1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: where the land is greener - Case Studies and Analysis of Soil and Water Conservation Initiatives Worldwide (where the land is greener)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

ICIMOD International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - Nepal

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Einvironment & Development (G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Einvironment & Development) - India

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

25/07/2019

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

1.4 Reference(s) to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Technologies

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Van Panchayats or village forest councils are a impressive example of grassroots community management of natural resources, where a specific administrative unit is locally elected by community members who are responsible for the management of activities related to the forest.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Main Characteristics: the forest council has an odd number administrative committee (9), which allows a majority rule to resolve issues. From each household, one person will have the rights to elect the committee. The administrative committee makes the rules and regulations to manage and collect the fuel wood, fodder and wood to build houses or other structures. It also has the rights to collect the charges of using forest resources or penalize trespassers. The government and other institutions recognize this committee and communities for the protection of the forest, which also make joint plans and programs under the consultation with the forest user group and administrative committee. Van Panchayats are under the administrative control of the District Magistrate, though technical assistance is provided by the Forest Department. Organizations can provide financial and technical support to the administrative committee to implement projects.

Main objectives of this approach are:
•To mobilize the communities for sustainable natural resource management and distribute forest produce in an equitable manner
•To provide the financial and technical support for the communities to protect the forest's natural resources.
•To promote technologies for the conservation of natural resources and to increase the livelihood of people
•To encourage the people to establish tree plantations, fodder nurseries, biological and structural interventions for water conservation and maintain wildlife habitat

Methodology and Implementation:
To achieve the above mentioned objectives, the following methods were adopted: the first steps involved clarifying the status of forest utilization and local peoples' livelihood, activities and demands. Initially there was collaboration with the local people and forest department to demarcate the community forest and establish the Nakina van Panchayat in 1952 (according to the Forest Council Act 1931). Awareness-raising meetings informed the local people that the community forest health is determined by their own collective management. Over 30 years ago, Nakina Van Panchayat established a plantation area designated for the propagation of several broadleaved species. This has since been a growing enterprise, and encompasses an area of 7 hectares today. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Forest Department have assisted Nakina VP with this plantation. Despite these efforts there is still a gap in production. The community expressed this persistent availability gap of their fuelwood/fodder supply, and the necessity of maintaining the oak populations for groundwater recharge and spring rejuvenation.

Under the KSLCDI (Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative) and with support from ICIMOD, G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development and Nakina Van Panchayat created a plantation area supporting oak and other broadleaved species over an area of 2 hectares (2014-2016) . The community also established a small oak and fodder nursery with support from the Uttarakhand Forest Department, NGO Swati Gramodyog Sansthan (SGS) and NGO Himalayan Sewa Samiti (HSS).

Stakeholders involved and their role:
1. Broadleaf Plantation (+30 years ago, community initiated)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), UKFD (Uttarakhand Forest Department)- funding, technical and advisory support
Nakina Van Panchayat and Nakina Community: participatory action in all phases of approach, planting, on-going maintenance

2. Oak Plantation
ICIMOD- funding
G.B Pant: project implementation, on-site advisory and technical support
UKFD (Uttarakhand Forest Department)- technical and advisory support
Nakina Van Panchayat and Nakina Community: participatory action in all phases of approach, planting, on-going maintenance

3. Fodder and Oak Nursery
Fodder Nursery: NGOs SGS, HSS- project implementation, provision of plants, planting techniques, and financial assistance
Oak Nursery- self-initiative by Nakina Van Panchayat and the forest user group (local People)
UKFD: gave technical advice and provided financial support to Nakina Van Panchayat; distributed plants and grasses
G.B Pant: organized a 7-day capacity building training in Nakina Village and supported the plantation establishment; there are ongoing projects with Nakina to develop other parts of the forest

Comments on Approach: Land users are very pleased with the success of these approaches. However they stress the need to strengthen on-going communication between various stakeholders and supporting institutions for project optimization, as well as continual support and auditing post-project. More follow up with technical experts would be highly appreciated by the land users.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• The approach combines efforts between traditional systems/local initiatives/and projects funded by other organizations.

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

Main objectives of this approach are:
•To protect and develop the forest under the jurisdiction of the Nakina Van Panchayat
•To mobilize the communities for sustainable natural resource management and distribute forest produce in an equitable manner
•To provide or seek out financial and technical support for the communities to protect the forest's natural resources.
•To promote technologies for the conservation of natural resources and to increase the livelihood of people
•To encourage the people to establish tree plantations (broadleaved species), fodder nurseries, biological and structural interventions for water/soil moisture conservation and maintain wildlife habitat.
•Deep-rooted species like oak facilitate better ground-water seepage and enhance spring discharge rates for the communities downstream

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive
planning	interactive
implementation	interactive
monitoring/ evaluation	self-mobilization
maintenance	self-mobilization

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• all relevant actors, as part of a participatory approach

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• public meetings

Subjects covered:

Forest management, forest fire, plantation, spring restoration

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

Comments:

only executed by the village community to a small degree

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

No

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

No

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 2,000-10,000

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

ICIMOD (Kailash Sacred Landscape Initiative)

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Supply of material and resources necessary for the plantation and fodder nursery. Partial compensation for community manual labor

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• none

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• paid in cash

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Yes

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

The Nakina Van Panchayat has adopted certain methods for the protectIon and management of forest resource under their control. Depending upon the nature of forests and resource availability, each Van Panchayat can evolve its own method and mode of utilization of forest resources. Although external support is usually necessary for the establishment of plantations, the concept of the community driven forest management can improve the capabilities of local land-users and improve the management of their natural forest resources without extensive intervention from others.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The rules and regulations are devised by the Van Panchayat Village Committee for management of their forests. These are unique from one Van Panchayat to another in various management activities, such as division of forest land, management for grazing, lopping, plantation, collection of fodder and fuelwood and plantation. When the rules are acknowledged by the forest users, this can create a high-functioning land-management approach that fits the needs of the people and simultaneously preserves forest resources.
The Van Panchayat system represents an integrated approach, emphasizing the need for people's participation in order to reach a balance between meeting needs of resource dependent communities and SLM/biodiversity conservation
It reveals and merges the multi sectoral dimensions of the socio-economic and ethical aspects of natural resource conservation (i.e. indigenous resource practices and cultural/religious orientation with forest management and nature)
There is mutual agreement with committee members and villagers on the function, rules and regulations of the VP for forest management and the necessary collaborative effort needed by the community to carry out these tasks. (e.g. prevention of felling, accepting fines for encroachment and illegal resource extraction, equitable distribution, forest maintenance and protection activities )

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
In agreement with the landuser
Responsibilities of the VP are successfully laid out in the law to ensure that forest land isn't diverted into another use, and the utilization of the forest products is done in the most advantageous way for the community.
The approach effectively grants the decision-making power to use and manage forest equitable distribution of forest produces. It also offers the opportunity for socially marginalized people, specifically women, to be involved.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Due to lack of financial resources, policy support and weakening management practices, many VP institutions have been less effective in recent years.	Challenges and threats to VPs need to be re-examined on the local level; the potentials of conservation and resource management of the communities needs to be discussed and addressed with policy makers, and the major management decisions should assess the impact on the people's livelihoods and the socio-ecological implications for the long-term.
A general improvement in attitude and participation of the community towards sustaining the VPs for the long run is necessary.	Spread awareness that the VP can function as the backbone for the village's sustenance and prosperity. Encourage the next generation to participate by introducing policy that fixes a salary for committee members

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
The content of the new VP rules suggest a loss of decision making space for the local villagers. The Forest Dept looks after the affairs of the VPs (Van Panchayat regulation 2005a). The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), who is removed from the real situations, has the responsibility of formulating the management plan of the VP. Thus VPS members are not playing an active role in the management plan.	It would be more effective if the government agencies act as the facilitator for these VP institutions. The villagers should be considered as stakeholders rather than beneficiaries, and have more power to direct and participate in the management plan.
There is a need to improve the ability of the VP's to generate funds and improve management. Because of historical land-use patterns and exploitation of natural resources, the potential to promote income generating activities has decreased.	VPs can be further developed by promoting horticulture and medicinal plant cultivation so there is less dependence on wild collection of resources and increased source of income. Ecotourism can be also be combined with this expansion effort and further diversified. In addition, strengthened partnership between the VPs, NGOS, and Forest Dept is required for development in the hill communities.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Natural and Anthropogenic Impacts on Forest Structure: A Case Study of Uttarakhand State, Jaspal S. Chauhan, Alok S. Gautam, R.S. Negi, 2018,

Available from where? Costs?

DOI: 10.2174/1874213001811010038, https://openenvironmentalresearchjournal.com/VOLUME/11/PAGE/38/FULLTEXT/

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Forest Management in Kumaon Himalaya: Struggle of the Marginalised People, Ajay Singh Rawat, 1999

Available from where? Costs?

http://uttarakhand.org/reference/forest-management-in-kumaon-himalaya-struggle-of-the-marginalised-people/

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Van Panchyat Institutions at Crossroad: A Prospective Perception of Forest Dependent Stakeholders from Indian Himalaya, 2015, Aatif Hussain, Kaiser Iqbal, Subhasis Mahato and Nazir A. Pala, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Available from where? Costs?

Free online access, DOI: 10.5829/idosi.gjer.2015.9.02.94164

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Stories of Success: narratives from a sacred land

URL:

http://lib.icimod.org/record/32844/files/SuccessStory.pdf

Title/ description:

Improving Forest Governance: Experience of Joint Forest Management in India

URL:

http://www.fao.org/3/XII/0774-A1.htm