Through this regional office different impact assessment and evaluation studies have been conducted like.

a) Evaluation of Dhamtari FDA

Assessment of FDA in Dhamtari:

The National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board (NAEB), apart from the monitoring and evaluation done by the State Government would also get evaluation of the project done by independent agencies/consultant. The first evaluation will be done within 12-24 months of the sanction of the project. IBRAD has been given the responsibility of assessment of FDA work in Dhamtari division of Chattisgarh.

Location of the project:

Chattisgarh is a state in Central India and its capital is Raipur. The area of division lies in between 81° 28’ and 82 °15’ East Longitude and 21 °1’ and 20° 3’ North Latitude. Total geographic area of Dhamtari forest division is 2125.540 sq.km. The forest division is mainly divided into two distinguished major forest types –Sal forest and Mixed forests.

Objectives:

The objectives of the FDA are as follows:

• Employment generation to local inhabitants and other villagers who are below poverty line round the year
• Regeneration of degraded forests
• Creation of community asset
• Regeneration achievements and Eco-Development of degraded forest and adjoining areas
• Involvement of village communities to execute the schemes and their full participation in production and management of forests

The Assessment:

Samples:59 JFMCS have been studied under seven ranges in Dhamtari FDA:

In Keregaon range, there are 7 JFMCs. The major plantation species in this area are Teak,Amla, Bamboo, Jatropha, Khamar. Out of 6 JFMCs, micro-plan is prepared only in Amlipara and Bhotapara, while in other areas it is either not prepared or they are not aware.Shramdan is given in Amlipara.

In Birgudi range, there are 9 JFMCs and the main species found are bamboo, teak, jatropha, amla. In most of the JFMCs like Varsivna, Gorsanala, Kongera, Junwani, Amdi, Baanspani, and Satbahana. In some JFMCs microplans have been prepared, but it is very few, while in some it is not even prepared also 30% Shramdan is given to Tangapani.

In Nagri, there are 3 JFMCs where the main species are Teak, Bamboo, Amla, Pongamia. Here in all the 3 JFMCs microplan is not prepared. Here, no Shramdan has been given.

In Sankra, there are 2 JFMCs. The main species are Bamboo, Teak, Amla and Pongamia. Here, microplan is not prepared. Shramdan during plantation is also not given.


In North Singhpur, there are 24 JFMCs. The main species here are Bamboo, Teak, Medicinal herbs, Grass, Jatropha. Out of 16 JFMCs, 7 have microplan while others do not have. Shramdan is not granted to any one during plantation.

In Dhamtari division, there are 7 JFMCs. The main species are Teak,Amla. In most of the JFMCs microplan is not prepared , but in Tumrabahar,it is in the process, and in Kasabahi, it is prepared.Shramdan is given to Tumrabahar ,it is not given to others.

Forest status of different ranges under Dhamtari FDA:

Functioning of JFMCs:

Clarity for Purpose, Goal of JFMC Formation:

In Dhamtari, 77% of JFMCs were formed by the Forest Department.17% were mainly formed to meet the survival need of the people dependent on forests for NTFPs ,fuel,wood and fodder. 71% of the committees were funded at the time of initiation of JFMC, but around 85% did not receive fund at that time. 54% of the committees were formed for getting benefits and share against protection.

Benefits Received by the JFMCs:

Individually, the members of committees received their shares from NTFP collection and from other forestry activities. 52% committees also receive fund from Forest Department, which they use for village development activities like road construction, tube wells, water supply, community hall etc. 60% of the committees have received benefits from NTFP collection and about 8% of the committees have been benefited in terms of status recognition. 10% of the committees have received ecological benefits like more in greenery, increase in water table, etc. while 22% of the committees have not yet received any benefit.

Activities undertaken by the JFMC:

Patrolling-
20% of the committees have regular formal patrolling system, 56% of the committees undergo informal patrolling system, and 5% of the committees have no patrolling system.

Grazing Control-
67% of the committees control grazing in the new plantation area, while in 8% of the committees grazing is totally banned.

Plantation-
In 71% of the committees, one time plantation has been done by FDA, while in 5%, self initiated plantation is done.

Fire Protection-
Regular preventive measures taken by the committees were about 47%.

NTFP Control-
72% committees practice all time NTFP collection.

Encroachment-
No new encroachment reported was 85%
Encroachment evicted was about 7%
JFMC plantation done in evicted land was 7%

Mechanism of taking action against offenders:

In 15% of the committees there is a mechanism of taking fine from the offenders; 27% of the committees only give warning to the offenders but do not take fine. 90% of the offence is reported for illicit felling whereas 4% due to breaking rule of committee.

Mechanism and impact:

It has been found that in 69% of the JFMCs the offence rate is reduced after the formation of the committee. 17% of the JFMCs there is no change in the offence rate even after the formation of the committee and in 8% of the cases there has been drastic reduction in forest related offence.

NTFP and value addition:

Among the total committees surveyed 5% of the committees showed organized and scientific collection of NTFP; 35% showed free access to NTFP collection; remaining 10% showed restricted collection for all items while 49% showed.

No value addition in 175 of the JFMC studied. In 83% of the committees, villagers collect and send it to the market at individual level.

Founder and current members’ role:

In 52% of the committees founder members are involved in convincing people to protect forests and help FD; while 28% people are protecting through patrolling. In 52% of the committee the current EC members are involved in convincing people to protect forest , 23% concentrate in strategic planning, 17% take decision regarding conflict management, forest offence etc.

Voluntary activities:

Villages where many voluntary activities done was 10%
One or two voluntary activity done in 31% villages
No voluntary work done in 31%

Women Participation:

Full participation of women were 42%
Not much involvement was seen in 5%
15% of the committees women are found to attend EC meetings and provide their own views in the issues discussed.

Mechanism of information exchange:

In 44% of the committees JFMCs have specific mechanism information exchange with high speed of information transmission and minimum loss of information.

Microplan and future plan:

Microplan not prepared in 56% of villages
Microplan prepared but not implemented in 25% of villages
Microplan prepared, implemented and monitored in 5% villages
Clear vision, strong capacity to implement future plan was 13%
Future Plan developed by the EC members-49%

Source of fund:

Major source of fund in past- from external agencies (5%) like World Bank
Self initiated fund in few committees were 11%
At present, main source of fund is- money from protection, sharing from harvest (40%), from FDA(21%).

Interaction with external world:

Help from Forest Department was about 33%
No help from FD or any other agency were56%
Help from Panchayat was 6%

Innovation:
Innovations like plantation of medicinal plants, lac culture, sericulture etc. noticed in 2% of the committees but in 65%of the committees, and no innovation was found at all.

b) Impact Assessment of Integrated Resource Development Project under Special SGSY programme at Dhamtari, Chattisgarh

IBRAD has conducted impact assessment of the Integrated Resource Development Project under Special SGSY programme sponsored by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India at Dhamtari district, Chattisgarh. Out of 100 villages, 60 villages have been selected for sample survey. On getting the assignment IBRAD has developed the methodology for assessment keeping in mind the project objectives.

c) Impact assessment of PPA programme, Dhamtari

IBRAD has been assigned to assess the impact of the People Protected Area programme implemented in the Dhamtari Forest Division by Chhattisgarh Forest Department. This report highlights how through systematic interventions for monitoring the forest resources could be conserved on the one hand and the sustainable livelihood opportunities could be developed for the forest dependant community on the other. Further keeping in mind the objectives of PPA the study intends to understand the impact of the PPA interventions towards institutionalisation of community participation and making themselves self reliant through forest resource conservation as one of the major initiatives.

1. In situ Conservation
2. Ex situ Conservation and Propagation
3. Nursery and Demonstration Plot
4. Non destructive Harvesting
5. Capacity Building
6. Grading, Processing and Value Addition
7. Marketing and Market Intelligence
8. Eco Tourism
9. Agro Forestry
10. Harmonizing Wood and Non Wood production

1. Livelihood Security
2. Food Security
3. Health Cover
4. Augmenting Rural Income

About the State

Chattisgarh with 4.13% geographical area of the country, accounts for 7.8% of the country’s forests. 44% of the geographical area of the state is under forests. The dry and moist deciduous tropical forests, which are the major forest types in the state are rich repository of floral and faunal diversity, including rich medicinal plants and other economically important NTFPs.

The population of the state is predominantly rural. The rural population constitutes about 82.61 % of the state. Tribal and scheduled caste population constitutes about 31.13 and 22.32 % of the state. Tribal, and scheduled castes population, along with economically backward classes have significant economic and cultural dependence on the state forests. They derive livelihood mainly from the forests of the state.

About Dhamtari Forest Division

Dhamtari Forest Division is located between 31075` and 32015` E longitude and 200 0` and 200 40` North Latitude. The division stretches about 58 kms from North to South and 39 km from East to West. The total geographical area of the Dhamtari district is 4,081 sq kms, out of which the forest area comprises 21,25,540 km2 (52.1% of total geographical area). The forests of this division are of two types viz. Sal and Mixed forests. The Sal forests are found concentrated in three ranges namely, North Nagri, South Nagri; and Birgudi while those of the Dhamtari and Singhpur ranges are of the Mixed forest type. The Dhamtari forest division is northerly sloping in topographic configuration. The general elevation varies from about 333 meters in the Northeast and 378 meters to 636 meters above mean sea level in the extreme South of the division. The topography of the division is generally flat, at few places more or less undulating with occasional cuts made by Nulla.

The annual mean maximum temperature (as given in the working plan) is 330 C and annual mean minimum temperature is 210 C. The maximum temperature of 48.30 C was recorded in May 1973 and lowest temperature of 7.70 C was recorded during December 1978. Annual rainfall for the period of 1966 to 1981 (as given in the working plan) varied from 826.6 mm to 2147.08 mm. The area receives mean annual rainfall of 1,367.01 mm mostly during the months of June to September. Number of rainy days ranged from 48 to 75 (for the period of 1966 to 1981), while the average numbers of rainy days were 62.

The soil of the division varies at different locations. Generally soil of the area is yellowish to reddish in colour with pockets of lateritic soil. Small stretches of clay soil, shallow siliceous and less-fertile soils are also found at places. The pH of soil varies from 6 – 6.8. Soil is prone to mild-erosion in about 70% area and remaining 30% area experiences advance stages of erosion.

The river Mahanadi and its tributaries flow through the tract. Other prominent rivers flowing through the area are Pairi and Sondur. Villages situated by the side of main streams meet their water requirements by digging pits in the sandy beds, indicating shallow water table in the area. The water table goes down in summer season and many villages suffer from scarcity of water due to drying of open dug wells that are not very deep. In most of the villages small ponds are also excavated for meeting water requirements.

Forest Types

Based on the classification of different kinds of forests by Champion and Seth (1968) the following forest types are found in Dhamtari forest division.

3c/C2e(ii) Moist Peninsular Low Level Sal Forest
3c/C2e(iii) Moist Peninsular Valley Sal Forest
5B/C1e Dry Peninsular Sal Forest
C3/a North Indian West Gangetic Dry Deciduous Forest
3B/C1 Slightly Moist Teak Forest
5A/C3 Southern Dry Mixed Deciduous Forest

Background of Dugli Jabarra and Sankra Chandanbahera PPAs under Dhamtari Forest Division

Extent of Area

The people’s protected area falls under Dugli range and Sankra range of Dhamtari Forest Division. The Dugli Jabarra PPA covers 27,457.24 ha forest area. Out of the total area under Dugli Jabarra PPA, conservation and sustainable use of the species is carried on in 16, 194.30 ha and 11,262.94 ha is kept for Nistar purpose from where villagers can get fuel, fodder, small timber and bamboo for their bonafide domestic use. Under Sankra Chandanbehera PPA 24,255.19 ha area is covered, out of which 13,024.12 ha area is kept for in situ conservation and 11,231.07 ha is for Nistar purposes.

Each year, 1,000 ha area under each PPA is demarcated for protection and conservation purposes and also survey of the forest area, including timber and non timber species. Five such 1,000 ha areas are demarcated under each PPA which are named as P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5

Population Covered

15 villages, with a total population of 5,742 are covered under this project. Most of the villages are tribal dominated. The demographic profile of the area indicates 88 scheduled castes, 4,818 scheduled tribes, 164 other backward classes and 672 ‘kamar’ (which is a primitive tribal group recognized by Govt. of India) families. The percentage of women population in the project area is 57 percent. Out of 15 villages, 6 villages are well electrified. Almost all villages are connected by fair weather roads. In each of these villages, there are women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to promote savings and the average literacy rate is 67 percent

Selection of Area

Eight villages are covered under Sankra Chandanbahera PPA which are as follows:

Please consult Consultancy for the detailed report.