Community Based Organizations Mod-1
Community Based Organizations Mod-1
Community Based Organizations Mod-1
ORGANIZATIONS
SUBTITLE
WATERSHED COMMITTEES
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PRESENTATION TITLE
WATERSHED
COMMITTEES
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FO RM A TIO N O F W A TE RS HE D
CO M M ITTE E S
IDENTIFICATION: IDENTIFYING A WATERSHED AREA IN NEED OF DEVELOPMENT.
SOIL CONSERVATION: WATERSHED COMMITTEES IMPLEMENT PRACTICES LIKE CONTOUR FARMING, TERRACING, AND EROSION
CONTROL TO PREVENT SOIL EROSION
AFFORESTATION: THEY PROMOTE TREE PLANTING AND REFORESTATION ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE WATERSHED.
CROP ROTATION: THEY ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES LIKE CROP ROTATION AND DIVERSIFICATION.
FLOOD CONTROL: THEY WORK ON FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES SUCH AS EMBANKMENTS AND CHANNEL MANAGEMENT TO
MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND PREVENT DAMAGE TO CROPS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: WATERSHED COMMITTEES OFTEN INITIATE CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE DIVERSE
FLORA AND FAUNA WITHIN THE WATERSHED AREA, PROMOTING ECOLOGICAL BALANCE.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION: THEY ADDRESS CONFLICTS RELATED TO RESOURCE USE, ENSURING EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF
WATER AND RESOURCES AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
SUCCESS STORIES
RALEGAN SIDDHI, MAHARASHTRA:
RALEGAN SIDDHI IS OFTEN CITED AS A MODEL FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. LED BY SOCIAL ACTIVIST ANNA HAZARE, THE
VILLAGE TRANSFORMED ITS LANDSCAPE THROUGH RAINWATER HARVESTING, CHECK DAMS, AND AFFORESTATION.
POSITIVE IMPACTS: INCREASED GROUNDWATER LEVELS, IMPROVED CROP YIELDS, REDUCED MIGRATION OF VILLAGERS, AND A
LUSH GREEN ENVIRONMENT.
VILLAGE FOREST
COMMITTEES
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INTRODUCTION
LOCAL STEWARDSHIP : VFCS(VILLAGE FOREST COMMITTEES) EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE
MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF NEARBY FORESTS.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION : . VFCS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY BY MONITORING AND
SAFEGUARDING THE DIVERSE FLORA AND FAUNA WITHIN THE FORESTS . THEY HELP MAINTAIN ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND
PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE: THESE COMMITTEES PROMOTE THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF FOREST RESOURCES, INCLUDING NON-
TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFPS) LIKE FRUITS, NUTS, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION : THE COMMITTEES FOSTER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND DECISION-MAKING IN FOREST
MANAGEMENT.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION : VFCS CAN SERVE AS PLATFORMS FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES RELATED TO FOREST RESOURCES AND
LAND USE, REDUCING CONFLICTS AMONG FOREST-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES.
LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT : BY FACILITATING ACCESS TO FOREST RESOURCES AND INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES, VFCS
HELP IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF FOREST-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES, REDUCING THEIR DEPENDENCE ON UNSUSTAINABLE
PRACTICES.
F OR M A T I ON OF V I L L A G E F OR E S T
C OM M I T T E E S
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION : THE PROCESS USUALLY BEGINS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), OR LOCAL LEADERS ORGANIZING MEETINGS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS WITHIN THE VILLAGE.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS: A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS ARE HELD TO GAUGE INTEREST, DISCUSS THE PURPOSE AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VFC, AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SELECTION OF VFC MEMBERS: BASED ON DISCUSSIONS AND CONSENSUS-BUILDING, COMMUNITY MEMBERS EITHER ELECT OR
NOMINATE REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE VFC.
PROJECT PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING : THE VFC ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING REGARDING
FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION : VFCS ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN RESOLVING CONFLICTS RELATED TO FOREST RESOURCE USE WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION : THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, VFCS ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN
DECISION-MAKING.
F U N C T I ON S OF V I L L A G E F OR E S T
C OM M I T T E E S
FOREST PROTECTION:
PATROLLING AND SURVEILLANCE: VFCS CONDUCT REGULAR PATROLS TO DETER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS LOGGING,
POACHING, AND ENCROACHMENT. THEIR PRESENCE HELPS PROTECT THE FOREST FROM UNAUTHORIZED EXPLOITATION.
ECOLOGICAL MONITORING: VFCS MONITOR THE HEALTH OF THE FOREST ECOSYSTEM, TRACKING CHANGES IN FLORA AND
FAUNA POPULATIONS. THIS HELPS IN EARLY DETECTION OF BIODIVERSITY THREATS.
LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENT:
INCOME GENERATION: VFCS EXPLORE INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE FOREST, SUCH AS APICULTURE, ECO-
TOURISM, AND SALE OF NTFPS, TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
Functions of Village Forest
Committees
Biodiversity Conservation:
VFCs drive biodiversity conservation by engaging local communities in safeguarding ecosystems and
promoting sustainable practices, ensuring a harmonious balance between human needs and
environmental well-being. Through active participation, they contribute to the preservation of diverse
plant and animal species in their natural habitats.
Fire Management:
VFCs actively engage in fire management strategies, employing community-driven efforts to prevent
and control forest fires, safeguarding local ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices. Their
role includes education, early detection, and coordinated response to mitigate the impact of
wildfires.
S U C C E S S S T OR I E S
LEGAL FRAMEWORK : THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONING
OF VFCS THROUGH ACTS SUCH AS THE FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006, AND THE INDIAN FOREST ACT, 1927.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT : GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR FOREST CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS, WHICH VFCS CAN ACCESS TO IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES SUCH AS AFFORESTATION, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE,
AND LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE : GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES PROVIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE TO
VFCS IN AREAS SUCH AS AFFORESTATION, FIRE MANAGEMENT, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, AND SOIL CONSERVATION.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT : GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORK ON DEVELOPING AND UPDATING FOREST POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS THAT ALIGN WITH SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES AND COMMUNITY RIGHTS.
RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT : RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL ROLE OF VFCS, THE GOVERNMENT OFTEN PROVIDES THEM WITH
FORMAL RECOGNITION, MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.
CONCLUSION
PRESENTATION TITLE
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