Diversity and Flexibility of Approaches
9
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the political atmosphere in parts of the eastern state of
West Bengal was tense. There was tremendous pressure on the state forests. Communities
had no alternative but to cut trees to meet their basic needs. The forest department of the
state sought police support to protect remaining forests, but they were met with
considerable resistance from the local communities. Violent confrontations even resulted in
deaths on both sides. The situation was especially volatile in Purulia district, where several
tribals died.
At around this time, in the Arabari range of
Midnapore district in southwest Bengal, an Indian
Forest Service officer had started silviculture
experiments on some plots. Local communities often
trespassed upon these plots, in their search for
fuelwood, and for cattle grazing. The officer,
realizing that fences alone would not work, began
discussions and negotiations with communities of
eleven villages surrounding the Arabari forest
experimentation area. An informal agreement was
reached which benefitted
both the parties. Villagers
would have to stop grazing and grass-cutting on the
field plots and in nearby areas. In return, they would
get 25 per cent of revenues from the sale of timber
from these plots and all rights to non-timber forest
products. A comprehensive employment programme
was also offered to the communities by involving them in plantation work. This agreement
paved the way for natural regeneration, resulting in substantial increase in biomass
productivity and enhanced availability of fuel, fodder, fiber and other non-timber forest
products. With this, the first forest protection group in West Bengal recognized by the
Forest Department was formed. This was in 1972. More such informal arrangements
started emerging in other parts of West Bengal in the Arabari, Midnapur, Bankura and
Purulia districts.
Inspired by these successes, the late 1970s saw several villages in southwest Bengal
starting to deal with the forest management crises on their own. They started taking care of
small tracts of degraded forest. People cutting trees were stopped by village volunteers.
Repeated offenders were fined, and outsiders were not allowed to cut trees. Throughout
the1980s the Forest Department informally supported these efforts and encouraged
formation of Forest Protection Committees (FPCs). The number of functional FPCs
climbed steadily from fewer than 50 in 1985 to around 2,000 in 1990.
In 1989, the West Bengal government issued a resolution legitimizing Joint Forest
Management (JFM). Drawing on the Arabari experience, the resolution encouraged
villagers and the Forest Department to work collaboratively to conserve and sustainably
From Conflicts to Collaboration
3
For the Future of Forests
Joint forest management