ANNEXURE ‘C’

 

SUGGESTED TRAINING PACKAGE ON JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT FOR FDAs and JFMCs/ EDCs

            Item

                                             Broad Contents

Introduction

Rationale for decentralised structure.

Role of FDAs and JFMCs

Historical perspective on growth of JFM in India.

What is JFM?

Why JFM?

Evaluation of JFM in India.

Status of JFM in the State :

            -           State Government Policy and orders on the subject.

            -           Briefly about JFM Projects being implemented/planned in the State.

Significance of sustainable natural resource management

Linkages between sustainable natural resources management, biodiversity, living conditions of the rural communities and their income levels.

Linkage between food security and degradation of natural resources.

 

Presentation of two success stories through audio-visuals

 

Analysis of success stories

Ingredients for success :

 

            -           Involvement of people.

            -           Attitudinal changes in the style of functioning of forest departments.

            -           Building rapport with people to win their trust and confidence.

            -           Setting up and functioning of Village Level Institutions (JFMCs).

            -           Benefit sharing: short term and long term.

Identification of problems in implementing JFM in their own respective domains by the participants

The participants should be encouraged to identify individually and through discussions in groups of two or three the problem areas perceived by them in implementing JFM.

 

The problem areas should be grouped logically.

Problem solutions by Group

Divide the group in four-five parts and assign one set of perceived problems to each group for discussion and suggesting solutions.

 

Consolidate and present the set of emerging solutions.

Traditional rights and obligations of local communities, and conflict resolution

            -           Discussion on traditional right that the local communities may continue to enjoy in the JFM Context.

            -           Other conflicting scenarios that may emerge before JFM approach is adopted (the topic should focus on village dynamics, and, therefore, its content and conduct would vary considerable depending on the local socio economic condition and processes).

            -           Conflict resolution to arrive on consensual base for promoting JFM.

Understanding communities and community institutions

            -           Who are the people (community profile)?

            -           Differentiated need, access, power and control.

            -           Equity and other guiding principles for developing effective community institutions.

Steps in planning, initiating and implementing a JFM project in the framework prescribed by the State Government (brief description and discussion of the relevant activities) Organising village communities into JFMCs

            -           Motivation

            -           Group discussions

            -           Entry point activities

            -           Registration of JFMCs

            -           MoU between FDAs and JFMs including the salient features covered (as per the model provided by the GO), viz. composition, rights and responsibilities of JFMCs, and the forest department, quorum and frequency of meetings, membership and fines to be imposed on defaulters, etc.

            -           Legal status, usufruct rights,

            -           Creation of village fund, its objectives and utilisation.

            -           Project formulation and commencement.

            -           Record keeping and financial management by JFMCs.

            -           Project monitoring.      

Role of NGOs in JFM

            -           As motivators.

            -           As agents of change.

            -           Raising awareness.

            -           Financial assistance? (Big NGOs)

            -           Encouraging tree planting on Community/degraded lands.

Participatory Rural Appraisal and Planning with People (for developing effective JFMCs and participatory micro-planning)

            -           Why is it important to involve people in the planning process? (Villagers have intimate knowledge and understanding of the local resources (e.g. forest, water, tree species etc) Respect and use people's knowledge in planning).

            -           PRA is a methodology for obtaining people's knowledge in planning).

            -           PRA is a methodology for obtaining people's input and views for the planning process.

            -           Involve different cross-section of village communities as they may have different perceptions of village resources.

            -           How to prepare maps of the village and its resources.

            -           Seasonal calendar of activities.

            -           Labour calendar.

            -           Developing a species check list/matrix and its use.

            -           Divide the participants into groups and assign villages and activities to be carried out during practical session on PRA.

Field Visit to conduct PRA

 

Presentation after PRA practical

            -           Ask each group and sub-group to put together information gathered during PRA e.g. village data (demographic).

            -           Forest data: extent, state of forest land, species in use, soil type etc.

            -           Specific problem of the village.

            -           Possible solutions.

            -           Each group should present the above information with the help of maps prepared, labour calendar, species matrix, charts, tables, etc.

            -           Issues highlighted during PRA and their possible solutions.

            -           Dependency of people on forests.

            -           Identifying potential leaders/ facilitators.

            -           Consolidation of the major recommendation.

            -           Usefulness of PRA as an information gathering tool for planning purpose.

            -           Outline of an effective JFMC for the village(s) covered by PRA.

Conclusion

Issues in JFM

 

            -           Summarising the issues discussed/taken up during the training programme including legal issues, implementing of joint responsibility, etc.

            -           Taking feedback from the participants for future courses.