PARTICIPATORY FOREST MANAGEMENT

 Participatory forest management is a strategy to protect the forest and its resources with the help of local people residing nearby the forest. It has been considered the most effective strategy for forest management and conservation. Participatory forestry enables the involvement of people who have a direct stake in the forest and its resources in taking decisions regarding the forest, managing the forest and its resources, and formulating institutional frameworks for various forest-related programs. 

The inclusion of local communities in the conservation and management of the forest has been common for the last 25 years. Almost all countries in Africa and many in Asia are promoting Participatory Forest Management (PFM). Many countries are developing their national policies to include PFM as their plan of action.

The shift to PFM by the government is mainly due to the following aspects:

1. It is a more effective way of forest management as local people know the pulse of the forest, than any unknown newly recruited official.

2. It reduces the role and cost of the state in forest management.

3. It ensures livelihood for local people, as they get rewards from the government as honorarium. 

4. It is an effective method of decentralization of power.

5. The local people are more skilled 

6. it ensures a philosophical and psychological commitment of people in conserving the forest.

Roles of the people in PFM

1. Some local people, such as elders, teachers and local leaders can serve as a source of information regarding the forest. They have knowledge about the forest and they understand the needs of the local people. These people are a valuable source of information, hence called Key Informants.

2. People who share similar interests in the locality is treated as Interest Groups. An interest group can be formed based on age, gender, ethnic group etc. For example, a group of women who collect wood and honey from the forest or poor farmers in the locality.

The local people can be assigned the following duties:

1. Assessors of forest resources.

2. Decision makers of forest rules.

3. Implementers of forest action plans.

4.  Protectors of forest resources.

5. Silviculture breeders, experimenters etc.

6. Marketers of timber from forest.

History of PFM:

The local tribes of India had been suppressed intensely by various types of rules such as the Mughals, the British and even during early days of Independence. The Mughal rulers were unable to rule the tribes due to inaccessibility of the area. The tribals used 'warfare and withdraw' strategy to protect the forest resources from the Mughals. It was more aggressive with the entry of the British rulers. They tried to impose colonial rule on the tribals and extract revenue through 'Zamindars'. The tribals reacted violently and caused the Chur Rebellion which lasted from 1767 to 1980. It was the first ever rebellion against the British rule in India. But the British overpowered the tribes. 

The forest communities were further affected when Sal trees (Shorea robusta) were cut for making railway sleepers to expand the railway network. 

Post-Independence, India drafted the first Forest Policy in 1952, which proposed a functional classification of forests Protected forests, National forests, Village forests and tree-land. 

People's protests for forest conservation:

During 1970- 80, logging of trees for industrial purposes increased drastically and the people of Uttaranchal protested which was called Chipko Andolan. The villagers hugged the trees so as to prevent their cutting. As a result, the government of Uttar Pradesh imposed a 15 -year ban on tree felling.

The Arabari Experiment:

Forest officers of the Arabari region, of Midnapur district in West Bengal, recognized the role people can play in restoring degraded forests. They issued the first government order to include local people in protecting the forest. In return, 25% of the revenue obtained from the sale of timber resources was given to the locals.  This successful experiment led to the evolution of PFM concept.

The present state of PFM:

Today in India, we have 63618 forest protection committees spread over 27 states protecting 14 million hectares of forest.