EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

The evaluation study titled “Current Assessment of Afforestation Programme in the state of Jharkhand” was assigned to DRC, a Patna and Delhi based professional agency, by the office of Deputy Conservator of Forest, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Cell, Van Bhawan, Ranchi in the month of March 2008. The DRC evaluation team made a sincere effort to give justice to this study despite several hardships faced during the field visit of the sample plantation sites and while conducting interviews and FGDs with forest officials, JFMC members and community people. A brief summary of findings of the study is given below:

Project Background

u  The major emphasis in undertaking afforestation programme by the department of forest, Government of Jharkhand is on increasing the area under forest cover with the help of community participation of fringe villages. To win the confidence of the community people in the plantation programmes, a large number of JFMCs were formed in all the districts of the state. It was also ensured that from the total allocation of fund for plantation schemes, 15% of it be spent on the creation of durable community assets/infrastructure under interface activities to fulfil the most pressing needs of the community people.

 u  Since September 2001, all the State Plan plantation schemes have been conducted through Joint Forest management (JFM) system in which involvement of community people is prerequisite.

 u  The state of Jharkhand came into existence on November 15, 2000 following the bifurcation of the state of Bihar. It consists of Chhotanagpur Plateau, which is a part of the Deccan Biogeographic Province.

u  Jharkhand ranks 10^th in respect of area under forest among the states and the UTs of the country. The recorded forest area comprises about 23,605 square kilometers, which is 29.61% of the total area of the state. The proportion of area under forest in the country’s total forest cover is 3.1%.

 u  As per legal classification, there are three types of forests in the state namely Reserved Forest, Protected Forest and Un-classed Forest. In the total recorded forest area, 81.3% belongs to PF category followed by 18.6% RF and a meager 0.1% under UF category.

 u  To meet the prescribed target of the National Forest Policy, at least 33% of a state’s area should be under forest cover. Hence, for ensuring long-term sustainable development of forests, the Vision Statement of the Forest and Environment Department of Jharkhand has been “GREEN JHARKHAND, CLEAN JHARKHAND, RICH JHARKHAND, STRONG JHARKHAND.”

 u  The various Afforestation Schemes adopted under the State Plan Programme were (i) Rehabilitation of Degraded Forests (RDF), (ii) Plantation of Quick Growing Species (QGS) (iii) Roadside Plantation cum Urban Plantation, (iv) Development of Minor Forest Produce (MFP), (v) Lac Development/Tasar Plantation, (vi) Soil Conservation and Afforestation (SC & A) etc.

Objectives of the Current Assessment

u  The broad objectives of the plantation schemes are to accomplish the goals identified by the state Government. These include assessment of survival percentage of the planted seedlings and their suitability.

 u  The other important objectives are to assess the effectiveness of the plantation schemes with reference to availability of employment opportunities and income to disadvantaged group/individual of fringe villages as well as creation of durable community assets under the interface activities that could contribute to overall economic and ecological development of the people.

 Reference Period

u  The reference period of the study was a consecutive three years i.e. 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Methodology

 

u  To assess the performance of the plantation schemes both quantitative and qualitative level information was collected from secondary and primary sources like PME Cell, Van Bhawan, Ranchi, census of India, books and journals and the concerned forest divisions in all the districts of the state.

 

ì  Under quantitative research structured and semi-structured questionnaires were administered to collect required information at sample plantation sites and also from JFMC villages.

 

ì  Under qualitative research in-depth interviews and FGDs were conducted among project implementing authorities, JFMC members, community people, etc. Members of the evaluation team prepared observation notes on a daily basis to give extra input in the current study and also to validate the quantitative data.

 

ì  To estimate the survival rate of species, intensive visit/survey of sample plantation sites of different schemes was made by evaluation team in all the districts. The method of row counting of species was followed at most of the plantation sites on random basis. Besides, the analysis of internal evaluation reports conducted by project implementing authorities as well as interviews and interactions with field level forest staff were taken into account. Information was collected also from JFMC members and community people. Observations of the evaluation team were also taken into account while estimating the survival rate and health of species.

 

Sampling Procedure and its Selection

 

u  For the selection of plantation sites, simple stratified random sampling method was adopted. While interviewing the forest officials, JFMC members and community people, mainly simple random sampling technique and purposive sampling technique were adopted.

Coverage and Sample Size

u  Samples were drawn from all the 24 districts of the state.  A total of 52 forest divisions, 76 forest ranges and 244 plantation sites / JFMCs were covered. While drawing the sample of plantation sites a sincere attempt was made to cover the entire plantation schemes as well as year of plantation.

Respondents’ Profile 

u  Forest Officials: The important forest officials interviewed in each district were DFO, ACF, RFO and forester. In the entire sample of forest officials 50% were DFOs. Altogether, the evaluation team interviewed and interacted with 27 DFOs, 5 ACFs, 14 RFOs and 8 Foresters.

 

u  Beneficiaries (JFMC Members and Community): A total number of 224 beneficiaries comprising of JFMC members (35.27%) and community people (64.73%) were covered in the sample.

 

u  As per age distribution of beneficiaries 43% belonged to age group 20-35 followed by 39% of age group 36-50 years and 18% of age group 50 years and above.

 

u  According to sex composition, 88% beneficiaries were male. Female beneficiaries could not be interviewed in adequate number due to their business in household chores as well as their engagement in collection of fuel wood and related activities.

 

u  As per occupation of beneficiaries, 51% were small farmers followed by agriculture labourers (19%), other than agriculture labourers (14%), petty business (7%) and other occupations (9%).

 

u  The social composition of beneficiaries revealed that 37% were STs, 29% OBCs, 19% SC and 15% other groups.

 

u  The education composition of the beneficiaries revealed that 42% were illiterate while 23% had the education level of classes VI to VIII. About 20% were V class pass, 11% had the education level of classes IX to X and 4% were matriculates or above.

Main Findings of the Study

u  Assessment of Afforestation Schemes: A total of 244 plantation sites of different schemes were visited to estimate the survival rate and health of species. These sample sites covered an area of 13,242 ha in which there were 213.85 lakhs plants.

 

u  The highest number of plantation sites were sampled in the district of Deoghar (25) followed by Ranchi (17), Dumka (17), West Singhbhum (15), Palamu (15), Hazaribagh (14), Saraikela Kharsawan (12), etc. In the districts of Pakur and Khunti only two plantation sites each were covered.

 

u  The distribution of plantation sites in terms of scheme of plantation: RDF scheme covered more than 50% (120) plantation sites, followed by QGS (83), MFP (21), SC& A (16), Lac Development (4) and also a few road side plantations.

 

u  The year-wise distribution of plantation sites revealed that, during 2005-06, the highest number of 107 sites was covered, followed by 74 sites during 2004-05 and 64 sites during 2003-04.

 

u  Except one plantation site called Leda-6 (under Sarvil, Lazora, Chiniwadi villages) at Kolhan forest division of West Singhbhum, which was on RF land, the remaining 243 sites were on PF land.

 

u  Prior to the current plantation, the majority of the plantation area was under degraded forest, barren land, village pasture and ravines. At some of the plantation sites there was natural but degraded Sal forest with other species like Asan, Lantana, Van tulsi, etc. 

 

u  The topography of the plantation area was mainly hilly and undulating; while in some cases it was plain area. At certain plantation sites there was wide variation in topography: hills, undulating patches, plain patches, ravines and degraded lands.

 

u  Regarding soil, in the majority of the sites the soil types were Laterite, Red, Loamy, Sandy Loam, Sandy, Murmi, Rocky and Bouldery. There were significant variations in soil type at a certain plantation site.

 

u  Selection of Species and Condition of Planting Stock: The common species planted in the majority of the districts were, Shisham, Neem, Bakain, Amla, Bamboo, Khair, Gamhar, Chakundi, Sagwan, Karanj, A. Mangium, A. Springwale, A. Auricaliformis and some fruit plants especially liked by the community. Some other species planted with lesser frequency were Chhatwan, Simaruva, Arjun, Kaju, Jamun, Mahogani, Harre, Bahera, Subabul, Casia Gluka, Sharifa, Semal, Tamarind, Kusum, Parari, etc.

 

u  Selection of species for planting was made in group meetings with forest officials, JFMC members and community people.

 

u  There was great demand for fruit species. In most cases the forest officials met the demand by planting these species in spite of their poor rate of survival.

 

u  Temporary nurseries were established with a variety of seedlings at all the plantation sites in all the districts. From the plantation year of 2004-05, forest department decided to use a small proportion of stumps of Shisham, Teak, Gamhar, etc. from permanent nursery. The condition of planting stock was reported of good quality at most of the plantation sites.

 

u  Protection, Maintenance of Plantations and Assets created under Interface Activities: Continuous Protection Trench (CPT) was the most common protection measure created around all the plantation sites. Besides, barbed wire, stone walls as per availability of stones and boulders, paid watch and wards/cattle guards, etc. were other measures. The foresters and forest guards along with JFMC members and community people were also responsible for maintenance and protection.

 

u  The important assets created under interface activities were hand pumps, wells, tanks, village link roads, footpaths, pucca platforms, overhead tanks for water supply, lift irrigation system, paddy fans and daily use items like solar lamp, LPG gas lamp, sports goods, chairs, tables, carpets etc. Repair and renovation of these assets were also conducted under interface activities.

 

u  Peoples’ Participation and Role of Women: The participation of community people, including women, was average to low in most of the JFMCs. Participation of women was lackluster at most of the JFMCs. Forest officials were of the view that the maximum participation of community, including women, was observed during raising of seedlings in nursery and in advance and completion work of plantation.

 

u  Survival Rate and Reasons of Death of species: Average survival rate of plant species estimated for the whole state of the plantation conducted during three consecutive years was 76%.

 

u  High survival rate of species was maintained through timely replacement of dead species. Normally the replacement of dead species was conducted twice during the first year of plantation (in August of the same year and again next year in July).

 

u  The highest survival was observed in the district of Lohardaga (85%). In the districts of Chatra, Garwa, Jamtara, Saraikela Kharsawan and Dhanbad the survival rate of plant species varied from 80% to 85%. The districts with lower survival rate (below 75%) were Ranchi, Latehar, Deoghar, East Singhbhum and Sahibganj. The lowest survival rate of species was estimated in the newly created district of Khunti (57%).

 

u  Scheme-wise estimation of survival revealed that it was highest under Lac Development (80%), followed by MFP/Bamboo Plantation (79%), QGS (78%) and RDF (76%). In the districts of Lohardaga and Chatra the survival rate of species under RDF was 85%, which was highest among the districts. On the other hand in the district of Deoghar it was the lowest (67%). Under QGS the highest survival rate of 85% was estimated at two districts, namely, Simdega and Chatra. The lowest survival (67%) was estimated at Latehar district. Under MFP and Bamboo Plantation the highest survival rate of 87% was estimated at Saraikela-Kharsawan district while the lowest survival was found at Bokaro district (71%).

 

u  The survival rate on the basis of year of plantation revealed that it was highest during 2005-06 (81%) followed by 2004-05 (77%) and 2003-04 (71%).  Similar trend was observed in majority of the districts as the recently planted species had higher survival rate. But in the district of East Singhbhum the highest survival rate was observed during 2003-04 (90%).

 

u  Documentation and Maintenance of Records: The documentation and maintenance of records in majority of the forest divisions and forest ranges was average, as observed by the evaluation team. In many cases plantation journals were not available during site visit. Records of individual species were also not maintained in the entire state.

 

u  Benefits of Plantation Programme: Presently, the current plantation schemes were able to accrue limited benefits but they had instilled a sense of confidence among the community people of the JFMC villages for future development. The concerted efforts made by forest department through a series of plantation schemes to revive the degraded forest areas and bring more areas under forest cover had assured the community people that availability of forest resources  would continue on sustainable basis.

 

u  The notable benefits accrued to community people from the current plantation schemes were lopping of trees, fallen twigs and leaves of Acacia group of species, which were used as fuel by several community people. The wage employment of three to four months besides, variety of assets and infrastructure created under interface activities also benefited them.

 

u  Opinion of Forest Officials and JFMCs Members: Majority of the project implementing authority (mostly DFOs) were satisfied with physical and financial achievement of the plantation programme. But the DFO of Saraikela, Sri D. Venketeshwaralu, was of the view that it could not be achieved up to expected level due to acute shortage of frontline staff (forest guards and foresters).

u  Regarding the process of decentralization of forest management, the majority of forest officials were of the opinion that this process was in the beginning stage but progressing in the right direction.

 

u  To ensure the sustainability as well as institutionalization of JFMC mechanism no concrete steps were taken in the entire state barring a few exceptions. Similarly there was no headway in the creation of village level common fund.

 

u  In the district of East Singhbhum (especially at Dalbhum forest division) the issues of sustainability and institutionalization of JFMC mechanism have been truly addressed by creating village level common fund at a number of JFMCs. Some initiatives have also been taken at South Chatra forest division.

 

u  In majority of the districts the participation of community people including women was below average. To ensure higher participation of women in plantation programme, DFO, Dalbhum had made a provision by reserving 5% posts of JFMCs presidents for women.

 

Socio-Economic Impact of the Plantation Programme 

 

u  Regarding the employment opportunity, 20% of the respondents expressed their views that it increased to a great extent. On the other hand 64% felt it to some extent and rest of them could not feel any change.

 

u  52% beneficiaries expressed that the current plantation schemes motivated them for protection and maintenance of forest to some extent while 28% of them felt that it motivated them to a great extent and 20% did not feel any change.

 

u  About 60% beneficiaries expressed that their income increased to some extent while 12% of them realized it to a great extent and 28% did not feel any change.

 

u  On the availability of forest products more than 72% were of the view that it increased to some extent while 12% felt it to a great extent. A significant proportion (16%) did not feel any change.

 

u  About 80% of beneficiaries expressed that this project motivated women community to work in group to some extent.

 

u  48% of beneficiaries felt that due to current plantation programme they were availing improved access to safe drinking water to some extent. And 20% felt that it improved to a great extent. While 32% did not feel any change in this regard.

 

u  It was observed that 60% of respondents felt improvement in awareness level to some extent while 28% of them had their opinion that plantation programme improved their awareness level to a great extent.

 

u  About 68% beneficiaries felt that current plantation programme motivated them for self development to some extent. But 20% did not feel any such desire for self-development.

 

u  Regarding availability of NTFP for self-use 75% did not see any change. About 20% of them were of the view that it increased to some extent.

 

The Constraints and the Limitations of the Programme

 

u  The low level of awareness amongst the community people in most of the districts has an adverse impact on the process of the implementation and the smooth progress of the current plantation programme.

 

u  All the districts of the state are in the grip of the Naxal movement in varying degrees. Innumerable incidents have occurred in the past at several locations in different districts due to Naxal activities and forest department has been badly affected because of such happenings.

 

u  All the forest divisions in the state have been facing the problem of acute shortage of forest guards and foresters and it has been affecting the normal work schedule of the divisions.  

 

u  Most of the forest ranges of the concerned forest divisions have been facing a crisis of inadequate availability of infrastructure and basic facilities, such as proper vehicles, telephone connections, fax, internet, suitable office premises and accommodation for staffs.

 

u  The frequent transfers and postings of forest officials have negatively impacted their confidence since they have to face such situations rather often.

 

u  Casual grazing by domestic animals in the plantation areas is a chronic problem in the whole state and this has affected the plantation programme in varying degrees in the different districts of the state.

 

u  The three year period of protection and maintenance of plantation area has proved inadequate, as opined by the majority of the project implementing authorities. The fact that there is a lack of funds for fencing related work is attested to by even the forest officials.

 

u  Incidents of interference by some political groups during the selection/election of JFMC officials and the creation of interface assets have adverse impact on plantation programme.

 

u  A significant number of forest officials felt that the crucial factor of survey and planning of plantation programme was not addressed adequately.

 

u  Some DFOs felt that they were facing the problem of excessive work. In their opinion, a number of assignments remained incomplete even after a whole day hard work. The implementation of NREGA programmes has further burdened them.

 

u  The low level of education affecting a sizable proportion of forest guards and foresters has been a discouraging factor for most of the DFOs.

 

u  A number of DFOs felt that their limited authority in terms of transfers and postings of RFOs and other officials had negatively impacted the project output. According to them some RFOs have not been diligent about the execution of their duties and responsibilities.

 

u  In most of the districts stark poverty and low level of livelihood opportunity for the community people put extra pressure on forest officials in motivating them for their participation in plantation programme.

 

u  There are inadequate efforts taken by the forest department to organize capacity building programmes like trainings, workshops, interactive programmes, etc. by involving foresters and forest guard, JFMC members and community people so that they could sharpen their skills and learn new things and ideas related to plantation programme.

 

u  The current plantation programme was also affected due to lack of group spirit among the JFMC members, inadequate measures to check soil erosion, irregular meetings of JFMC officials, laidback attitude of community people, erratic monsoon behavior, undulating terrain and poor soil condition.

 

Suggestions and Recommendations for Improvement

 

To improve the productivity--and therefore production--and the efficacy of the plantation schemes, the following suggestions and recommendations are proposed: 

 

u  Viable Measures to Check Grazing and Control the High cattle Population: The implementing agency should evolve a viable strategy to maintain a check on grazing by cattle. Stringent measures, like fines and punishment, could be adopted as a deterrent against persons or households who leave their cattle unattended in the plantation areas.

 

u  Recruitment of Staff: The vacant posts of forest guards and foresters should be filled up on a priority basis. The scarcity of staff has negatively impacted the productivity of the plantation programme.

 

u  Creation of Basic Infrastructure: At each range level office, there should be adequate provision of vehicles, telephone connections, office premises, housing for staff, proper travel allowances etc. Absence of such facilities is an operational constraint.

 

u  Additional Fund for Protection with 7-Year Duration: Forest officials engaged in the implementation of the plantation programme felt that the 3-year duration of protection and maintenance of plantations schemes should be extended to 7 years, with commensurate addition in funds. The majority of the forest officials interviewed were of the opinion that there should be adequate provision of funds for fencing activities and that this should be taken as a separate funding head. It is suggested also that there should be provision of one cattle guard to protect 15 ha of plantation area. The current norm of one cattle guard per 50 ha was highly inadequate.

 

u  Selection of species: The selection of species should be done as per the stated objectives of the programme and too many species at a particular plantation site should not be encouraged. The process of soil testing should also be adopted during the selection of species.

 

u  Seedling of fruit species should be drawn from permanent nursery for better survival and growth.

 

u  Establishment of a Separate Division for Implementing the NREGA Programme: It is suggested that all the NREGA programmes should be implemented by separate forest divisions. These programmes have been affecting the normal work of the concerned forest divisions.

 

u  Better Awareness Campaign: The programme implementing agencies should adopt different methods of awareness such as leaflets, pamphlets, posters, wall writings, nukkad nataks, slogan raising, rallies, use of print media and electronic media, etc. for better impact among community people. Awareness was badly missing among community people in most of the districts.

 

u  Planning and Monitoring: It is suggested that planning and monitoring of the plantation programme should go together for achieving better output.

 

u  Additional Fund for Interface Activities: There has been large scale demand for the creation of community assets under interface activities and also for repair of old wells, old ahar, old tanks, village footpaths, etc. These assets were found crucial in winning the confidence of community people. For meeting these demands, it was suggested that the allocation of fund under this component should be raised to 25% from the current 15%.

 

u  Advance Planning in Raising Seedlings: It is widely felt that, while raising the seedlings in nurseries, there should be a long-term goal and better planning. The preparation of nurseries for producing quality planting stock should be planned two years in advance.

 

u  Time Bound Transfer and Posting: The transfers and postings of officials should be time bound. At the same time better performing staff should be posted at critical locations and given out of term promotion as initiative.

 

u  Need of Contingency Fund Felt: Some of the project implementing authorities were of the opinion that contingency fund should be allocated on the basis of plantation sites to each forest division.

 

u  Capacity Building Programme to Develop and Hone Skills: The forest department should organize interactive programmmes like seminars and workshops and cultural programmes like music competition, sports competition, organization of exposure visits and other similar programmes.

 

u   The private growers of Eucalyptus should be given transit permit for cutting and selling of wood.

u  Reasonable Workload: Ever increasing activities in the forest divisions and implementation of NREGA programmes by forest department have led to the overworking of forest officials. Most of the DFOs had to work overtime to complete the pending work. Therefore, reasonable work schedule becomes an important factor.

 

u  Fixation of the Education Level of FGs and Foresters: The low education level of forest guards and foresters has been coming in the way of the smooth functioning and proper implementation of the programme.

 

u  DFOs should have Say in Transfer and Posting: DFOs should be vested with more power so that they could maintain decorum and discipline among officials working at different levels. The performance of RFOs and other officials should be assessed by the DFOs.

 

u  Priority to RDF Scheme: A number of forest officials were of the view that RDF scheme should be given priority over QGS.

 

u  Limited Number of Schemes: It was also found that the high number of plantation schemes was proving harmful for the plantation programme. The plantation prograqmme should not have more than three schemes. In each of these schemes no more than1000 species should be planted per ha.

 

u  The work of the Social Forestry Division should not overlap with the work of scheduled forest areas.

 

u  Provision of incentives/honorariums/rewards to JFMC members and field level forest staff would motivate them.

 

u  The project implementing authority should make concerted efforts in the direction of decentralization of forest management. Even though the community people lack basic awareness, they should be entrusted with some responsibility so that they feel that they are an integral part of the whole programme process.

 

u  The implementing agency should make some headway in the direction of sustainability and institutionalization of JFM mechanism. JFMCs should be given statutory brand like PRI within the state, with emphasis on institutionalization.

 

u  Creation of village level common fund may act as a catalyst. Village level common fund should be established in all the JFMCs to make the plantation programme sustainable.

 

u  Documentation and maintenance of official records and project specific data should be ensured.

 

u  Plantation and creation of assets under interface activities should be done in such a way that they provide benefits to villagers on short, medium and long term bases.

 

u  The officials involved in the implementation and management of the project should be sensitized through trainings, workshops, seminars, etc. on regular basis.

 

u  The forest must be developed as perennial and sustainable source of livelihood and income generation for the community of the fringe villages, i.e. those villages where there was a paucity of regular sources of livelihood.  

 

u Introducing the Concept of Carbon Credits: In tune with the global reality of rising temperatures because of increased green house gas emissions, the concept of carbon credits should be introduced at JFMC level without further wastage of time. Carbon credit is earned by planting new trees and maintaining the old ones. The concept, if introduced, will not only create a healthier environment but also become a regular source of income for the community people. Introducing carbon credits is an idea whose time has come.