women and implementation and monitoring. addressing gender issues are very * Rapport with the stakeholders by the crucial for the success of the program. Forest Department builds up the trust . Environmental education, social relationship. A viable micro plan, its mobilization, capacity building, implementation and concurrent awareness creation among VSS monitoring by the stakeholders after members as well as villagers along understanding the situation and with frontline facilitators analyzing various factors then (functionaries) has significantly becomes the reality. contributed to the whole process. It * Establishing and maintaining should be further strengthened or backward and forward linkages as reinforced to keep up the tempo built, well as integrating gender concerns for to sustain it and coordinate various overall development of rural and tribal process indicators and key families can be better done in a group performance indicators. rather than an individual. * Ensuring adequate preparedness in . With the increased and active terms of policy, institutional and involvement of local population, JFM technological aspects before project has and can successfully conserve and expansion is crucial and vital. improve the quality of the existing Thrust areas for the successful implementation forests and plantations, as the forest in future are: area was and is under different stages * Sustainability of degradation. A portion of these . Rehabilitation of degraded forests areas can also be re-clothed effectively . Improving rural economy by taking Up afforestation with . Strengthening povertv alleviation commercially viable species by VSS. initiatives This would achieve three main . Increased education and literacy objectives namely, improving the . Increasing agricultural productivity environment, creating employment * Improving communication and other and reaching the unreached infrastructures mfrastructure5 * Land development on watershed basis representing Southern Tropical Dry including non-forest land Deciduous and Thorny Forests. These * Upgrading the skills of the rural forests are a home to a number of artisans endemic species like Pterocarpus * Dovetailing other rural and tribal santalinus, Shorea talura etc. development programs * These districts account for 77 % of the * Marketing and processing of NTFPs forests of Andhra Pradesh. * Human Resource Development * 82 % of area presently under CFM in * Coordination with other agencies Andhra Pradesh and 78% VSSs Associating Non-Government functioning in the state are in these Organizations. districts. Project Description: The project aims at . The project focuses on 5000 villages upgrading the initiatives taken in the area of (including hamlets). Participatory Forest Management from the . The project seeks to benefit 55000 concept of Joint Forest Management (JFM) to families, living below poverty line. Community Forest Management (CFM). The total number of members targeted While JFM was more a partnership between for assistance is around one million. the forest dependent communities and the * About 20% of the members belong to GOAP. CFM will be more a democratic Scheduled Castes and 35% belong to process through delegation of the decision Scheduled Tribes (Indigenous People). making process and focuses at decentralizing * Nearly 50% of the members are the entire process of planning and women. implementation witlh APFD and GOAP acting Project Goal: The overall goal is to provide a more as facilitators and providers of technical sustained income to rural poor through and infrastructure support. There is therefore sustainable management of natural resources, greater emphasis on capacity building and while improving the ecology and environment institutional strengthening. of the state. This goal is in tune with state's Target population: The Project seeks to Vision 2020. consolidate the participatory management Project objective: The development objective efforts initiated and saturate the areas brought is to reduce rural poverty through improved under community management with limited forest management witlh community expansion to have effective focus. participation. The selected districts represent the The project objective is sought to be three major regions of Andhra Pradesh achieved through a three-pronged strategy: (A) in terms of distribution of forest areas, creation of enabling environment for forest types and agro- climatic community forest management, (B) conditions. community development and (C) forest management. Given below is a brief Seven of the selected districts description of each of these components and (Adilabad, Khammam, Karimnagar, activities proposed. An analysis of these Warangal, Nizainabad, Medak and activities with regard to their linkages and Mahabubnagar) covering the Teak monitoring mechanisms and the associated Forests belt are in the Northern region, riskls and presumptions is made in the form of four districts (Srikakulam, a logical framework separately. Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari) are in the North A. Creation of enalbling Environment for Coastal area representing the transition CFM: The objective of this component is to belt between Teak and the Sal forests. develop a conducive environment for These forests are rich in bio-diversity community forest management, thereby and lie in the eco-sensitive Eastern improving livelihoods and reducing poverty. Ghats. The remaining three districts This component entails certain changes in the (Chittoor, Cuddapah and Nellore) are policy framework with regard to legal, in the Southern region of the state 6 administrative and institutional issues. The objective is achieved and development is activities contemplated include: sustained. Other policy changes planned are in (a) Capacity Building of Implementing the area of marketing, decentralization, Agency: This includes training of staff, utilization, sharing and reinvestment decentralization and delegation of powers to mechanisms etc. the front line staff and efficient time (d) Monitoring and Evaluation: M&E would management, training in micro planning and be used as a key instrument for tracking financial management as well as silvicultural implementation progress and also to serve as and other technical aspects of forestry and useful feedback information to all training in information technology are stakeholders. A comprehensive M&E package contemplated. Interactive seminars for for monitoring activities and impacts is information dissemination are planned. The planned by way of Forest Management existing training facilities at various training Information System. M&E will be at three institutions will be strengthened. In addition, levels: (a) Internal monthly monitoring by the resources would also be drawn from the APFD resulting in monthly, quarterly, semi district level capacity building centers already annual and annual reports: (b) Independent set up by GOAP with the assistance of DFID. concurrent monitoring and evaluation by a third party with contractual arrangements (b) Capacity building and strengthening of using bench mark: and (c) A mid-term community institLtions: in the areas of evaluation study prior to MTR and a post training, study tours and exposure visits. project study at implementation completion policy changes, strengthening institutional review. framework and ensuring proper coordination B. Forest Management: The activities here mechanisms for eflicient functioning. Training are intended to improve forest management programs and the workshops would be at the and improve returns to the community asset Range and District level for aspects like base. Following is a brief account of activities financial and business management, treatment contemplated: practices for forest management, harvesting (a). Improvement of forests within and outside and marketing issues etc. There will be the designated forests through community adequate stress on value addition and market management: A series of treatment practices linkages. Apart from the officers and staff of have been suggested for improvement of thc APFD, NGOs would play a key rolc in this forests. Rejuvenation of degraded Teak, activity. At the grass root level services of Miscellaneous non teak hardwoods, bamboos community coordinators or women and Red sanders forests coupled with community volunteers would go a long way in conservation and cultivation of species valued ensuring motivation and awareness campaigns for their non timber and medicinal value and and in monitoring and guiding the process of fodder species are planned. The technique of change. At the institLItional level certain management of natural regenieration involves radical changes are contemplated in the seedling coppicing of viable rootstock in the direction of devolution of power to the forests under treatment by cutting back flush communities and addressing gender issues. to the ground and coppicing the high stumps The managing committee of each VSS will and repeatedly clipping the resultant coppice comprise only of members of the community shoots retaining the most promising ones. and will not have any representation of Coupled with this, repeated cutting back of Government officials or NGOs. The rank growth and thorny bushes encourages the Government officials and NGOs will form an establishment and healthy growth of the advisory body to suit their changing role. coppice shoots that are retained. Fire and There will be 50% representation by women. grazing management, and soil and moisture Each VSS, in addition to a Chairperson will conservation works are the essential subsidiary also have a Vice Chairperson with either of silvicultural operations. Afforestation of them being a woman to address the gender village common lands and farmlands are the issLIes. other activities that will be taken up under the (c) Policy changes: A number of key policy project in areas outside the designated forests. changes are expected to ensure that the project A total of 315,800 ha is planned to be covered 7 with such treatments under the project. In infrastructure would be essential to inculcate, addition, maintenance and tending of a further foster a sense of cohesion and togetherness extent of 70,000 ha of forest for which and raise the motivation level of the VSS. This treatments were initiated prior to the project also ensures a proper rapport between the are also planned. Forest Department and the VSS to engage the (b) Forest Inventory and Management community on issues related to forest Planning. A full-scale inventory of all management. These investments would only production forests is planned during the fourth complement similar efforts of other year of the project. The inventory design will government agencies in the village. consider the dynamics of the degraded forest (c) Income Generation Activities: This is being treated through VSSs and the need to aimed at reducing poverty among the landless establish reliable estimates of NTFPs, small and forest dependent families in the fringe timber and the regeneration potential. villages by improving the skill base and Identification and design of permanent sample providing avenues for alternative income plots for periodic measurement of forest generation. During the process of micro-plan growth and yield potential will be included. preparation, the VSS would identify the most (c) Research and Extension: To facilitate two- eligible marginalized individuals or way communication between researchers and households for income generation activities. VSS members, a massive research and The activities will be group based and the extension activities are planned. Broad areas range of options will include NTFP processing are: Seed technology, Tree improvement and as well as other non-farm activities. Forest management. (d) Fodder development. Development of (d) Forest Management Information System: silvipastures in and outside the designated Computerization and development of an forests and augmenting fodder resources will integrated computer-based MIS Package with receive adequate attention. Fodder and due integration with spatial database is livestock are inseparably linked. Appropriate planned. Such a pack-age will provide for mechanisms for coordination between Forest assessment and analysis of performance at and Animal Husbandry Department at district, various levels and will link investments and mandal and VSS levels are needed to ensure inputs to productivity, production and outputs. that fodder and pasture development activities Development of hi-tech connectivity for to reduce pressure of grazing over the forest ensuring quick dissemination of data in the lands. form of a web site and wide area network- are planned. Studv obiectives and methodolo2v: The C. Comnmunitv Development: This component overall objective of the studs is to examine is to assist the VSS in planning and developing social and environmental issues in the forestry community infrastructure and enhancing sector in Andhra Pradesh and its implications opportunities for income generation and skill on the project design and imiplementation development among the marginalized groups. including development of a comprelhensive Support to engage NGOs and community and effective environmental management and women volunteers are planned. A social development plan to enhance comprehensive and focused tribal environmental and social objectives for development plan, resettlement plan to mitigating the potential adverse impacts ot the mitigate adverse social impacts due to the proposed project. The specific objectives are: project implementation, if any and an a) Social aspects: environmental management plan are included. To identify various socio-economic factors The following are the activities: influencing the living conditions of the forest dependent poor communities and (a) Micro planning: A massive benchmarking examine its relation with the forest and micro planning exercise through PRA will development precede all investments in the VSS. A format To identify all stakeholders and their roles and in this respect is given in this report. responsibilities. (b) Community infrastructure development: Developmenit of critical physical and social To assess socio economic status of primary To suggest a monitoring mechanism for stakeholders and evolve strategies to deal ensuring environmental safeguards. with different groups. Methodology, approach and tools: For the To establish transparency and accountability purpose of this study, stratified random norms and develop indicators for regular sampling technique was adopted. The districts monitoring. were stratified based on number of VSSs and To establish a two way communication for percentage of ST members in the VSSs in the disseminating information to the interest district. Five districts representing these groups and receiving feed back for permutations and combinations were selected maximizing benefit. at random namely Medak, Srikakulam, To identify the likely conflicts that may arise Chittoor, Khammam and Visakhapatnam. during implementation and suggest From each of the selected district four VSSs conflict resolution measures. were selected at random. Thus, the study was To assess the present status of women and conducted in 20 VSSs among five districts of suggest measures to enhance their the state. Primary data were collected from involvement. VSS members with the help of a checklist. A To study the land use pattern, tenure and separate schedule was used to collect data customary rights of private and common from individual encroachers. PRA and focus properties; examine the existing legal group discussion, individual interaction. joint aspects affecting such rights and suggest walks in the forests and the villages were ways to address these issues including employed for collection of information. developing an entitlement framework. Discussion was also held with NGOs wherever To suggest ways for increasing the capacity of available. Data collection from primary existing institutions for making the stakeholders was followed by discussion with participatory process focal point of Project relevant district officials and academicians in or nature of alternative institutions for a specially convened meeting. After establishing the process. preparation of interim status report, two state To assess the socio-economic implications of and three regional level consultations were the practice of Podu cultivation visa - vis held through workshops with stakeholders JFM and suggest ways for better land use with the objective of fine tuning of the report. and design measures to mitigate any This final report has incorporated the adverse impact. suggestions that have emerged during the To assess the impact of JFM on other consultations. stakeliolders including head loaders, cultivators, grazers and other forest Social & Environmental Base Line: To dependent people. determine the profile of the stakeholders, a Environmental Aspects: framework was developed. This facilitated To assess the present environmental status identification of the various stakleholders who of the project area with special reference are directly or indirectly associated with VSS. to forest resources. bio-diversity. soil Family was taken as a unit of development. moisture regime and intangible benefits of The rural society was seen as a congregation the forests. of several units of families, which ultimately To identify major environmental issues hias evolved, as the institution of VSSs. These wvith respect to proposed sLib-project VSSs may represent either the whole or a interventions. major part of village/hamlet/ habitation. Based To identify monitoring indicators for on the data collected through PRA and focus assessment of impact of each sub-project groups discussions, the socio-economic and intervention on identified environmental cultural profile of the VSSs and other issues and suggest measures to mitigate stakeholders, is presented. Secondary data is adverse impacts, if any. used, wlherever necessary. Emphasis is laid on To develop environmental guidelines and vulnerable groups and gender. procedures for screening proposed sub- project interventions. Environmental and Social Impacts, Screening and Assessment: Environmental 9 and social screening is aimed at identifying which involves the primary stakeholders, will risks, issues and to assess the potential benefits enhance the status of fodder, fuel wood, NTFP and risks. An analysis of social and and timber without adversely affecting the environmental concerns provides the environment. triggering of mitigation and preventive Potential risks: The CFM project objective measures. The problems have been identified and design will have no adverse impact on the through a consultative process and baseline environment, but ensure that various survey. Key issues for forestry sector are: activities/interventions actually contribute to Podu cultivation, Encroachment of Forest environmental conservation and prevent any lands, Head loaders, Migration of population environmental degradation. This will be from the forest fringe villages, Gender issues, possible if the project is implemented as per Vulnerable groups, Resettlement issues, Issues plan strictly following all aspects of design dealing with indigenous (Tribal) people, quality specifications and upkeep of Institutional issues, Legal issues, Grazing, maintenance issues. Marketing of Wood and Non Timber Forest Produce, Sharing the usufruct and Planning Analysis of Alternatives: An analysis of the reforms. various options available for forest management through traditional forestry The main objective of this assessment is to following Estate approach, Social forestry by ensure that development is sustainable with extending forests beyond the limits of state, concomitant social development and minimum Joint Forest Management and Community environmental degradation. Environmental Forest Management has been made. This aspects are not isolated since they have social revealed that the option involving community implications, and social issues too in turn have participation has greater advantages in that it environmental implications. In order to ensures real participation of the communities ascertain the impact of various environmental that depend upon the forest resources, ensures issues on the society, various key holistic development of the community and environmental and social issues are studied has better chances of sustainabilitv. The and projected. These issues have been comparison of 'With Project' and 'Without identified throughl the baseline survey. The Project' scenario also vividly reveals the perceptions of the local people have also been advantages of going in for the Project at the taken into consideration throuhgl a consultative present juncture. Though the investments process. Furtlher, this study provides an made in JFM have resulted in general analysis of potential environmental and social improvements in forests, it needs some more concerns and their screening, which is ained time and effort to ensure their sustainable at identifving potential risks and assessing the management. Definitely the general level of potential risks and benefits duly analyzing the awareness and appreciation of forests has relevant mitigation measures. improved, the commLinities involved in forest Issues perceived bl the people: DLiring the management need some more inputs in the consultative process, people's views were forn of training, capacity building, elicited on various key issues that cropped up empowerment etc. The institLtion of VSSs during JFM implementation and impact of also needs to be furtlher strengthened with withdrawal of JFM on social and environment better structure and systems. The proposed development. Project addresses these areas, wlhich are Potential benefits: The three activities basically areas of consolidation and areas of contemplated in the present project under transformation. Community Forest assessment are: Enabling Environment, Forest Managemiienit is the best alternative available to Management and Community Development. ensure the twin objectives of poverty These will significantly contribute to alleviation and forest improvement. envirorirnental conservation and improvement Social Development & Environmental of its productivity. The project will treat and Management Plan: The overall approach is protect the forests from further degradation. holistic development of the forests and forest Vegetative cover treatments under the project dependent communities. The focus is on through community management system, alleviation of rural poverty through integrated 10 development of diverse activities and their iii. Encroachers having other sources of convergence through Collaboration, livelihood Cooperation, Coordination, Commitment of iv. People not willing to vacate stakeholders, Convergence of various encroached lands activities, Continuity, Cost effective measures v. People losing their house structures in and Conflict harmonization. the project area. The productive potentials of the CFM will vi. Headloaders be reinforced through better forest Guidelines for Implementation management practices, dovetailing . At VSS Level, a VSS Advisory Information Technology in Monitoring and Committee will be constituted to Evaluation and massive Extension efforts. It facilitate implementation of will be ensured that the identified vulnerable rehabilitation activities. groups like the STs, SCs, BCs and women are * Voluntary surrender of land by the mainstreamed in the process of planning , encroachers should accompany their decision making, implementation, monitoring consent letters, which will be certified and evaluation and benefit sharing through by all the members of the Action targeted approaches, thereby reaching the Committee. Such families will be hitherto unreached. Equity will receive provided with alternate economic adequate focus. Adequate backward and opportunities to help to set off their forward linkages and intersectoral losses and restore their livelihood. coordination at state, district, division and * The process of educating and village level particularly with PRIs will ensure motivating the occupants of integrated development. forestlands will be carried out by VSS Social development strategies: The key issues and NGO/Community Organizer. in social development are those concerned * In cases where occupants of witlh resettlement and economic rehabilitation forestlands are not willing to surrender apart from development of community assets, their encroached forestlands, they encouraging self employment together with should be encouraged to take up skill upgradation and forward and backward plantations in such lands. The sharing link-ages. All these issues in the context of of benefits from such lands will be Tribals have been addressed exclusively as decided by the VSS in consultation separate chapters on Tribal Development. with VSS members and affected Resettlement, Capacity building and families Institutional issues. . In cases where the encroachers have Rehabilitation antd Resettlement Frame sizeable operational holdings, outside in'ork: This study revealed two types of the forest area, the approach will be to possible adverse impacts on livelihoods help them increase their farm earnings conseqLient to project implementation and of by providing irrigation facilities those families depending on cutting forest (vhere ever feasible) access to growth and selling as headloads of fuel and improved farm inputs and focused small timiber for livelihood. It was noticed that agricultural extension. They will also encroachments have been caused mostly by be supported with income generating the landless poor in Tribal tracts for eking activities. Where people have their livelihood through cultivating dry constructed houses on the encroached agricultLiral crops on these encroached lands. land in the project area, they will be Any recovery of such lands will have adverse provided with house site and housing impact on the livelihood of people dependent as well under the housing scheme for on suchI lands. the poor of the state government. In Entitlement Framework: Broad categories of case of more than 20 families need to affected families are be relocated, a new housing site will i. Encroachers witlh land holding outside have be developed with all necessary project area also. infrastructLre and civic amenities. ii. Encroachers totally dependent on * Those, who will be provided with encroached lands for their livelihood . 1 1 alternate income generating activities, An analysis of existing conflict will be supported with: harmonization mechanisms has been made and * Skill training for income suggestions for their improvement have been generating activities given separately for intra VSS, between VSS, * Financial assistance (up to a between members and non members of VSS, maximum of Rs 25,000) to take up between VSS and Gram Panchayats, between IGA VSS and FD, between VSS and NGOs. * Support to access bank loan Tribal Development Strategy: The Tribals, * Support from DIC and KVIC who are our contemporary ancestors are Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Issues primarily forest dependent. Historically, they related to economic rehabilitation will also be have been associated with forests well before addressed at different levels of grievance the advent of scientific management of redressal mechanism (at Forest Section, forestry and enunciation of forest policy in ITDA/DFO and District). India. Though they are forest dependent, their Monitoring and Evaluation: There will be welfare is not the concern of forest internal and external monitoring. The internal department. It is the subject matter of Tribal monitoring of physical and financial aspects Welfare Department in the Governance will be done by the DFO at the divisional scenario. This bureaucratic divide has resulted level . At VSS level, it will be carried out by in conflicts and tension between forest the VSS with assistance from management and tribal welfare and has been NGO/Community Organizer and Village one of the reasons for forest depletion and Advisory Council. slow pace of mainstreaming of the tribals. Budget: At the project level, the cost of Tribal development mechanisms in the planning and implementation of rehabilitation context of this Project will have to work in activities will be part of the overall budget of close association with the existing Tribal the project. At VSS level, the cost of Development Agencies like the ITDA, rehabilitation activities will constitute integral MADA, TRICOR and GCC duly component of the micro plan. supplementing their efforts where there are C'onflict harmonization strategies: A variety of gaps. The Project will act as nodal and conflicting situations either have already coordinating instrument in ensuring proper and sLirfaced or are anticipated based on the efficient delivery of all ongoing welfare present experiences in the implementation of measures for overall upliftment of Tribal JFM. The parties include passive and active members of VSS. Any direct investment from members of VSS, non-participating villages, the Project will be in the event of gaps only. panchayat, NGO, VSS president, FD personnel and policies of the state. The Issues: The underlying philosophy is to reduce sources of conflict are varied. It ranges from the dependence of tribals on the forests for local political situation. power struggle, and their economic subsistence to narrow the gap management capability of VSS, sharing of in the levels of development of tribal and non- benefits, forest protection mechanism, tribal through socio-economic development membership to VSS, perception of and mainstreaming activities. The prime stakleholders to government policies. The issLies are: study has gone into details of the following - Access to resource issues in this regard: - Unemployment & under employment * Protection of forests, - Traditional practices * Privatization of forest land. - Low literacy * Membership. Delegation of authority, - Poor health cover * Local politics, - Access to amenities, service, infrastructure BeLocalepoitsric. - Poor communication * Benefit sharing. -Clua niomn Priority and choice of stakeholders, - Low ilevel of skeill .Transparencv, and - Unfavorable development environment Nature of NGO involvement:. - Lack of market support - Poor infrastructure 12 - Poor communication facilities suggested. It may be ensured that either the - Inadequate linkages and committed Chairperson or the Vice Chairperson is a institutional support woman. The tenure of such a committee Strategies for Tribal Development are: Social should be long enough for having proper development impact and stability. Duties and * Institutional development responsibilities of all the partners and * Economic development functionaries should be clearly spelt out and * Development of natural resources adequately canvassed. Proper linkages to other * Development of Village infrastructure Self Help Groups and institutions that exist at Capacity Building Strategies: The proposed the village level should be ensured preferably graduation from JFM to the concept of CFM through the Panchayati Raj Institution. calls for massive efforts through extension, Systems: Establishment of systems in VSS training programs and initiatives to trigger a functioning are needed in respect of: change in the mind set. The hitherto led are i. Financial management slated to become the leaders. This requires ii. Maintenance of records of sincere and concerted efforts from the Forest meetings and discussions Department and the Communities. The silver iii. Sharing of usufruct and equity line is that required institutions exist with a iv. Transparency in financial well-directed approach. What is needed is matters finding suitable catalysts for change and v. Micro planning managing it when it happens. In this backdrop vi. Cost sharing especially in the component of capacity building assumes respect of developing and critical importance. Rightly the Project design maintaining community has accorded a key statLts to this crucial assets. activity in the first component of the Project, vii. Re-investments in forest which envisages creation of enabling management and village environment for CFM. The structLres, the development build in systems and the processes need attention and economic self-reliance. development for CFM to succeed. viii. Conflict resolution. The structure: The present institutional ix. Marketing and business structure of a VSS envisages a managing administration. committee of 10 to 15 elected representatives x. Rural enterprise management from VSS of which atleast 30% shall be Processes: To make the Structure and women. The concerned Forest Section Officer Systems work well, the processes with is the memuber-secretarv. Other members adequate human interventions needed are: include an officer nominated by P.O., ITDA, i. Awareness building and representatives from nNGOs and others motivation depending on the need and the Village ii. Imparting / upgrading skills Administrative Officerl Village Development iii. Confidence building measures Officer/ Villaue Teacher as Ex-Officio iv. Transfer of powers and member. The duration of this committee is two responsibilities for asset xears and there will be an Memorandum of management Understanding between the Forest Department v. Planning and implementation and the VSS. Where NGOs participate in VSS vi. Monitoring and Evaluation activities, they also become signatories to the MOU. It is suggested that the managing Various training programs planned to committee is represented solely by the address these issues and for other areas and members of the VSS and that all the components of the Project for the VSS, NGOs Government representatives from Forest and and Forest Staff are: other Departments / agencies and NGOs plav r Social mobilization an advisory role. There should be increased - Book-keeping. transparency and financial representation for women (atleast 50%) and in management addition to Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson is - Value addition and mark-eting, of NTFP and medicinal plants 13 - Monitoring and Evaluation Simplification ojf Paper work: The staff is - Soil and Moisture Conservation often overburdened with unproductive paper > Conflict avoidance and resolutions work, resulting in taking away the time, which > Gender issues could be utilized effectively. Pragmatic time - Information technology and work management measures are likely to - Extension methodology and infuse efficiency in the system. Proper communication skills delegation of powers and decentralization of > Management of Change. decision making processes will also be helpful. > PRA and participatory micro planning Environmental management strategies: The - Participatory forest management major component here will be forest > Modern nursery and development and environmental management. - Silvicultural technology What is referred here is the physical The training programs and the environment dealing mostly with forests. The workshops on above themes are planned at the various developmental initiatives for forest Range and Division level and a few selected improvement are dealt in detail. programs at Circle level and specialized Environmental monitoring design through programs at state level at the A.P.Forest measurable indicators is also suggested. Academy, Dullapalli. In addition, the A P Environmental scoping: The scoping exercise, School of Forestry Yellandu and the Regional undertaken through process of consultations Research Centers at Rajahmundry, Tirupathi and focus group discussions and analysis of and Warangal are proposed for up-gradation to secondary data indicated the following areas meet the massive training requirements. that need special attention: In addition to these, in house trainings, - Environmental Awareness: Generally, it is study tours and eCXposure visits are planned to low at the VSS level and needs focus in provide first hand information to the training courses and awareness campaigns. staklieholders. - Environmental Knowledge Base: The Capacitv of tile Forest Departnment in terms environmental knowledge-base is poor, of staff strength: The vacancies of the front sharing of information to help get a complete line staff at the interface level with the picture of environmental issues in a spatial community in respect of Forest Section context is extremely difficult, sharing and Officers, Beat Officers and Asst. Beat Officers communicating information to various are very large and this is an area that might stakeholders is limited. Development of a affect the efficiency of the Forest Departments knowledge sharing mechanism needs as they are the key implementing staff. This development. has been so owing to the Government's policy < Institutional Capacity: The capacity of of ban on recruitment. This isstie needs to be APFD and VSS in integrating environmental addressed as it can have a vital impact on the information into decision-making needs project. Mechanisms of buttressing the Forest upgradation. Access to expertise and Department's capacity throIghl selective effective partnerships in mainstreaming special recruitment, sharing the responsibilities environmental issues into their functioning wvith NGOs, engaging assistance of needs focus. commtinity coordinators and women - Holistic approach: Development following cominunity volunteers. a holistic approach has been found missing Empowerrment of Front Line Staff: As of now, in all the earlier efforts. However the present the Forest Section Officer is the member Project mainstreams a mechanism for secretary of the VSS. The Beat Officer at the intersectoral coordination at various levels next level, though being a member of VSS including the one at the crucial village level. plays only a secondary role. This situation Well thought out vertical and horizontal flow could be changed with the Beat Officers taking of information would ensure holistic up independent responsibility for smaller VSS. development. This would increase the capacity of the front > Policy, Legal and Institutional Reforms: A line staff to give attention to the development series of Policv changes, Legal reforms and of VSS and guide them to the inplementation Institutional restructuring are dtily of the concept of CFM. 14 contemplated to ensure focus on the operations need huge initial investments, they development agenda of the Project. can be practiced over limited extents. ' Consultation: The process of consultation Silvicultural treatment and with and amongst stakeholders especially at management of forests covered under the VSS level and with NGOs is of a fairly high project broadly follow these principles with order. The process should continue in its suitable modifications to suit the site-specific present form with greater clarity of agenda requirements. In small pockets devoid of for holistic planning and development at viable rootstock of desired species and where grass-root level. favorable site conditions are available like >' Transparency: Ensuring transparency is fertile soils with good moisture retention vital to enhance institutional credibility and capacity and feasibility of providing in avoidance of conflicts. The system of supplementary irrigation from nearby water display of the Income and Expenditure source, intensive management through accounts of the VSS at prominent places of planting genetically superior high yielding assembly in the village in practice at present Non Wood Forest Products and species valued may serve limited purpose owing to illiteracy for their medicinal properties are to be taken and lack of a holistic approach among up with adequate land preparation. Forests villagers. Frequent meetings and sharing of covered under the Andhra Pradesh Community information and appraisal by the Forest Management Project can be broadly management of the VSS would go a long categorized into: way in ensuring this. Joint walks with the o Teak Forests villagers and members in the course of i Non Teak- Miscellaneous Hardwood visiting Project sites will not only build Forests confidence among members hut will also L Red Sanders Forests give an opportunity to elicit information o Open and Scrub Forests directly from a cross section of members and i Bamboo Forests enhances level of transparency in decision In reality however, these forest classes occur making and implemenitation process apart either singly or in combination. The scrub from being an effective means of concurrent forests would be converted through process monitoring. afforestation with NTFP, medicinal plants and Forest imp-rovement: Various management fodder species. techniques that were practiced in Andhra Details of silvicultural interventions Pradesh can be categorized into those dealing needed for rejuvenation of natural regeneration with natural re-generation and those dealing like cutting back, coppicing and singling witlh artificial regeneration. Management of viable root stock, tending and shrub and natural regeneration has been practiced since climber cutting, decongestion and mounding the beginning of the scientific management of bamboo clumps, nursery and plantation forests. This is done through canopy technology for artificial regeneration, fire manipulations wherein the canopies were protection, soil and moisture conservation opened to encourage establishment of natural strategies etc. have been dealt in great details. regeneration, silvicLultural systems lik-e the Pest management strategies: The proposed Selection system, the coppice with standards project does not finance or support any and the coppice with reserves also encouraged pesticide as part of any project activity. natLral regeneration. Though these systems are However, the pest management plan has been highily cost effective, they invariably result in developed to ensure that any anticipated future crop comprising mostly of predominant induced impacts of the project more in the and dominant species to the disadvantage of a form of spin-offs like increased use of number of other species. The species that pesticides due to intensified agricultural dominated were not necessarily the most practices among the land owning members of valuable and desired ones. Artificial the communities supported through this regeneration wherein the existing natural stand Project, intensive plantation activity owing to is either supplemented with or replaced by one economic reasons etc. are adequately or a combination of desired species, ensures addressed during and beyond the Project enrichment of forest systems. As these implementation. This plan is completely 15U consistent with concepts of organic farming decision making. Some of the reforms and promotion of Integrated Pest suggested are: Management. The three fundamental goals of . CFM should work through the existing IPM are (a) safety. (b) cost effectiveness and structure, but sufficient capacity (c) durability. They are kept in view in should be introduced within the VSS developing the pest management plan, which to sustain and expand the project- is appropriate in a forestry situation. The induced processes. These are to be strategies suggested here to guard against any organically linked with the PRIs to possible abuse of pesticides are in tune with ensure accountability and transparency the Integrated Pest Management Strategy and further supported to take full followed under similar situations. advantage of other ongoing projects/ * Building awareness about the health schemes. hazards of misuse and mishandling of . At present VSSs have been formed as chemical pesticides and the need for a result of a G.O. not backed by law. IPM It is better to remove administrative * Building awareness about the use of discretion by enacting a suitable IPM techniques legislation to cover CFM. * Collation and dissemination of . Entry of new members into a VSS appropriate indigenous technical needs to be regulated as it has knowledge potential for conflicts. . Promoting the use of biological * To ensure effective and active control participation by women in VSS * Rearranging nursery and plantation affairs, a quorum for the presence of activity cycle to avoid those stages women in the general body and/or when insect populations assume managing committee meetings is to be status of pests fixed. * Integration of IPM into Packages of . As per the present practice, the Practices for the area. secretary of the VSS (Forest Section * Building partnerships with private Officer) and the VSS president jointly sector and NGOs to assist in IPM operate the bank account. This extension services development arrangement needs to be made more * Website development in local democratic (and less bureaucratic) to languages, advisory services and guard against any misuse of funds. extension * There is an imminent need to look * Improving the information and beyond the period of the present knowledge base on pests, chemical project and ensure fIture investment, pesticide use, banned chemical use, if needed. The issue of mobilizing and health impacts, IPM use and trends in harnessing social capital beyond the a spatial context using GIS. demands of the project, needs to be Institutional Reforms: Institutions are both examined carefully. individLials/ organizations and the framework . CFM is likely to have challenges in of policy, law, convention and cultLre within the area of conflict management. whiclh they operate. They are the Hoowever, rather than institutionalize arrangements to undertake specific activities. such management, local skills and Time has come for the institutions to emerge initiative should be developed to deal as development agents to advocate, promote, with conflicts as and when they arise. provide a platforn for dialogue and encourage Implementation Arrangements: The empowerment and decentralization besides Government of Andhra Pradesh through its providing awareness. basic skill and Forest Department will be the implementing knowledge. An effective institutional agency. Implementation of the Project will be arrangement is essential to achieve the success steered and monitored through a Project of the project, especially as a large number of Monitoring Unit (PMU) under the overall stakeholders are involved in planning and leadership of the Principal Chief Conservator 16 of Forests of Andhra Pradesh (PCCF). centres for monitoring the performance of However the day to day affairs will be various components and activities apart from attended to by the PMU headed by a Project their assigned role in processing remote Director (of the rank of Additional Principal sensing and GIS data. They will also act as Chief Conservator of Forests / Chief nodal agencies for monitoring implementation Conservator of Forests) and assisted by three of FMIS. Conservators of Forests to look after APFA, Dullapalli: Since the project lays lot of Monitoring and Evaluation, Procurement, emphasis on capacity building and HRD, the Disbursement and Reimbursements and APFA, Dullapalli will have to be sufficiently General affairs and Issues. with DCFs/ ACFs, strengthened. To supplement this Academy, FROs and supporting staff. This project unit the A P School of Forestry Yellandu and the will be responsible for coordination and three Regional Research Centres at monitoring and reporting. The respective field Rajahmundry, Tirupathi and Warangal will units of the Forest Department will implement also have to be sufficiently upgraded. the project activities. The activities of capacity Intersectoral coordination: The primary building and training will be coordinated by concern of the project is poverty alleviation the Conservator of Forests and Director, A P through forest development. The approach to Forest Academy Dullapalli. The Conservator achieve this objective is through community of Forests (Research and Development) will action and multi sectoral co-ordination by way coordinate the activity of Applied Research of technical and financial inputs. An and Extension. The governance structure sets institutional mechanism is desirable at various out the decision-making powers and levels to ensure proper coordination in responsibilities for different agencies and at achieving holistic development. Such different levels coordination is vital at Village, Division, Vania SamraksJhana Sulnithies: Vana District and State levels. Samrakshana Samithies (VSS) or Village Inter sectoral coordination committees Forest Protection Committees are the grass that exist at ITDA level, District level and root level organizations which will be the State level are to be revitalized for ensuring principal instruments in channelizing all the proper coordination among various interest direct investments of the Project. These VSS groups and stakeholders and line departments. function through a managing committee, In addition, a committee at Forest Division which is an elected body of 10 to 15 members level under the DFO is suggested to ease the with a Chairperson as its executive head. load on the committee under the chairmanship IVon Governmental Organizations (NGOs): of District Collector, wnho is otherwise Owing to the massive nature of process change overloaded with multifarious duties. These involved and limitations of the Forest committees with members from other line Department to handle the same, NGOs will Departments/ Agencies lik-e the Rtural have to assume a proactive role. They will be Development, Social Welfare. Tribal Welfare. required to play major role in areas of social Agriculture, Horticulture, Animal Husbandry. mobilization, awareness campaigns, Rural Energy, Health & Sanitation, Family mlotivation, capacity building, value addition Welfare and a host of NGOs working in these and market support, micro planning etc. In areas and the VSS can ensure proper places where NGOs are not available, coordination for holistic development. At Community Facilitators will have to be village level, coordination will be ensured engaged for the same purpose. In each village througLh Panchayati Raj Institutions and the a volunteer, to ensure delivery of intended VSS Advisory Committee. services and as instruments of monitoring the Monitoring and Evaluation: The CFM processes, may be engaged. project should be able to provide a learning Regional Geomatics Centres: In the APFP platform to various stakeholders to develop three Regional Geomatics Centres wvere set up more sustainable and integrated working at Rajahmundry, Kurnool and Warangal. relationships and results to enable the Three more centres are proposed to be set up management to be continuously adaptive in its at Adilabad, Visakhapatnam and Tirupathi. approach to achieve the development These Regional centres wvill be the nerve objective. Therefore a comprehensive and 17 participatory system is to be adopted. A four Impact assessment/evaluation: As a part of the stage M&E system is proposed here. M&E system, it is very important to establish - Input and Output Monitoring the net impact of the CFM on socio-economic - Process Monitoring indicators, poverty and population. For - Performance Monitoring meaningful participatory M&E process, - Impact Assessment/Evaluation appropriate indicators at the field level need to Input and Output Monitorineg: The objective is be identified so that the stakeholders and the to ensure that inputs are delivered in time. local communities themselves are able to And the processes are in place. In case any assess the impact of the activities. A few problem is encountered, this could serve as an preliminary field level impact indicators are to early warning for taking corrective measures. be clearly generated in consultation with all The reports from the field are consolidated at the stakeholders. The communities can higher levels. These form the basis of evaluate these indicators themselves and the implementation monitoring. The financial benefits when evident will provide them indicators need to be seen along with physical greater incentive to protect their access and indicators to ensure that the funds disbursed maintain them. have actually been utilized. These indicators Institutional arrangement for Monitoring and are monitored, generally at three levels, Evaluation: The PMU will be overall in charge namely village or VSS level, district level and of monitoring all the components of the state level. At the lower level, all project Project. It will establish a centralized database activities are recorded, like area covered, work and periodically update it. In the Field, the carried out to improve overall productivity and Regional Geomatics Centres will assist the environment. At district level, the information PMU. These centres, while coordinating the provided by VSSs are compiled and random various initiatives in the field of Geomatics sampling carried out to verify, covering all like Remote Sensing applications, creation and selected VSS areas. At state level, PMU do updating of GIS database etc. will also take continuous monitoring to achieve the required up implementation of FMIS and monitoring goals in terms of quality and targets set. the Project activities. These Regional FLurther strengthening the existing PMU is Geomatics Centers will function Linder the very vital. PNlMU thlen would become supervision of the respective CFs who will responsible for overall planning, monitoring provide the required logistics. and consolidating the achievements for A coInpLIterized Monitoring package advising the state besides financial will be developed which will be installed in all management and control. the Ranges, Divisions, Circles. Regional Process Monitoring: The sustainabilitv of Geomatics Centres and in the PMU. It will be infrastructure and institutions created under comprehensive package covering all the the Project is now the prime concern for the Project components and activities. It will stakleholders. Some of thie indicators are - therefore be essential to have sufficiently frequency of meetings of Management trained manpower to provide the required Committees and General Bodies, level of support to make the package operational. It is attendance, repair and maintenance of in this background that services of specialists infrastructure, gender involvement. (Project Scientists) will be utilized. They will transparency of actions. participative levels, be engaged for a period of 3 years, by wlhich conflicts resolutions etc. Attitudes and time the staff of APFD will acquire the behavior patterns are very important from required skills to handle the monitoring sustainability point of view. Based on the package. Women CommLinity Volunteers will trends in forest areas and villages, as well as be engaged as extension workers and for socio-economic environment of the assistance in monitoring the Project activities. stakeholders and the consultative process, the Micro-planning: Planning process occupies key indicators are. an important slot in forest management. The Performance Monitoring: Keeping in view the system of working plans is a well-establislhed specific objectives of CFM, sample matrix is and institutionalized process in drawing up provided by component, the performance long tern and short-term strategies in forest indicators and critical assumptions: management. Community participation has 18 shifted the focus of planning from division level to village level. Micro plans are village level plans that are an integral part of community forest management. However, to institutionalize this decentralized planning process and to thwart possible conflicts between working plans and micro-plans, suitable measures are suggested. As the entire exercise of microplanning is in the process of evolution, it will have to be ensured that the aspirations of the Communities expressed in the micro plans are not in conflict with the silvicultural prescriptions of the working plans. Since the working plans are larger documents covering larger areas including the areas covered by the micro plans, it would be necessary that working plans lay broad and practical guidelines for silvicultural treatment of the forests. Site specific planning duly incorporating the needs and aspirations of the Communities involved in Community Forest Management under the umbrella of the silvicultLral details, as prescribed by the working plans, can be the domain of the Micro-plans. With the inception of Joint Forest Management, Rapid and Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques, Baseline surveys and Benchmarking and Micro planning has received attention. However, it was noticed there is no uniformity and totality in approach. Most of the micro plans prepared are project specific and address the issues that the concerned projects support and address. Consequently, there are lot of gaps and there is little scope for holistic development of villages in general and the VSS in particular. To have uniformity and objectiveness, a format for a Micro plan is suggested in the report. 19