Wasteland development and environmental management through community forestry

This book is the main outcome of a study-cum-action programme in Community Forestry Management for Rural Development. Three considerations, expected out puts, lead us to this action oriented project viz: Firstly, the possibility to rehabilitate. the variously defind waste lands for obtaining sustained rise in the productivity of land.. Secondly, considerations of environment management (eco-system development). Thirdly, to test the applicability of CF model for planning; executing such an integrated programme for the benefit of the landless rural poor. This project was given much encouragement and financial support by TELCO, Jamshedpur; the Forest Department, and by the villagers notably the progressive leaders in the village Khakripara. It was a process of joint-learning for each one of us; a spirit of objectivity and team-work permeated the environment. It made the task of formulating, initiating and coordinating the project through the last 20 months, canvassing support, building up rapport between the actors and studying the ever amazing community eco-system, enjoyable and rewarding. Work plans were developed, discussed and modified, each stage and experience being the basis to subsequent improvement; a sort of a learning game and a rolling plan for action!

The concept of Community forestry was first outlined in the First Workshop held at XLRI in January 1978. Nevertheless, it was Mr. Sarosh J. Ghandy, General Manager and Director, TELCO, and the interest he registered in the proceedings of the First Workshop, that lead to the experiment. Around October-December 1978 the go-ahead signal was given for undertaking the action-programme. TELCO took the responsibility to finance this work; it authorised its Adviser for Community Development and Rural Reconstruction to liason for the project at Khakripara. We were also to obtain the Bihar Forest Department's concurrence to include it into their Social Forestry programme. A project in CF, thus, became a reality.