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Learning from the past
A Karnataka People's Forest Forum writes to the state government.
April 2002:
The Government of Karnataka is contemplating revision of the state forest planning and management policy. The current policy came into force in the form of a Government Order (GO) that was issued in 1993 on Joint Forest Planning and Management (JFPM). What has also recently come to light is that the government plans a revision of the policy through the issue of another GO. The move to bring about much-needed changes in the structure of the state's forest management policy is indeed very welcome.
But it is unfortunate that even after almost a decade of the installing the original JFPM
policy in Karnataka, changes are being proposed to be brought about by Government Orders, rather than relevant modifications in the Karnataka Forest Act and Rules.
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Contact
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Convenor, Jana-Aranya Vedike
C/o Development Support Initiative(DSI),
680, 15th main road, 38th cross,
4th 'T' block, Jayanagar,
Bangalore - 560041.
Tel: +91-80-6635622,6633538
Telefax: +91-80-6320021
e-mail: mkdsi@vsnl.in
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The issue of joint forest planning and management was discussed intensively in the
NGO Consultative Committee on People's Participation (chaired by the Development Commissioner) in December 1990. Unfortunately, the Government Order issued in April 1993 did not incorporate the changes agreed upon in this committee. The resulting problems with JFPM as implemented in Karnataka are now well known. Strangely, it appears that this time, the Government is going about the process of amending the Order without any involvement of the people concerned, namely the Village Forest Committees or other bodies such as the relevant NGOs or academicians.
Most other states only have Joint Forest Management. Karnataka is unique in having Joint Forest Planning and Management. If this planning component is not to be mere lip-service, then the government must involve people in re-designing the structure of JFPM itself. Thus, it is absolutely essential that the Government engage with Village Forest Committees (VFCs), village communities, NGOs and academicians in drafting the new format for JFPM.
Jana Aranya Vedike (People's Forest Forum), is a network of Village Forest Committees (VFCs), VFC Federations, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs), state level networks of voluntary organisations, academicians, environmental activists and media persons. The objective of the forum is to set Karnataka on the direction towards decentralised governance and sustainable management of forests and common lands in the state. In order to achieve this, the forum is working for a participatory, sustainable, equitable and economically-viable model of Forest Management Policy in Karnataka.
Part of the forum activities are discussion and debate on the kinds of changes that
are required in the state's forest policy, administration and finances in general and in the structure of JFPM in particular. Across the state, a broad consensus has emerged on several key points. The forum has written to the Government on these points and recommended their incorporation into the proposed amendments.
Importantly, the forum has asked the Government to call for consultations with Village Forest Committees (VFCs), village communities, NGOs, academicians, research organisations and other interested individuals, before making any changes to the JFPM rules for Karnataka.
India Together
April 2002
This article is based on a report filed with India Together by Naveen I. Thomas of
the Jana-Aranya Vedike, Bangalore. He can be reached at navthom@vsnl.net
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