Govt formally ends practice of auction by framing policy
*Forest, Tribal Affairs Deptts, JKRLM to facilitate in value addition
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 26: Now, local people will be allowed to collect non-timber forest produce including medicinal plants as Government has formally discontinued the practice of auction by framing policy for sustainable collection and utilization of these resources in order to create livelihood opportunities for the people and to facilitate value addition, value chain creation and developing market linkages.
The policy has been notified by the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department in pursuance to the Administrative Council Decision No.168/14/2022 dated December 19, 2022 for implementation with immediate effect across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
J&K forms part of the North-West Himalayas with around 48% of its geographical area is a recorded forest, which is repository of biodiversity including non-timber forest produce and medicinal plant diversity. Moreover, J&K is also home to diverse ethnic communities each with their own unique culture and traditional knowledge especially on these biological resources.
Till now, the Forest Department was regulating the non timber forest produce by way of annual auction in certain forest divisions. However, this mechanism has not resulted in meaningful involvement of local communities who could play an important role in conservation and development of these important sustainably available resources like Guchhis, Mushkbala, Banafsha, Belladona etc.
The entire trade in non-timber forest produce was restricted to a few stakeholders who participated in the departmental auction for collection and marketing and this did not generate enough livelihood opportunities for local communities and other benefits which should have been accrued to them from the collection and sustainable utilization of resources from their areas.
With the extension of Forest Rights Act, 2006 to J&K, constitution of Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) under Biodiversity Act, 2002 and devolution of powers to the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), the practice of auction of non-timber forest produce by the Forest Department was not desirable as such Government decided to empower the local communities and accordingly framed policy for sustainable collection and utilization of non-timber forest produce.
Now, the Government will involve the forest dependent communities directly in sustainable collection and utilization of non-timber forest produce thereby creating livelihood opportunities for them. The sustainable collection and utilization of these resources will be facilitated through Biodiversity Management Committees.
The Forest Department will play a facilitative role whereby the collectors and traders could get the resources authenticated/labeled and source of these materials will be authenticated which in turn will increase the value of the produce in the market and thereby increasing their income. Further, traders shall register their depot under the J&K Forest Produce (Sale and Registration of Depot) Rules, 2020 and the non-timber forest produce will be transported as per the procedure governed by J&K Forest Produce Transit Rules, 2020.
Moreover, the Forest Department will facilitate value addition, value chain creation and develop market linkages in collaboration with J&K Rural Livelihood Mission, Department of Tribal Affairs and Mission Skill Development so that collectors get better income. At the later stage, the Forest Department will engage in certification for further value addition and increased returns to the collectors.
Even Forest Development Corporation will provide an electronic platform for the non-timber forest produce aggregators and traders for trade and the implementing agencies will ensure that no provision of Indian Forest Act, 1927 and the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 is violated.
The policy will facilitate conservation and development of medicinal plants in natural forests including high and low level pasturelands and local communities will be encouraged to form cooperatives at village level for non-destructive harvesting, processing and marketing of medicinal plants and other specifies having commercial value with a view to augment their income.
A grievance cell will also be established in the office of the Divisional Forest Officer (Territorial) concerned to address the genuine grievances of the public, if any, pertaining to the implementation of the policy.
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