The Uttarakhand Forest Resource Management Project (UFRMP) is being implemented by Van Panchayats of the State with Rs807 crore across a period of eight years (ending March 2022) for eco-restoration and other activities. The project funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) aims to address the problem of forest degradation in forest fringe areas of the State, said Uttarakhand Forest Minister Dinesh Aggarwal.
Addressing the media, Aggarwal said that the UFRMP would also entail eco-restoration in 37,500 hectares in 750 selected Van Panchayats for adjoining degraded forest areas along with livelihood and income generation activities for the people living in the target area to reduce their dependence on forests. The project will also address landslides and reconstruction of damaged forest roads in disaster affected forest areas which will be executed by the Forest department.
The project is being implemented in 17 forest divisions- 13 for forestry and livelihood components and six for disaster affected forest areas. Under UFRMP, community development activities and income generation activities would aim at community mobilisation for creation of small community infrastructure having potential for enhancing incomes of local forest dependent people on a sustainable basis. Van Panchayats will be provided revolving fund under the project to provide small loans for income generation activities. Two self help groups will be supported at each village level. Micro-credit from banks and other financial institutions could also be arranged for them. To implement the project in society mode, the Uttarakhand Forest Resource Management Society (UFRMS) has been constituted as an autonomous society. A high powered committee headed by the chief secretary comprises the government body of the society. An executive committee headed by the principal secretary, Forests and the principal chief conservator of forests as its vice chairman oversees implementation of the project.
Under the project in 2014-15, first batch of 150 Van Panchayats has been selected and the project operation manual was also released by the minister. Project work in 2015-16 will include capacity building in first batch, micro planning, restoration of degraded forests in selected Van Panchayats and other tasks. PCCF Srikant Chandola, chief wildlife warden DVS Khati and other senior department officials were also present on the occasion.