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Sectors
> PFM > Expected Results |
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| Sectoral Outputs
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Forests of highest importance for biodiversity (`core zones')
set aside from commercial timber harvesting, remaining areas
of forest (`sustainable use zones') managed for sustainable
use, possibly including cologically and sylviculturally sustainable
commercial timber harvesting, and zonation secured (with possible
legal protected area designation); * Locally accountable organisations
of forest owners in Palas strengthened and playing an effective
role in forest planning and management, with conflicts between
customary and statutory forest management resolved; * Flexible
forest management plan prepared through participatory planning
processes, within the framework of a broader NRM plan for Palas;
plan approved by GoNWFP; * Introduction of community (or joint)
forest management in progress, local owners being trained as
forest workers/`petty contractors'; * Introduction of improved
harvesting technologies (eg. valley-bottom roads and sky-line
cranes) in progress where appropriate, timber wastage reduced,
and local value-added processing options developed, NTFPs being
used sustainably, with improved marketing; * Sale of royalties
(timber felling rights) stopped, sold royalties `bought back';
* Benefits of harvesting equitably distributed among owners
and rights of forest users (non-owners) secured. |
| Rationale |
| It is anticipated
that the current ban on commercial timber harvesting, imposed
in 1992, will not be lifted until a number of preconditions
have been fulfilled, relating to organisational reform of
the Forest Department, sound forest management planning, and
improvements in the harvesting system. The PCDP will seek
to fulfil these preconditions in Palas, in line with wider
provincial initiatives, in so far as they are compatible with
the Project's wider objectives of biodiversity conservation
and poverty alleviation.
To achieve this aim, it is essential that the PCDP is delegated
the necessary jurisdiction and authority for the planning
and implementation of its NRM objectives; this includes jurisdiction
and authority for forest management planning and implementation
within the project area.
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| Indicative Activities
(Strengthening CBOs for forest management) |
The PCDP will seek
to strengthen existing CBOs of forest owners and users in Palas
(including Forest Harvesting Societies) for participatory (joint)
forest management. The PCDP will initially focus on promotion
and organisation of these institutions and on raising local
awareness of the various forest functions, thereafter on participatory
forest planning, management (including harvesting and regeneration),
marketing of forest products and administration. The PCDP will
provide training, technical and financial assistance, and will
ultimately assume a controlling and monitoring role. Various
roles may untimately be devolved to local CBOs or to District-level
organisations, or be retained within the Forest Department
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| Participatory
forest management planning |
| It will require
the resolution of conflicts between customary and statutory
forest management regimes through the integration of PRAs with
technical studies, and a process of dialogue, mediation and
negotiation between the `key players' - local communities, forestry
contractors and government. A possible scenario for forest management
in Palas, that could meet the PCDP objectives to safeguard biodiversity
and optimise benefits, involves division of the Palas forests
according to the primary forest functions of biodiversity conservation,
NTFP production, and timber production. Those areas of forest
identified as having the primary function of biodiversity conservation
would be set aside from commercial timber harvesting as core
zones; the remainder, identified as having the primary function
of NTFP production or timber production, would be managed as
sustainable use zones. Core zones need not necessarily exclude
sustainable use of NTFPs. Zonation would take into account existing
ownership, and aim for equitable distribution of benefits from
both timber and NTFP exploitation among the owning tribes. |
| Improving the
harvesting system |
| If the plan identifies
timber harvesting as an appropriate activity, and provided the
existing ban on timber harvesting is lifted or exemption obtained,
the most probable technological option for sustainable harvesting
in Palas involves the `opening up' of sustainable use zones
with a minimum number of valley-bottom roads, and the use of
skyline cranes. This allows the extraction of whole logs, doubling
the out-turn per tree in comparison with the wasteful `pathroo-and-scant'
system. When operated through local trained `petty contractors',
the system provides local employment, while directional felling
and extraction by skyline reduce damage to the remaining forest
resource. This system has been tested by the Kalam Integrated
Development Project; a block allocation of Rs 16 million is
made for forestry-related infrastructure and capital equipment
based on costings derived from KIDP (Annex 7). Preliminary cost-benefit
analysis suggests that, compared with current forest management
systems, the proposed alternative forest management scenario
and harvesting system would enhance the flow of local, national
and global benefits. |
| Protecting felling
rights |
| In certain areas,
Palasi communities have sold felling rights to contractors,
effectively excluding participatory forest management until
rights are regained. The PCDP will seek government action to
forestall the continuing sale of felling rights, and will seek
appropriate legal assistance as necessary to regain/`buy back'
sold rights. |
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