National Afforestation Programme: A Collaborative Approach to Forest Restoration

The National Afforestation Programme (NAP), guided by its Revised Operational Guidelines of 2009, is a significant initiative by the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, aimed at revitalizing India’s degraded forests and promoting sustainable forest management. This program emphasizes a decentralized, participatory approach, placing communities at the heart of forest regeneration and conservation efforts.

Objectives of the National Afforestation Programme

The NAP is guided by a hierarchy of objectives:

• Super-Goal: Sustainable development and management of forest resources.

• Goal: To increase and/or improve forest and tree cover (FTC) across the country.

• Purpose: To rehabilitate degraded forests and other areas through institutionalizing decentralized/participatory forest management and supplementing livelihoods improvement processes.

Key Operational Elements

The NAP is implemented through a three-tier institutional setup:

1. State Forest Development Agency (SFDA): A registered society at the State/UT level, serving as a federation of Forest Development Agencies (FDAs).

2. Forest Development Agency (FDA): Registered societies at the forest division level, functioning as a federation of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)/Eco-Development Committees (EDCs).

3. Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs)/Eco-Development Committees (EDCs): Implementing agencies at the village level, responsible for on-the-ground execution of projects.

Project Planning and Implementation

• Joint Forest Management (JFM): JFM is central to the projects, with focused efforts to constitute JFMCs in forest-fringe villages and build their capacity.

• Project Proposals: FDAs develop 5-year perspective plans and annual plans of operation (APOs) in consultation with JFMCs/EDCs.

• Microplanning: Detailed, participatory microplanning is conducted at the village level after the SFDA approves the FDA’s plan.

• Entry Point Activities (EPAs): Communities identify EPAs to be undertaken during the project period to address immediate needs.

• Project Funding: The scheme is implemented as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 100% central funding.

Financial and Cost Norms

The scheme provides financial support for various components, including:

• Strengthening of JFM (constitution and microplanning).

• Awareness generation.

• Microplanning.

• Planting and regeneration.

• Fencing.

• Soil and moisture conservation.

• Entry point activities.

• Training and capacity building.

• Value addition and marketing of forest produce.

• Concomitant monitoring and evaluation.

• Overheads.

• Treatment of problem lands.

• Use of improved technology.

The cost norms are worked out based on an indicative wage rate of Rs. 75.00 per day, with provisions for escalation based on state-specific minimum wages.

Focus on Community Participation

The NAP emphasizes the active involvement of local communities in all stages of project implementation:

• JFMC/EDC Participation: JFMCs/EDCs are at the heart of the scheme, responsible for planning, implementation, and monitoring.

• Benefit Sharing: The scheme promotes equitable benefit-sharing mechanisms, ensuring that local communities receive a fair share of the benefits from forest resources.

• Livelihood Improvement: The scheme supports the development of small and micro forest enterprises (SMFEs) to improve the livelihoods of JFMC members.

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Monitoring: Projects are monitored by the FDA, SFDA, and State/UT Forest Department officials through field inspections.

• Evaluation: Independent evaluations are conducted by reputed organizations to assess the effectiveness of the projects.

• Reporting: FDAs submit regular reports to the SFDA, which in turn reports to the National Afforestation and Eco-development Board (NAEB).

Improved Technologies and Problem Land Treatment

The scheme encourages the use of improved technologies and practices, such as:

• Tissue culture.

• Clonal seedlings.

• Root trainers.

• Rhizobium inoculation.

• Mycorrhizal inoculation.

• Hormonal treatment.

• Bio-fertilizers.

• Integrated pest management.

Specialized treatments are also supported for problem lands, such as saline lands, alkaline lands, and waterlogged areas.

Conclusion

The National Afforestation Programme, with its emphasis on community participation and sustainable practices, is a vital initiative for restoring India’s degraded forests. By empowering local communities and promoting their active involvement in forest management, the scheme not only contributes to environmental conservation but also improves the livelihoods of forest-dependent populations. The revised operational guidelines further strengthen the decentralized and participatory nature of the program, ensuring its long-term success.