first EF meeting
- background note... contd.

Subject for sharing and discussions in EF:
Common Property Resource Management in Watershed with special focus on forest and revenue lands in Phase-II

What are the specific issues in ISPWDK Project with regard to CPR development in Forest and Revenue land?

What are ISPWDK experiences in Phase-I (1994–99)

Under Phase-I, the common lands available (forest, revenue lands) were planted with trees or protected with boulder walls for the development of natural vegetation. The initial CPR development activities, such as plantation of trees, gully control structures, water harvesting structures, etc., on the revenue lands/nala side was supported by the erstwhile DLDB, who was mandated in ISPWDK to undertake the responsibilities of implementing watershed treatment works. The NGO partners were responsible for community mobilization and organization and facilitation of the communities to participate in watershed development and management.

In the absence of DLDB after 1999, the NGOs/community took over the watch and ward/management responsibly in order to protect the developed vegetation. The cost of watchers engaged by the NGOs and communities have been paid by ISPWDK project and still continues in some cases. Efforts are being made to facilitate the obtaining of usufruct rights to resource poor. The problem is the community does not have proper legal arrangements or mechanisms for the future management of the trees/resources developed by the project. Hence, the ISPWDK Phase –II needs to look in to the CPR issues to have a better clarity.

The status of existing Revenue/Forest lands in Phase – II area of ISPWDK

In general, the upper reaches of the watershed areas in ISPWDK: Bidar, Gulbarga and Koppal are covered by forestlands. This land as far as we know is the revenue land handed over to the forest department for development and management, and the reserve forestland itself. In some cases, the lands are temple and panchayat lands. Also, in some areas in Upper Mullamari Watershed, Basavakalyan, Bidar District and Maramuri Watershed, Kodli in Chincholi Taluk, Gulbarga district the Forest department has registered some VFCs. The existing un-encroached land is full of shrubs, stony patches and in highly degraded condition. The local population use these degraded lands and hillocks for fuel, fodder, fruits, and herbs

The present status of these lands is that they are either partly encroached and cultivated by the poor; or encroached and kept fallow claiming ownership with government; or left for common use by the village community for grazing, harvesting forest minor produces such as tendu/Beedi leaves etc. Also in some places, the forest department is managing raised plantations with different tree species such as pongamia pinata, glaricidia, eucalyptus, acacia species etc and these lands.

Can we find some strategies and solutions for sustainable CPR management?

In order to plan for strategies to address the issues pertaining to CPR development and management in Phase-II areas of ISPWDK, PSMU has organized an Exchange Forum meeting and invited resource persons/community representatives/farmers from government forest department of GoK, NGO partners: MYRADA, SAMUHA, PRAWARADA, SDC/IC NGO partners: OUTRAEACH, RWT, PHCC, to discuss experiences, ideas to addresses the issues and arrive at strategies and solutions.

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Concerns issues and problems with regard to CPR in watershed projects