GACF online » Highlights http://www.gacfonline.com A Global Initiative Towards Comunity Forestry Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:03:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 Rally for faster recognition of community forest rights under FRA-2006. http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/12/rally-for-faster-recognition-of-community-forest-rights-under-fra-2006/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/12/rally-for-faster-recognition-of-community-forest-rights-under-fra-2006/#comments Thu, 29 Dec 2011 11:03:46 +0000 Gacf-online http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=1016 Press Release By OJM

The forest rights act 2006 creates the opportunity for legal recognition of the rights over the de facto sustainable use, conservation and management of the forest resources by the community. The process of recognition of community rights in Odisha is going with very slow pace without adopting the proper procedure laid down in the law. Though implementation of FRA started from 2008 only 794 community titles has been distributed till N0ovember 2011. In all the titles the rights claimed by the community as prescribed under act has not been reflected. There has been drastic shrinkage of the actually forest area claimed as reflected in the title. Largely the VSS areas is considered in issuing the titles as community forest resources, excluding vast areas of customarily used community forest resources areas, which indeed contradicts the act. Odisha Jungle Mancha putting forth the following demands with the government for speedy and proper recognition community rights in Odisha:

1. A time bound awareness program by the government need to be undertaken by the government with the forestry federations and civil society groups to educate the villagers on process of recognition of community rights.

2. The required documents such as maps, evidences, etc. for claiming the community right need to be supplied to the Gram Sabha and FRC by the SDLC which has already been mentioned in the act.

3. Immediate issue of titles to the villages where the joint verification has already been completed.

4. In all the villages process of the community right need to be started and title need to be issued with active support of the govt authority.

5. In CFR area all plantation and forest development activities need to be stopped till settlement of community rights.

6. Revise those titles already issued without mentioning all the types and nature of forest rights mentioned in the act.

7. All the titles issued should reflect the areas under traditional and customary boundaries and not only focusing only the VSS area.

8.Rights need to be recognized according to the local existing system of the protection and management.

9. JFM resolution 2011 and VSSs need to be scrapped and the management of forest by the Gram sabha, which is the prescription of the law, needs to be encouraged.

10. After implementation of FRA-2006, villagers are the owner of the bamboo and kendu leaf. The lease of bamboo by the govt need to be stopped. Monopoly on kendu leaf trade by the government need to be ended.

11. The guidelines for CFR determination and management which has been discussed in SLMC meeting on 24.10.2011 and submitted to Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt of India is contradicting with FRA-2006. So it needs to be withdrawn and CFR determination and management need to be under taken according to prescription of FRA-2006 and FR rule -2007.Press release
Rally for faster recognition of community forest rights under
FRA-2006.
The forest rights act 2006 creates the opportunity for legal recognition of the rights
over the de facto sustainable use, conservation and management of the forest
resources by the community. The process of recognition of community rights in
Odisha is going with very slow pace without adopting the proper procedure laid
down in the law. Though implementation of FRA started from 2008 only 794
community titles has been distributed till N0ovember 2011. In all the titles the
rights claimed by the community as prescribed under act has not been reflected.
There has been drastic shrinkage of the actually forest area claimed as reflected in
the title. Largely the VSS areas is considered in issuing the titles as community
forest resources, excluding vast areas of customarily used community forest
resources areas, which indeed contradicts the act.
Odisha Jungle Mancha putting forth the following demands with the government
for speedy and proper recognition community rights in Odisha:
1. A time bound awareness program by the government need to be
undertaken by the government with the forestry federations and civil
society groups to educate the villagers on process of recognition of
community rights.
2. The required documents such as maps, evidences, etc. for claiming the
community right need to be supplied to the Gram Sabha and FRC by the
SDLC which has already been mentioned in the act.
3. Immediate issue of titles to the villages where the joint verification has
already been completed.
4. In all the villages process of the community right need to be started and
title need to be issued with active support of the govt authority.
5. In CFR area all plantation and forest development activities need to be
stopped till settlement of community rights.
6. Revise those titles already issued without mentioning all the types and
nature of forest rights mentioned in the act.
7. All the titles issued should reflect the areas under traditional and
customary boundaries and not only focusing only the VSS area.Press release
Rally for faster recognition of community forest rights under
FRA-2006.
The forest rights act 2006 creates the opportunity for legal recognition of the rights
over the de facto sustainable use, conservation and management of the forest
resources by the community. The process of recognition of community rights in
Odisha is going with very slow pace without adopting the proper procedure laid
down in the law. Though implementation of FRA started from 2008 only 794
community titles has been distributed till N0ovember 2011. In all the titles the
rights claimed by the community as prescribed under act has not been reflected.
There has been drastic shrinkage of the actually forest area claimed as reflected in
the title. Largely the VSS areas is considered in issuing the titles as community
forest resources, excluding vast areas of customarily used community forest
resources areas, which indeed contradicts the act.
Odisha Jungle Mancha putting forth the following demands with the government
for speedy and proper recognition community rights in Odisha:
1. A time bound awareness program by the government need to be
undertaken by the government with the forestry federations and civil
society groups to educate the villagers on process of recognition of
community rights.
2. The required documents such as maps, evidences, etc. for claiming the
community right need to be supplied to the Gram Sabha and FRC by the
SDLC which has already been mentioned in the act.
3. Immediate issue of titles to the villages where the joint verification has
already been completed.
4. In all the villages process of the community right need to be started and
title need to be issued with active support of the govt authority.
5. In CFR area all plantation and forest development activities need to be
stopped till settlement of community rights.
6. Revise those titles already issued without mentioning all the types and
nature of forest rights mentioned in the act.
7. All the titles issued should reflect the areas under traditional and
customary boundaries and not only focusing only the VSS area.Press release
Rally for faster recognition of community forest rights under
FRA-2006.
The forest rights act 2006 creates the opportunity for legal recognition of the rights
over the de facto sustainable use, conservation and management of the forest
resources by the community. The process of recognition of community rights in
Odisha is going with very slow pace without adopting the proper procedure laid
down in the law. Though implementation of FRA started from 2008 only 794
community titles has been distributed till N0ovember 2011. In all the titles the
rights claimed by the community as prescribed under act has not been reflected.
There has been drastic shrinkage of the actually forest area claimed as reflected in
the title. Largely the VSS areas is considered in issuing the titles as community
forest resources, excluding vast areas of customarily used community forest
resources areas, which indeed contradicts the act.
Odisha Jungle Mancha putting forth the following demands with the government
for speedy and proper recognition community rights in Odisha:
1. A time bound awareness program by the government need to be
undertaken by the government with the forestry federations and civil
society groups to educate the villagers on process of recognition of
community rights.
2. The required documents such as maps, evidences, etc. for claiming the
community right need to be supplied to the Gram Sabha and FRC by the
SDLC which has already been mentioned in the act.
3. Immediate issue of titles to the villages where the joint verification has
already been completed.
4. In all the villages process of the community right need to be started and
title need to be issued with active support of the govt authority.
5. In CFR area all plantation and forest development activities need to be
stopped till settlement of community rights.
6. Revise those titles already issued without mentioning all the types and
nature of forest rights mentioned in the act.
7. All the titles issued should reflect the areas under traditional and
customary boundaries and not only focusing only the VSS areaPress release
Rally for faster recognition of community forest rights under
FRA-2006.
The forest rights act 2006 creates the opportunity for legal recognition of the rights
over the de facto sustainable use, conservation and management of the forest
resources by the community. The process of recognition of community rights in
Odisha is going with very slow pace without adopting the proper procedure laid
down in the law. Though implementation of FRA started from 2008 only 794
community titles has been distributed till N0ovember 2011. In all the titles the
rights claimed by the community as prescribed under act has not been reflected.
There has been drastic shrinkage of the actually forest area claimed as reflected in
the title. Largely the VSS areas is considered in issuing the titles as community
forest resources, excluding vast areas of customarily used community forest
resources areas, which indeed contradicts the act.
Odisha Jungle Mancha putting forth the following demands with the government
for speedy and proper recognition community rights in Odisha:
1. A time bound awareness program by the government need to be
undertaken by the government with the forestry federations and civil
society groups to educate the villagers on process of recognition of
community rights.
2. The required documents such as maps, evidences, etc. for claiming the
community right need to be supplied to the Gram Sabha and FRC by the
SDLC which has already been mentioned in the act.
3. Immediate issue of titles to the villages where the joint verification has
already been completed.
4. In all the villages process of the community right need to be started and
title need to be issued with active support of the govt authority.
5. In CFR area all plantation and forest development activities need to be
stopped till settlement of community rights.
6. Revise those titles already issued without mentioning all the types and
nature of forest rights mentioned in the act.
7. All the titles issued should reflect the areas under traditional and
customary boundaries and not only focusing only the VSS area.
]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/12/rally-for-faster-recognition-of-community-forest-rights-under-fra-2006/feed/ 0 State level demonstration by OJM http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/state-level-demonstration-by-ojm/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/state-level-demonstration-by-ojm/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 08:35:07 +0000 Gacf-online http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=995 District level demonstration was organized by Kalahandi Jungle surakshaya Mahasangha against poor implementation of Community Forest Rights. 550 people were participated in rally demanding Community forest rights  under FRA 2006.

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/state-level-demonstration-by-ojm/feed/ 0 India Nepal Community Forest Visit Program http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/india-nepal-community-forest-visit-program/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/india-nepal-community-forest-visit-program/#comments Mon, 28 Nov 2011 07:11:46 +0000 Gacf-online http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=988 Aiming with the objective of sharing experiences and expanding knowledge on community forestry practices in Nepal and India /Odisha state, 10 members of Odisha Jungle Manch (OJM) including participants form Regional Centre for development cooperation (RCDC) and Basundhara were taken to the eastern region of Nepal i.e. Jhapa Morang and Sunsari districts to have direct observation of FECOFUN district chapter activities and status of community forestry users group (CFUGs) in different district. Five CFUGs were visited, Thoplebiran and Jamunbari of Jhapa district, Graminsudhar and Janasewa of Morang district and Hariyali of Sunsari district.

The program trip was managed by GACF secretariat based in Kathmandu with support from FECOFUN central and district chapter, Nepal. Interaction/ meeting with the FECOFUN centre, government bodies and GACF was held in Kathmandu. The study tour created an environment to learn the opportunities and challenges of community forest and to the practices of economic empowerment, sustainable resource management, networking, capacity strengthening, gender balance and social justice .It also helped to exchange the ideas and build the capacity. Moreover, it helped to tie up and strengthen the relation of both the countries and within Nepal also.

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/india-nepal-community-forest-visit-program/feed/ 0 Nepal’s community forest makes it to the top 12 list of BBC World Challenge 2011. http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/nepal%e2%80%99s-community-forest-makes-it-to-the-top-12-list-of-bbc-world-challenge-2011/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/nepal%e2%80%99s-community-forest-makes-it-to-the-top-12-list-of-bbc-world-challenge-2011/#comments Mon, 14 Nov 2011 13:34:46 +0000 Gacf-online http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=983 Named as the “Herbal Remedy,” BBC World Challenge 2011 has short-listed the Shiva Community Forest’s project as one of the top 12 projects from around the world that demonstrate enterprise and innovation at the grassroots level and help in social and environmental benefits.
Shiva Community Forest is home to endangered species including tigers, Asian elephants and the Indian rhino. Local people have to contend with crop destruction by these wild species. Now, Shiva Community Forest has found a non-lethal way to keep rhinos away from farms by planting chamomile and mint.
In 2002, they discovered that mint and chamomile, both plants repulsive to mega herbivores like rhinos, drove them away with just their smell. Soon, they had the plants bordering their farmlands and the jungles. The farmers no longer needed to sit around in their tall bamboo towers and keep a lookout for these wild animals. They had earned themselves some leisure and a sense of security. More was to follow. The two plants not only made for an eco-friendly defense mechanism against wild animals, they also were highly valued cash crops.
In 2003, with technical support from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal, the Shiva Community Forest User’s Group (CFUG) set up a distillation plant to extract oil from their mint and chamomile harvest. Now they have 12 such distillation plants processing the essential oil which they sell at the nearest market in Nepalgunj, and from where it is brought to Kathmandu and then exported to Europe.
More than 60 percent of the families of the CFUG were below poverty line. Currently, the users group earns an average of US$13,500 per year. The economic benefits have further improved their livelihood and they’ve been able to invest in other sectors such as education, tourism and even in wildlife conservation.

Named as the “Herbal Remedy,” BBC World Challenge 2011 has short-listed the Shiva Community Forest’s project as one of the top 12 projects from around the world that demonstrate enterprise and innovation at the grassroots level and help in social and environmental benefits.

Shiva Community Forest is home to endangered species including tigers, Asian elephants and the Indian rhino. Local people have to contend with crop destruction by these wild species. Now, Shiva Community Forest has found a non-lethal way to keep rhinos away from farms by planting chamomile and mint.

In 2002, they discovered that mint and chamomile, both plants repulsive to mega herbivores like rhinos, drove them away with just their smell. Soon, they had the plants bordering their farmlands and the jungles. The farmers no longer needed to sit around in their tall bamboo towers and keep a lookout for these wild animals. They had earned themselves some leisure and a sense of security. More was to follow. The two plants not only made for an eco-friendly defense mechanism against wild animals, they also were highly valued cash crops.

In 2003, with technical support from World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal, the Shiva Community Forest User’s Group (CFUG) set up a distillation plant to extract oil from their mint and chamomile harvest. Now they have 12 such distillation plants processing the essential oil which they sell at the nearest market in Nepalgunj, and from where it is brought to Kathmandu and then exported to Europe.

More than 60 percent of the families of the CFUG were below poverty line. Currently, the users group earns an average of US$13,500 per year. The economic benefits have further improved their livelihood and they’ve been able to invest in other sectors such as education, tourism and even in wildlife conservation.

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/11/nepal%e2%80%99s-community-forest-makes-it-to-the-top-12-list-of-bbc-world-challenge-2011/feed/ 0 United Nations Decade on Biological Diversity, 2011 – 2020 http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/10/united-nations-decade-on-biological-diversity-2011-2020/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/10/united-nations-decade-on-biological-diversity-2011-2020/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:27:41 +0000 http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=966 Hyderabad ready to host the world biodiversity community

The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ahmed
Djoghlaf, paid a working visit to India from 5 to 8 October 2011 to discuss preparations for the eleventh
meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention and its sixth meeting serving as the meeting of
the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to be held at the Hyderabad International Convention
Centre in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, from 1 to 19 October 2012.
Mr. Djoghlaf met with India’s Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Ms. Jayanthi

The Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Ahmed Djoghlaf, paid a working visit to India from 5 to 8 October 2011 to discuss preparations for the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention and its sixth meeting serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, to be held at the Hyderabad International Convention Center in the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, from 1 to 19 October 2012.

Mr. Djoghlaf met with India’s Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Ms. Jayanthi on

the margins of the Ministerial Dialogue on Green Economy and Inclusive Growth, hosted by India and the

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, in New Delhi on 3 October 2011. Mr. Djoghlaf and Ms. Natarajan discussed preparations for the high-level segment of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties, which will be hosted by India from 17 to 19 October 2012.

Following his visit, Mr. Djoghlaf also stated that: ““India is ready to host the world biodiversity summit and to lead by example in promoting the biodiversity agenda at both the international and national levels.”

for more detail: Please Click Here (23)

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/10/united-nations-decade-on-biological-diversity-2011-2020/feed/ 0 Three Rights Holders (G3) Planning Meeting http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/three-rights-holders-g3-planning-meeting/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/three-rights-holders-g3-planning-meeting/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 10:43:31 +0000 http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=962 First planning meeting of Three Rights Holders Group – G3 (GACF, IFFA, lAIPTF) is planned to be organized from the 10th to the 12th October 2011 in Graz in Austria. The planning meeting will be held in conjunction with the IFFA annual meeting 2011 which will be organized at the same venue the 11th October.

The G3 meetings will be concentrated to Monday 10th and Wednesday 12th October. The participants will have to arrive during the week-end and latest Sunday 9th October. Departure should be late on 12th October or on Thursday 13th October.

During the period from Monday to Wednesday we will seek to seminars and excursions relevant for G3 in connection to the exhibitions and seminars held in conjunction to the Astrofoma exhibition and the IFFA annual meeting.

Preliminary program

Source: www.g3forest.org (Three Rights Holders Group, G3 official website)

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/three-rights-holders-g3-planning-meeting/feed/ 0 Future Policy Award crowns world’s best forest policies http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/future-policy-award-crowns-world%e2%80%99s-best-forest-policies/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/future-policy-award-crowns-world%e2%80%99s-best-forest-policies/#comments Thu, 22 Sep 2011 02:47:33 +0000 http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=960 Forest laws and policies in Rwanda, The Gambia and the US beat out 17 other nominees to win 2011 Future Policy Award

Rwanda’s National Forest Policy was proclaimed the winner of the 2011 Future Policy Award. The Gambia’s Community Forest Policy and the US Lacey Act with its amendment of 2008 received the Silver Awards. The three winning policies which most effectively contribute to the conservation and sustainable development of forests for the benefit of current and future generations were announced on 21 September 2011 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

Sources: World Future Council, http://www.worldfuturecouncil.org/4614.html

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/future-policy-award-crowns-world%e2%80%99s-best-forest-policies/feed/ 0 Voices of the Forest: News from RECOFTC http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/voices-of-the-forest-news-from-recoftc/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/voices-of-the-forest-news-from-recoftc/#comments Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:14:19 +0000 http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=950 Local people hold the key to healthy forests in the Asia Pacific region. They have the closest direct stake in forest resources and have the power to make or break any forestry management strategy, including those aimed at climate change mitigation. Three passionate advocates outline why they believe community forestry to be so important.

Video: Community action can actively restore forest

fore more detail: http://www.recoftc.org/site/resources/Voices-of-the-Forest-About-Community-Forestry.php

Source: RECOFTC, www.recoftc.org

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/09/voices-of-the-forest-news-from-recoftc/feed/ 0 International Year of Forest 2011: Nominate your Forest Heroes http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/08/international-year-of-forest-2011-nominate-your-forest-heroes/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/08/international-year-of-forest-2011-nominate-your-forest-heroes/#comments Tue, 02 Aug 2011 09:56:42 +0000 http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=944 As we enter the second half of the International Year of Forests 2011 (IYF 2011), the United Nations
Forum on Forests Secretariat is pleased to announce the launching of the Forest Heroes Programme
and Awards.  The programme aims to recognize the efforts of everyday people who tirelessly work
towards sustaining, protecting, and developing our forests.
The selected Heroes and their work will be prominently displayed on the IYF 2011 website, so that
they may continue to inspire others to take action.
We attach for your reference the Forest Heroes Overview and Nomination form, which contain further

The United Nations Forum on Forests Secretariat has announced the launching of Forest Heroes Programme and Award, as we enter second half year of International Year of Forest 2011. This programme aims to recognize the efforts of everyday people who tirelessly work towards sustaining, protecting, and developing our forests. The selected Heroes and their work will be prominently displayed on the IYF 2011 website, so that they may continue to inspire others to take action.

Overview of the Program

Nomination Form (29)

Source: United Nations Forum on Forests, official website http://www.un.org/esa/forests/index.html

]]> http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/08/international-year-of-forest-2011-nominate-your-forest-heroes/feed/ 0 Second Regional Forum for People and Forests http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/07/second-regional-forum-for-people-and-forests/ http://www.gacfonline.com/2011/07/second-regional-forum-for-people-and-forests/#comments Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:30:55 +0000 http://www.gacfonline.com/?p=925 In collaboration with Thailand’s Royal Forest Department, RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forests, the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are organizing the Second Regional Forum for People and Forests with support from Norad, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Sida Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau. This will act as part of the global celebrations of the International Year of Forests 2011, the forum will explore the theme “Community Forestry: Key to Solving Current and Emerging Challenges.”

The Second Regional Forum for People and Forests will provide a platform for diverse stakeholders in the Asia-Pacific region to share experiences and discuss how community forestry can respond to challenges they face — among them, rural poverty, climate change, food and energy security, market access, decentralization, and governance.

For detail information, Please click on the link below

http://www.recoftc.org/site/resources/Second-Regional-Forum-for-People-and-Forests.php

Source: RECOFTC – The Center for People and Forest (www.recoftc.org)

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