More aid to select forest management groups

BHUBANESWAR: As participatory forest management is showing better results, the Government on Thursday decided to upscale the activities in the forestry sector by providing more financial assistance to select joint forest management groups.  A high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has decided to launch a special project worth ` 440 crore by dovetailing funds from different sources. While nearly 12,000 vana samrakshan samitis (VSS), 4,000 joint forest management committees and 400 odd eco-development committees are protecting nearly half of the forest area of the State, the meeting decided to select 5,000 groups for special funding over a period of five years. Those community groups which have performed well in managing forests for sustainable livelihood will be provided assistance for promotion of forestry and allied activities, official sources said. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been assisting the State Government under the Orissa Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) by providing aid through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).  The major objective of the OFSDP is to restore degraded forests and improve the income level of villagers by promoting sustainable forest management. Apart from improving environment, the other objective of the programme is to alleviate poverty.  The Forest and Environment Department was asked to prepare a detailed project report indicating the sources of funds. Apart from overseas assistance, funds available to compensatory afforestation management and planning authority (CAMPA) will be pulled in.  According to the latest survey, 31.38 per cent of the total geographical area of the State is under forest cover. While 28,467 sq km is of dense forest (crown density of more than 40 per cent) and the balance 20,388 sq km is open forest.  The increase in the forest cover is possible due to rapid afforestation and active support of the Vana Samrakshana Samitis (VSS) in the protection of the forests. The Government has taken up a massive afforestation programme, including avenue plantation by involving civil society, educational institution, government offices and panchayati raj institutions. Afforestation activities were carried out on over 2.33 lakh hectares of land wherein 11 crore saplings were planted last year. Besides, 128 lakh saplings were provided to the people and different organisations for planting. Forest and Environment Minister Debi Prasad Mishra, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik, Forest Secretary Aurobinda Behera and several other senior officers were  present.