Forestry for driving development in Manipur
- With particular reference to activities and achievements -
- Part 2 -

Bala Prasad and Ajeeta Longjam *

Rangekharason-Sabam Loukol in Imphal East in August 2014 :: Pix - Daniel Chabungbam

B. Brief description of different Plantation Schemes under Centrally Sponsored Scheme.

I. National Afforestation Programme (NAP):- National Afforestation Programme is implemented through 10 (ten) Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) established as per Guidelines of the Central Government. The works are implemented in a participatory manner through registered Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) having their own rules and regulations. There are 726 JFMCs in the State as on December, 2015. And through them, a total of 1835 ha plantation has been taken up during 2015-16.

II. National Bamboo Mission (NBM):-A total of 900 ha [400 ha in forest areas and 500 ha in non-forest areas] has been planted with Bamboos during the year 2015-16. The National Bamboo Mission is implemented on 90:10 (Central: State) cost sharing basis and works are carried out through Joint Forest Management Committees under the district Forest Development Agencies.

C. Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management & Planning Authority (CAMPA):-

Under CAMPA a total of 2072 ha has been taken up for plantation related to approved Annual Plan of Operation for the year 2014-15 and implemented during 2015-16. For the year 2015-16, the Annual Plan of Operations proposes to take up Advance Works over 3222.29 ha and Creation of 635.50 ha under Compensatory Afforestation, Advance works over 74.46 ha under Addl CA, 625 ha under Catchment Area Treatment Plan and 2.67 ha advance works and 18 ha creation under the Dwarf Plantation, 1280 ha under Artificial Regeneration, 2583 ha under Assisted Natural Regeneration, 700 ha under Enrichment Plantation, 660 ha under Mixed plantation, 200 ha Food and Shelter plantations.

2.2 Intensification of Forest Management Scheme: The Intensification of Forest Management Scheme is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with 90:10 cost sharing norm between GoI and State Government. Earlier, this scheme was known as Integrated Forest Protection Scheme.

The Scheme is implemented by the Territorial Divisions in the state to increase the level of forest protection. The scheme had earlier three components, A, B and C, but with the addition of two new components D and E, it is with five components as follows:

Component A: Forest Fire Control and Management
Component B: Strengthening of Infrastructure for Forest Protection
Component C: Working Preparation, Survey & Demarcation
Component D: Control Eradication of Forest invasive species
Component E: Protection and Conservation of Sacred Groves.

The programme is with an outlay for the state of Rs. 267.00 lakhs during the current year, 2015-16. It has good impact, as majority of the Range Offices and Beat Offices and staff quarters for the frontline filed staff have been constructed under this scheme.

2.3 Wildlife Management

Varied wildlife forms are not only found in the protected areas of Manipur but also in all the forested hill areas and wetland areas of the valley. The details of different protected areas have been given in Table 3. Wildlife week 2015 was celebrated in comprehensive manner particularly with higher participation of students in different districts.

Wildlife Week Celebration 2015- Valedictory Function

2.4 Biodiversity Management

Manipur Biodiversity Board was constituted in 2006 and is highly committed for conservation of biodiversity, its sustainable use and sharing of benefits from its commercial utilization with the local people. During 2015-16, Manipur Biodiversity Board held meeting on 21.08.2015 under the chairmanship of Shri. P.C.Lawmkunga, then Chief Secretary, Govt. of Manipur.

The State Celebration of International Day for Biological Diversity with the focal theme on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development was jointly organized by the Manipur Biodiversity Board and Forest Department, Manipur on the 22nd May, 2015. The function saw an attendance of about 500 people with students constituting for more than two-thirds of the attendance.

Besides the prize distribution ceremony, the speakers in the functions emphasized upon the urgent need to conserve the rich biological diversity of the state. In addition to stating the major practical challenges that lay ahead, the speakers mainly impressed upon the need to sensitize the people of the need and importance of biodiversity.

Sustainable developments and what it hold for the future and the state was discussed at length and lastly, students were urged to take interest and develop a sense of curiosity and action as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

3. Important Achievement

3.1 Increased Forest Cover

From Table 1, it is obvious that forest cover of Manipur has increased by 4 Sq. Km. as per assessment of Forest survey of India in 2015. This gain is important as all other North Eastern States lost forest cover viz. Mizoram has lost 306 square km of forest cover, followed by Nagaland (78 square km), Arunachal Pradesh (73),Tripura (55) and Assam (48).

Further, the gain is important as Manipur also had lost forest cover in the last two assessments in 2013 and 2011 by 100 Sq. Km. and 100 Sq. Km. respectively. Moreover from the analysis of Forest Cover Change Matrix (Table 2), it may be seen that scrub area has increased on the cost of Non Forest area and there is a likelihood of these scrub area to get into Forest Cover in the next assessment.

3.2 Forest Management

Manipur is one of very few states where all forest areas are covered under approved Working Plan from Central Govt. for scientific management. After completing first cycle of Working Plan of Eastern Forest Division, Ukhrul and Tengnoupal Forest Division, Chandel, the Department could formulate new Working Plans of the respective Divisions and got them approved by Central Government in 2015-16.

3.3 Conservation of Sangai: A success story – Once distributed throughout Southeast Asia, extending from Manipur to Indo-China, the Rucervus eldii deer are now confined in patches in Manipur, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam and Hainan islands. Its global population is declining rapidly and is on the verge of extinction from most part of its range.

Rucervus eldii eldii one of the sub-species locally called Sangai once thought to be extinct from India was rediscovered in 1953 by E. P. Gee on the southern fringe of Loktak Lake (Gee 1960), leading to the declaration of Keibul Lamjao National Park and beginning of intensive conservation. The first census conducted during 1975 found only 14 Sangai in the Keibul area.

Population has gone upto 204 as per census conducted during 2013. This achievement is because of the constant efforts made by Forest Department, Manipur since the declaration of the habitat of Sangai as Keibul Lamjao National Park in 1977.

3.4 Conservation of Amur Falcon

Intensive conservation measures were taken up in the Tamenglong District for conservation and protection of Amur Falcon, which is a migratory species. They visit in lakhs of numbers in the district. Some famous landscapes are Barak River, Makru River, Irang River, Ijei River, Iring River, Leimatak River, Zeilad and associated Lakes, Mount Kisha, Tharon Cave etc.

Important Roosting Sites are Vanchengphai, Khongjaron, Akhui, Keigao, Wairangba, Irang, Sonpram, Bamgaijang, Zeliadjangm, Chingkao, Azuram, Namtiram, Awangkhul, Langkhong etc. Western Forest Division, Tamenglong had carried out intensive awareness campaign for the last few years on conservation of Forest, Wildlife and specially Amur falcon in many remote villages of the district. There are positive feedbacks from various quarters.

The major outcome is that the Amur Falcon is strictly protected in many villages. The Phalong (Bhalok) village Chairman had reported that hunting, trapping of Amur Falcon is strictly prohibited in his Village and anyone who violate the prohibition shall be heavily fined. The village is now declared as Amur Falcon village.

Concluded...