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Success and achievements
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For a decade (1970 to 1980), the State Government had made budgetary provisions for implementation of the Social Forestry works. A separate Social Forestry Wring was also created in the Forest Department to look after this activity. Subsequently, external funding from the World Bank as well as from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) under Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund (OECF) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
was sought for extending the Social Forestry programme on a massive scale. The Social Forestry Wing was further strengthened during the External Aided Projects. In fact, Gujarat state has been recognized nationally and internationally for its successful implementation of the Social Forestry programme.The details regarding achievements are tabulated below.
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Year
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Area (Ha)
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Program
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1969-70 to 1979-80
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37,085
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Social Forestry Plantations carried out through the State Scheme.
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1980-81 to 1984-85
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78,780
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Word Bank Phase 1, first phase of Social Forestry called "Community Forestry Project" was implemented with assistance from the Word Bank.
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1985-86 to 1992-93
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1,05,643
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Word Bank Phase 2, second phase was implemented with assistance from the Word Bank and USAID.
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1993-94 to 1995-96
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46,410
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Social Forestry plantations were undertaken under the state schemes.
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1996-97 to 2001-02
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94,241
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Integrated Forestry Development Project (IFDP) with assistance from the OECF (Japan)
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2002-03 to 2011-12
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1,61,941
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Social Forestry plantations were largely undertaken under the State Scheme and some under GFDP Phase II
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2012-13
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14,141
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Social Forestry plantations
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2013-14
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17,968
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Social Forestry plantations
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The cumulative achievement of Social Forestry works (1969-70 to 2013-14) are as under
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Particular
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Achievement
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Strip Plantations
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1.04 Lakh ha.
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Panchayat Lands(Village Forest)
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1.38 Lakh ha.
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Private Degraded Lands
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2.68 Lakh ha.
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Other Lands
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0.32 Lakh ha.
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Seedling Distribution (Van Mahotsav)
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501.10 Crore plants.
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Impact
Tree cover outside forest (TOF) has improved consistently over the last four decades. As per the tree population estimates in 2003 and 2011, number of trees outside forest increased at annual rate of 29 lakh trees (increased from 25.1 crores in 2003 to 26.9 crores in 2011 and 30.1 crores in 2013). As per State of Forest Report (2011 & 2013), tree cover and tree density in Gujarat is second highest among the states of India. Seven districts have tree density over 30 trees/ ha whereas Anand district alone has a tree density of 68.4 trees/ ha. Average tree density in Gujarat is higher than the average of India, although major part of Gujarat is in semi arid and arid zone. Against India's tree cover (TOF) of 2.77% of total geographical area, Gujarat has 4.0% of its geographical area under tree cover outside forest. Timber and wood production from the TOF is very impressive in Gujarat and TOF contributes annually about Rs 4,388 crore of Gross Value Output (GVO) in form of timber. The contribution in terms of NTFP is also tremendous and yet to be monetarily quantified.