Development of Forest Housing Corporation

presented by
Dr. Bipin Behari Deputy Inspector General of Forests Ministry of Environment & Forests Government of India e-mail: b.behari@nic.in

The National Forest Commission made following two recommendations for the welfare of the forestry front line staff to enhance their efficiency and there by improve forest staff and community relations. Recommendation 291 For the welfare of the service (housing, educational facilities for children, conveyance, facilities for maintaining physical fitness, grievances handling and counseling etc.), the State Governments should establish Forest Services Beneficiary Funds. Recommendation 300 Making frontline staff a satisfied lot is a most important tool for achieving effective conservation and management of forest. For this, it is necessary that their housing problem is addressed. Keeping in view the remoteness of the posting of

the frontline staff, they are not in a position to keep their families at their place of posting. It is, therefore, recommended that Forest Housing Corporations be
created by every State Government to construct primarily family accommodations for the frontline staff. An adequate corpus fund be allotted to

the proposed corporations for their effective functioning.

Mission Construction of office buildings and family accommodation for forest personnel to enhance their efficiency and to improve their community relations, which will further ensure optimized quality towards achieving sustainable development. Objectives The main objectives to be persued as per the Memorandum of Association: To undertake construction of buildings for housing the employees of the State Forest Department in the city / town, Range, Beat etc. To undertake construction of the buildings for the offices of Beat, Ranges, SDOs and other such allied offices of Research and Training as per the requirement. To undertake all kinds of construction and allied works alongwith the welfare activities required for the State Forest Staff from time to time.

To formulate and execute various housing schemes for serving and retired employee of the Forest Department.

Organizational Structure of the Corporation

Forest Housing Corporation may be formed under the Companies Act, 1956 like the State Police Housing Corporation Limited which are all government companies with 100% share holding subscribed by the State Government. The States / UTs may explore the possibility of developing such State Forest Housing Corporation Limited for the welfare of forest staff especially the front line staff.

Adoption of Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management

Sustainable Forest Management key to Sustainable Development

Within the broad frame work of sustainable development, SFM should ensure that values desired from forests meet present day needs, while ensuring that the forests maintain a quantity and quality that contributes to long term development needs (FAO, 1993)

Sustainable Forest Management

The National Task Force on Sustainable Forest Management recommended for the creation of a Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Cell in the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Sustainable Forest Management refers to the use and conservation of forests for the benefit of the present and future generations, whereas Criteria and Indicators (C&I) are used to define, assess and monitor the progress towards Sustainable Forest Management.

Bhopal India Process

The Bhopal India process (1999), coordinated by IIFM, Bhopal, aimed at setting up the National level Criteria and Indicators to assess the Sustainable Forest Management in India. The deliberations under Bhopal -India Process led to the identification of 8 National level criteria and 43 indicators, applicable at the National level for Indian forest management.

Criteria and indicators for Sustainable Forest Management National Working Plan Code Ministry of Environment & Forests Government of India New Delhi, June 2004
The Government of India, the State Government, and IIFMBhopal are in the process of finalizing the Criteria and Indicators for monitoring and evaluation of Sustainable Forest Management. As and when these are finalized, the monitoring and evaluation of implementation of the working plan will be done accordingly.

The Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) need to be adopted with the active participation of the States / UTs before they are incorporated into the Working Plan Code.

It is necessary to develop the Standards which are prerequisite for the development of Forest Certification mechanism in the country.

Forest Certification

Looking the development of global scenario, it has become imperative to have a National policy on 'certification'. From domestic (National) point of view also, certification is necessary to ensure the continuity of forest goods and services through SFM approach.

Forest Certification has emerged as a market-based mechanism in support of Sustainable Forest Management (SFM).

Certification initiatives rely on consumers exercising purchasing choice in favour of products labeled, as originating from forests certified as being sustainably managed.

Certification and Eco-labeling are the new mantras to enhance the product positioning for a premium price on one hand and ensuring better forest management practices on the other hand.

First Meeting of SFM Cell held on 26 27th July, 2007

Recommendations (Action States / UTs)
(i) (ii) Like the SFM Cell in the Ministry, all the States and UTs must create SFM Cell with similar Terms of References and Functions. The harmonized / improved Criteria and Indicators developed under Bhopal-India Process may be operationalised by all the States /UTs in India and their comments may be obtained.

(iii) The State Governments must take necessary steps to sensitize / create awareness among their staff and the members of the JFM committees for SFM through C&I. (iv) The State Governments / UTs Administration must avail the opportunity of necessary funding for these activities under NNRMS Scheme of Ministry of Environment and Forests. (v) The C&I for SFM once accepted at the National level may be incorporated in the Working plan code making it mandatory for the States to prepare the Working Plan accordingly.

(vi) The outcome of the two days meeting of SFM Cell (26 27th July, 2007) and working draft of C&I may be sent to all the States / UTs, IIFM and all members, attending invitees and concerned for their comments within a month.

Responses of States / UTs

Creation of a Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Cell

Madhya Pradesh Uttar Pradesh Chhattisgarh Karnataka.

Comments on improved / modified 8 Criteria and 37 Indicators Madhya Pradesh Tamil Nadu

Financial resources for operationalisation of Criteria and Indicators in the field for Sustainable Forest Management State Forest Schemes / research programme or project of Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM). XIth Five Year Plan
Financial support from ITTO etc. International Organisations. National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) scheme of the Ministry.

National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS)

The programme supports research aimed at optimal utilisation of remote sensing alongwith conventional data for addressing key environmental and ecological issues such as management of forests, grasslands, faunal resources, wetlands, coastal areas including mangroves and coral resources, land degradation, impact of developmental activities etc. (Contact person: Dr. R. K. Suri, Additional Director, MoEF)

Minutes of the 21st Meeting of the National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS) Standing Committee on Bio-Resources and Environment held at MoEF, New Delhi on 29th November, 2006 Thrust areas for the XIth Plan

i.

National wetland inventory (1:50000 scale inventory) and creation of spatial database including providing information in GIS domain to the Users

ii. Forest encroachment assessment iii. Forest Working Plan (to be initiated in about 50 Forest Divisions) including Criteria Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management iv. Desertification Status Mapping of India at 1:50 000 scale; Desertification vulnerability & early warning

v. Atmospheric pollutants retrieval techniques (CO, NO2 , SO2 , CH4 etc.)

vi. Biodiversity conservation in eco-sensitive zones (Biosphere reserves, national parks and sanctuaries) vii. Training & Capacity Building