BHUBANESWAR: Odisha has set an example for other states with the success of the Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project (OFSDP) in regeneration, conservation and protection of mangrove forests.
“Since interventions in mangrove areas in Odisha providing shelter against tidal waves and also additional livelihoods are quite successful and appreciable, there is a need to document them for adaptation elsewhere,’’ remarked secretary, Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, in the quarterly review report of the Ministry published in December, 2011.
Commending the achievements in eco-tourism, the Union Secretary said community-based eco-tourism interventions in Satkosia area need documentation and wider publicity. The achievement of OFSDP was discussed at the annual review meeting of the externally-aided programmes, chaired by Chief Secretary BK Patnaik, here recently.
The project was launched with the objectives of restoration of degraded forests, enhancement of income level of surrounding villagers through joint forest management, generating alternative livelihood options and convergence of the programme with tribal development programmes.
The OFSDP interventions in forest management commenced from 2008 with assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project had set a target of constituting 2,275 Vana Sanrakshyana Samitis (VSSs) and Eco-development Committees (EDCs) of which 2,301 have been constituted.
Similarly, target was fixed to restore 1,96,650 hectare of degraded forests against which 1,95,143 hectare have been developed. Coastal plantation has been done in 2,608 hectare against the target of 2,810 hectare. In biodiversity management, three eco-tourism destinations have been developed at Satkosia, Bhitarkanika and Similipal. Community reserves and heritage sites have been developed at five places. Bichitrapur mangrove forest area near Jaleswar, Rissia Wildlife Sanctuary under Balasore Wildlife Division, Mandasaur under Phulbani Forest Division, Khasada waterfall, Gandahati waterfall and Red Sanders plantation in Paralakhemundi Forest Division have been taken up for development as new eco-tourism draws. A loan of ` 126.61 million was provided to VSSs/EDCs, self-help groups and 49 product clusters for development of products like ‘agarbati’, cashew, ‘char’, ginger, hill broom, ‘mahua’, maize, onion, potato, ‘siali’, tamarind and turmeric.
The encouraging trend is that loans up to 48 per cent have been repaid by the beneficiaries and almost all loanees have reported a combined profit of more than ` 7.67 million, said a senior officer. Reports, collected through satellite imagery, show increasing forest coverage trend in Angul, Gajapati, Kandhamal and Rayagada districts, the officer said.