Management and governance of Community forest resource under FRA

Areas of initiative/activitiesAreas of initiative/activitiesDarjeeling CoochbeharJalpaiguri

Management and governance of Community forest resource under FRA: Issues in North Bengal

Protection and conservation of Forest and Forest Resources

Sustainable use of Forest Resources

To establish community rights over CFR

To ensure better livelihood options for the forest dwelling communities in WestTo ensure better livelihood options for the forest dwelling communities in West Bengal

To empower Gram Sabha members in decision making as well as to formulate self Governance mechanism

Status of implementation of CFR management provisions (Section 5 and Rules 4 (1) e,f,g) and key initiatives at the gram sabha/community level

1. 15 to 20 members were chosen from each GS among which 5 to 7 membersare woman and one third members belong to ST community

2. CFG committee has been formed in each gram sabha level (in coochbehar,2. CFG committee has been formed in each gram sabha level (in coochbehar,parts of kurseong and Buxa)

3. Members were chosen through repeated GS meeting with proper resolution

4. A brief management and conservation plan is prepared for CFR which couldbe modified in future accordingly

5. Rules for forest uses have been framed with due consultation with Gramsabha members in the meeting, here elder members of the GS takeappreciable role

6. Strategies were developed to monitor sustainable use of forest resources

7. GS members have submitted their claim form to get the rights over CFR

8. Committee is constituted for regular patrolling in the CFR area

9. GS members have prepared Map of their CFR area9. GS members have prepared Map of their CFR area

10. GS members set up board displaying CFR area demarcation

11 B k t i d i N ti li d b k i th f i di id l G11. Bank account is opened in Nationalised bank in the name of individual GramSabha to operate financial activities of the Gram Sabha

COMMUNITY CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES IN NORTH BENGAL

In 2008 09 community forest governance committee was formed in 12 forestIn 2008-09, community forest governance committee was formed in 12 forestvillages of Coochbehar forest division

Kodal basti Gram Sabha members took primary initiative to demarcate their CFRarea, they set up sign board in the entrance of their village

FD with local police thana threatened the GS members and withdrawn the boardforcefully and filed FIR against 5 gram sabha members which is still underforcefully and filed FIR against 5 gram sabha members which is still underjudgement in Alipurduar court

In 2009-11, at least 200 GS in 3 districts of North Bengal had submitted theirindividual and community level claims to their respective SDLCs which is stillunder consideration

in 2010-11, GS members of 12 forest villages of Coochbehar forest division hadin 2010 11, GS members of 12 forest villages of Coochbehar forest division hadstarted their self initiatives to protect and conserve the biodiversity of ChilapataForest area without depending on govt procedure

Kodal basti gram sabha members stopped illegal boulder andsand lifting activities in their CFR area

In Feb 2013 GS members of Mantharam build strong protestIn Feb 2013, GS members of Mantharam build strong protestagainst CFC in 52 hec their CFR area and compelled the FD tostop CFC. FD filled cases against GS members under nonbailable sec of IPC

Alipurduar court granted the bail to GS members and warnedthe FD to follow the spirit of FRA 2006

In 2012-13, Gulma Khayerjhora, Khayrani and Punding threeIn 2012 13, Gulma Khayerjhora, Khayrani and Punding threeGS under Kurseong Forest division jointly started working toconserve and manage their CFR area, they had started issuingtransit permit for forest produces from their CFR area

In March 2014, the Khayerbari GS members under coochbehardivision compelled the FD to forward letter to the GS seekingpermission for CFC activities in 32 hec of land in their CFR area,though the GS did not allow the FD to perform the CFC activitythough the GS did not allow the FD to perform the CFC activity

Recently in July 2014, GS members from Kolabari FV underKurseong forest division have started CFG activity, they set upsign board to demarcate CFR area, they have decided to collectsign board to demarcate CFR area, they have decided to collectboulder and sand from Mechi river bed for sustainable use theyare also collecting Jarul leaves as NTFP and selling it with TPissued from GS

Management and governance of Community forest resource under FRAchallenges in North Bengal

Poor FRA implementation process in West BengalPoor FRA implementation process in West Bengal

Inactive Role of State Government

N ti f i il d d i i t ti d t tNon cooperation from civil and administrative departments

Anti people activity of the Forest Department

Lack of information about FRA in administrative level

The forest dep. is trying to impose JFM in the forest and fringevillages instead of a committee under Section 4e of RFA rules invillages instead of a committee under Section 4e of RFA rules, inall the forest divisions of NB

FD directly or indirectly violating the FRA 2006, rather they areimposing previous forest act like IFA 1927, or FCA 1980

FD is trying to stop the management and conservation practiceinitiatives for CFR taken by the respective GS membersinitiatives for CFR taken by the respective GS members

FD and other administrative dept. harassing forest dwellingcommunities , filling false cases against GS leading members

THANKSTHANKS