PPA AT WORK

To translate the concept of People's Protected Area on the ground and to make the conservation efforts proactive and people's friendly, it has been logically decided to bring the local communities into the forefront by meaningfully involving them in the management of the natural resources. Accordingly, steps have been initiated in 10 Forest Divisions of Madhya pradesh, to institutionalize the People' Protected Area.

For this, to start with, biodiversity rich areas have been delineated. The people of the area would be stewards of the forest resources and manage their pool of assets to fight against the gaping jaws of hunger, poverty, unemployment, resource backwardness and health problems coupled with social evils persisting within the villages.

COMPONENTS OF PPA

Resource Assessment

Our traditional forest management is focused mainly on the timber species. All the inventory methodologies, tools, technologies and research inputs were concentrated only on the timber or revenue yielding species. At present, there is no systematic and reliable data regarding the availability of non wood forest products. Local people , on the other hand have sound knowledge about the different kinds of NWFP species and their natural occurrence in the adjoining forest areas . This project aims at assessing and preparing a data bank on quantity , quality and value of various NWFPs existing in an area, by active involvement of local people , using local resources and local technology.

It is proposed to engage local knowledgeable persons who will go around the whole area and will compile the information on natural resources including NWFP which will be further refined by using sample survey methods and various statistical tools. This will form a part of community Based Participatory Mapping and Appropriate Resource Assessment Methodology.

Integrated Ecosystem approach

For the local tribals, NWFP is not only a source of income and nutrition but has religious, social and cultural importance too. Therefore, this project while laying emphasis on conservation and economic sustenance will follow an integrated ecosystem approach, which will address every facet of tribal life by mainstreaming the mosaic of NWFP

Harmonizing wood and non wood production

During the 19th century , colonial administration transplanted European temperate forestry management model to tropical forests of India and the adopted silvicultural systems centered on timber alone. However in the 21st century , silvicultural models have to be devised keeping in view the variety of diverse goods and services provided by the forests. The so-called low value and inferior species may turn out to be important source of many NWFPs. Ttherefore, a whole new set of innovative silvicultural system by blending canopy manipulation with floor management for multilayered and multipurpose product yielding purpose, becomes the need of the hour, so that apart from timber, other products like leaves, barks, fruits, exudates, tan and dyes and other miscellaneous products are also brought in focus. Similarly, while assessing the regeneration status, importance has to be accorded to NWFP yielding species besides important timber species. Studies will be undertaken to formulate such silvicultural systems.

In - Situ Conservation

In-situ conservation refers to on site conservation and propagation of species in the natural forests while ex -situ conservation and propagation comprises of growing of species outside their natural habitat. Under in-situ conservation, activities like enrichment plantations of suitable indigenous species, seed broadcasting, adopting of young seedlings including those of non -timber species having medicinal and economic importance , would be taken up. However , major emphasis would be laid upon protecting the forests from biotic pressures like excessive grazing , fire hazards and illegal felling etc. Emphasis would be laid on conservation of locally found species. The local people would be protecting these areas . With the help of the local people and their consent, areas would be earmarked for meeting their bonafide domestic needs and for rotational grazing . It is proposed to take up 1000 ha. Area for in-situ conservation every year over a period of 5 years in each PPA unit.

Ex -situ Conservation and propagation

Ex-situ conservation and propagation actvities would comprise of raising plantations on the degraded forest aras having lesser density. It is proposed to take up 50ha. area every year in each PPA unit over a period of 5 years. Farmers will also be encouraged to take up growing of NWFP including medicinal plants on their farmlands either as cash crop or in conjunction with other agricultural crops.

Nursery and Demonstration plot

Nursery and demonstration plots of 2 ha. area will be established in each PPA unit . Genetically superior seedlings of imporant medicinal and other non wood species will be prepared in these nurseries . Elite genotypes of some econoically important species will also be identified in the natural forest stands and further planting stock would be prepared from such genotypes. These nurseries will be used to supply seedlings required for ex-situ propagation as well as demonstration centers and for all those who want to grow species having medicinal and economic importance on their farmlands for which certain models of agro forestry would be developed subsequently.

Non - destructive harvesting

Many NWFP species are highly sensitive to the level of harvest and fragility of the eco-system. Since NWFP is a critical life - line for poor, they go in for more and more exploitative harvest when NWFP resources become scarce. This ultimately leads to destructive harvest which may even end up in endangering the very existence of the resource. That is why, due emphasis is placed on non - destructive harvest and to make it obligatory this concept has been specifically incorporated in the definition of NWFP. Non-destructive harvesting regimes will be developed with the help of local people and appropriate scientific input .

Capacity Building

It goes without saying that to enhance the overall quality of life of people living in the vicinity of forests, it is important to build the capabilities of the local people . for the non - destructive harvesting, processing, value addition of the non wood forest products.
At the village level, efforts will be made for developing primary processing options. At present, due to lack of proper infrastructure and low level of skill among the people, many of the produces flow in raw form to the market . As a result, the primary collectors do not get remunerative price for their products. If they are trained in primary processing and value addition using low cost and less complicated techniques , their income may be enhanced manifold.

Grading , processing and Addition

NWFP represent a unique assemblage of products originating from different parts of plants like leaves, bark , fruit, seed and root etc. Traditionally, NWFP is sold to the middlemen in raw form resulting in minimal income to the primary collector . if the MFP collected by the poor tribals is processed or value added at village level , his income will increase largely .
For imparting practical training , demonstration centres for processing and value addition of various produce are proposed to be established in each PPA unit of the project.

Marketing and market Intelligence

It is an accepted fact that the villagers are not able to get true value of the forest produce collected by them because of inadequate marketing facilities available to them. In fact, marketing is the weakest link in the development of NWFP sector. All the conservation and propagation efforts in the field of NWFP would be of no use if proper market linkages are not well established. It is, therefore, proposed to carry out market studies in all the PPA's so that villagers are aware of the market outlet for the produce collected by them . Local educated youths will also be associated in such studies. Market studies will also be carried out at the state level to coordinate market outets for the NWFP collected in various PPA units. Buyer- seller meets will also be organized for this.

Eco- tourism

" Ecotourism repects the environment and encourages and promotes the well being of local people . It has tremendous role to play in the interpretation of nature and natural resources as well as in the understanding of human history and its interaction with the rural environment" -Hector ceballos-Lascurain (credited with coining the term 'Eco- tourism' in 1983.)"

Forests of Madhya Pradesh are not only a great repository of biological diversity but also contain various sites of archeological, cultural and religious importance. Some of these unique combinations of natural and cultural heritage will form nuclei of ecotoursm. Studies will be undertaken to tap this vast potential of Eco - toruism.

Agro Forestry

Since farming of medicinal plants and other NWFP is a very high income generating activity , many farmers are willing to take up inter-cropping / cultivation of various such species. But adequate know -how and planting stock is not easily available to them. The cost of planting stock in the open market is also very high . Thus, in order to attract farmers to take up planting of medicianl plants, some incentive in the form of supply of reasonable planting stock from our nursery-cum-demonstration centers is proposed. This will not only help in motivating the farmers but also will bridge the gap between demand and supply of medicinal plants and, in turn, will help us in our conservation efforts.

Research and Development

The intrinsic value of NWFP depends mainly on three factors: pre-harvest planning, harvesting techniques and post-harvest operation. Different NWFP have different properties and require different strategies at all these three three levels . Before harvesting, it has to be planned that how to harvest, how much to harvest and when to harvest a particular species. Furthermore, harvesting techniques will vary from species to species as the harvested product could be leaves, bark , fruits , flower, or even the root of some species. Similarly, the post-harvest operation will depend upon the type of the product, it's shelf life , the end usage of the produce and so on. Studies will be conducted to develop strategies for management and sustainable utilization of different NWFPS. It is proposed to set up an independent research institution under MP MFP Federation which, apart form developing strategies regarding technical facets of NWFP, will conduct research on social, cultural, religious and other aspects of NWFP.