social fencing

Jumlapur is a small village situated in the Kanakanala Watershed Project area. As part of watershed rehabilitation, the project undertook massive plantation of trees on both common and private village lands in 1996-97. Plantation of trees has yielded more than 15,000 trees, in addition to those grown as a consequence of natural regeneration.

The community has derived numerous benefits from the trees that were planted as vegetative checks on the hillock and roadside of the village. Soil erosion reduced considerably, as did water run-off. The hillock that was previously barren is now lush green, and the villagers use it to graze their cattle, sheep and goats.

After realising the multiple benefits of the intervention, the community began to develop an interest in maintaining the assets derived from the project. The watershed management committee (WMC) set up to undertake the responsibility of implementing watershed treatments, also assumed the responsibility of maintaining the planted trees.

In the initial stages (1999-2000), the state government took on the responsibility of maintaining these trees, and 1999 onwards the project started supporting and monitoring these plantations. Two watchers were appointed to care for trees planted on both the hillock and the roadside.

Management of trees

The community has evolved a system of proper and effective management of these trees, which is a part of the agenda of the WMC meetings. Monitoring of trees and stocktaking of plants is invariably taken up during the meetings.

For example, during the meeting of July 16, 2002, after the watcher, Shammana, brought to the notice of the WMC members that two trees had been cut, the committee immediately took steps to recover the stolen wood. Shammanna was asked to search for the stolen wood in and around the village. A decision was also taken to impose a penalty of Rs. 200 on the watcher in the event of his failure to recover the stolen wood. Shammanna made a thorough search, and finally traced it to a stack of fodder belonging to one of the village farmers. The wood was recovered, and the culprit presented before the WMC members, who imposed a penalty of Rs. 250 on the farmer and a stern warning not to repeat the offence.

The inhabitants of Jumlapur have demonstrated that common property resources are well maintained only if they have a stake in these resources. Currently there is no clarity as to the ownership of the trees; and as the entire community benefits, it is concerned about protecting and managing the plantations. Hence the monitoring system has been put in place to protect this common property. The present laws, which do not permit individuals/communities to own trees, need to be reviewed. These laws must be amended, to transfer the ownership of the trees from the state to individuals and community institutions. Only when this occurs, can the community use common property resources efficiently for sustainable development.