Social Forestry
Forests are at the strategic core of the management of natural resources, and health and well being of all life in this region. The status of water resources, moisture regimen and land use patterns are critically dependent upon the health of the forests. Since our inception, CHIRAG has sought to work with local communities on village commons. There are two types of land commonly managed by village communities, viz. Van Panchayats and Civil or Soyam lands. The lives of local communities are crucially dependent on fuel, fodder, water, timber, minor forest products, and leaf litter for manure preparations, obtained from forests. Most importantly, the status of the village forests have a direct impact on the lives of women who are usually responsible for gathering forest biomass for domestic utilisation. Healthy forests, closer to habitations, mean less drudgery for women.
In terms of impact, over 6 million saplings have been planted in about 40 square kilometres of degraded forest in 45 villages. Villagers are involved, and encouraged to take ownership of every stage of this programme. Tree seedlings, mostly of local fodder and fuel species, selected by the local community are grown. Nurseries are small in size, so as to maximise local involvement, and are usually run by women. Voluntary labour is encouraged, both to reduce costs and more importantly to increase the feeling of local ownership. While CHIRAG does support protection activities for 3-5 years after the plantation, every effort is made so that the forest is perceived as a local asset - to be managed by and for the local community.
Wile planting is often neccessary, especially on severely degraded lands, protection is key to reafforestation. Even a few years of protection can transform the landscape as can be seen in the picture below...
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