Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society under Forest and Environment Department organized its Annual Review Conference Sameekshya 2018-19 on 14th March 2019 at Bhubaneswar. The conference was organised to review and assess the progress of project implementation plan of Ama Jangala Yojana and Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project, Phase-II in the financial year of 2018-19. The Sameekshya 2018-19 conference was graced by Sri Sandeep Kumar Tripathy, IFS, PCCF and Head of Forest Force, Government of Odisha as the Chief Guest. Shri L.K.Tewari, Project Director, Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society, Dr Sudarshan Panda, IFS, Additional PCCF-cum-Special Secretary, Forest and Environment Department, Government of Odisha, Dr Meeta Biswal, Additional Project Director, OFSDS, Miss Pusa Zulun Mecro, IFS Additional Project Director of OFSDS also joined the conference. Earlier a photo exhibition on the activities of Ama Jangala Yojana and Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project, Phase-II under OFSDS were inaugurated by the Chief Guest. The Self Help Groups of AJY, OFSDP-II and cluster SHGs of Partnership Ecosystem of OFSDP-I displayed their products in the exhibition. Successful Self Help Groups from Phulbani, Baliguda, Keonjhar, Jeypore Forest Divisions under AJY and Baripada, Sundergarh Forest Divisions participated in the product exhibition. In his opening address, PD, OFSDS Shri L.K.Tewari highlighted the mandate of the OFSDP-II project and impact of convergence in AJY project. He also shared that as per the mandate of the OFSDP – II, the project will ensure forest regeneration through strategic interventions planned both Joint Forest Management (JFM) and Non-JFM mode along with different pilot activities on sustainable forest management viz. CMRV and REDD+ and Satoyama. In his address as Chief Guest, Shri Sandeep Tripathy, PCCF and HoFF of Forest and Environment Department deliberated that the sustainable livelihood support interventions cannot be undertaken without the sustainable bio-diversity management and forest management. He also reiterated that Odisha has set a standard in the country in regeneration of forest areas and this effort will be continued with the key interventions of OFSDP-II and AJY. The best performing Vana Surakshya Samitis (VSSs) of AJY and OFSDP-II were recognised and felicitated in the Sameekshya Conference. The conference was also attended by senior officials of Forest and Environment Department and community stakeholders of AJY and OFSDP-II Forest Divisions. Background:Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project, Phase-II, Banayana
Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project Phase II, also called, “BANAYANA” is being implemented by Forest & Environment Department with assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in form of soft loan through Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society (OFSDS) from 2017 – 18 to 2026 – 27. The aim of the project is to enhance the forest eco-system with sustainable livelihood of the forest dependent communities. The project cost is Rs. 1000.30 crores and it is being implemented in 14 Forest Divisions of 10 Districts of the State, through 1200 joint forest management committees designated as Vana Surakhsya Samities (VSSs). The Divisions are Baripada, Rairangpur, Karanjia, Dhenkanal, Athmallik, Ghumusur (N), Ghumusur(S), Boudh, Subarnapur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Bamra (WL), and Rajnagar Mangrove Forest (WL) Divisions. The project aims to engage with 3600 women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in enhancing their income through different Income generating activities.
Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project Phase – I was also implemented by Forest and Environment Department with assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from Financial Year 2006-07 to 2014-15. In line with these policies and from lessons learnt from OFSDP-I, Government is implementing OFSDP-II to expand the achievement of OFSDP-I with the emphasis on sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation and community development.
This is the first 3rd generation JICA assisted forestry project in India. Based on the lessons learnt from OFSDP-I and for improvement and innovation envisaged in phase II, the following strategic approaches would be adopted in order to achieve the project objectives: 1. Micro Plan as a Community development plan by strengthening convergence. 2. Enhanced support for cluster business development and partnership ecosystem by establishing Livelihood Resource Center. 3. Gender Mainstreaming and 4. Creating Models for Community-Based Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (CMRV) System for Sustainable Forest Management for Odisha.At the end of the project it is estimated that 67, 0000 ha of plantations, 15% reduction in degraded forest area in the target VSS, enhancement of house hold income in the project area by 15% and 100 crores in minimum will be converged from different government schemes in the programme villages.
It is expected that by the end of the project, there will also be enough capacity building of the institutions created (1200 VSS and 3600 SHG) which will be sustainably managing their natural property resources with equitable distribution of usufructs and will be capacitated enough to implement their own development plan in convergence.
Activities Proposed in OFSDP-II: 1. Plantation over 57000 ha with community participation in 1200 Villages 2. Farm Forestry over 10,000 ha in private and non-forest public land.3. Construction and maintenance of 6 Hi-tech Nurseries.4. Consolidation and demarcation of forest boundaries over 1898 sq km. 5. Livelihood improvement by promotion of income generating activities (IGA) in 3600 SHGs.6. Establishment of Livelihood Resource Center (LRC).7. Sustainable Biodiversity management, piloting of SATOYAMA initiative and Establishment of Eco- system Based Management and introduction of Eco- system, Health report card.
Additional input: With the goal of improving the forest eco system by promoting sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation through Joint Forest Management approach thereby contributing to environmental conservation & harmonised socio economic development the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) Phase I was launched during the period from 2006-07 to 2015-16 with loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The successful implementation of OFSDP I had lead to launching of flagship programme of Forest & Environment Department of Govt of Odisha named Ama Jangala Yojana (AJY) in the year 2016-17. With a view to expand the achievements of OFSDP I & in compliance with ‘Forest Vision 2020’, along with its own initiatives AJY, the OFSDP II has been started from 2017-18 again with the loan assistance from JICA. The tenure of OFSDP II is for 10 years and it will continue till 2026-27. Below are the details:AJY :- Project outlay : Rs 1170.02 Crore.Project period : 2016-17 to 2021-22.Project objectives of AJY is to promote sustainable forest management with emphasis on livelihood support for the communities living in forest fringe villages in villages in VSS modeNo of territorial & Wildlife Divisions covered : 23No of Ranges covered : 119No of VSS covered till 2018-19 : 3180
OFSDP II : Project outlay : Rs 1000.30 Crore (i)Loan from JBIC : Rs 848.70 Crore (ii)State share : Rs 151.70 CroreProject period – ten years from 2017-18 to 2026-27No of Divisions covered : 14No of Dists covered : 10No of Ranges covered : 50No of VSS to be covered during the project period: 1200No of VSS covered : 2017-18 – 355 no 2018-19 – 423 noProject objectives of Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project, Phase-II (Banayana) are (i) restoration of degraded forests by way of forestry interventions. (ii) improvement of income level of villagers by promoting sustainable forest management (iiii) improving environment & alleviating poverty
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