Japan International Cooperation Agency to conduct survey in 11 Jharkhand forest villages

Daltonganj, May 13: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with the Jharkhand Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, will survey natural resources and socio-economic conditions in selected forest villages under the Jharkhand Participatory Forestry Capacity Building Project.

The initiative aims to strengthen rural livelihoods, improve forest management, and help forest-dependent communities cope with the challenges of climate change.

Survey to cover 11 forest villages across Jharkhand

Speaking to The Jharkhand Story, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of Forest Force (HoFF) Sanjeev Kumar said 11 villages across 11 forest ranges have been shortlisted for the survey.

“We have shortlisted 11 villages. JICA will conduct a socio-economic survey in these villages,” Kumar said.

According to forest department officials, each selected village has unique natural resources and ecological characteristics.

Explaining the objective of the project, Kumar said the initiative is aimed at strengthening the resilience of rural communities and landscapes against climate change.

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“It is to prepare the rural landscape and rural populace to better overcome the challenges of climate change, as the vagaries of nature affect rural populations more than urban populations,” he said.

“When food becomes scarce, rural people turn to forests. JICA’s conviction is that forest village communities should become self-reliant so that forests remain unstressed,” Kumar added.

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Focus on livelihood, forest regeneration, and conservation

Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Medininagar Forest Division, Satyam Kumar, said JICA will conduct a survey in Gaberletuwa village under the Mohammadganj forest range.

“JICA is to conduct a survey of natural resources and socio-economic conditions in our village, Gaberletuwa, under the Mohammadganj range,” the DFO said.

Sources said forest divisions in Giridih, Dhanbad, Chaibasa, Dalma Wildlife Sanctuary, East Hazaribag, Hazaribag Wildlife, Medininagar, Palamu Tiger Reserve South, Gumla, and Ranchi have one selected village each for the survey.

Among the selected villages are Rud in Palamu Tiger Reserve South Division, Chakulia in Dalma, Sarbil in Chaibasa, and Hadson in Ranchi.

The survey will focus on livelihood generation, natural forest regeneration, water and soil conservation, afforestation, and reforestation.

JICA team to visit Medininagar on May 18

Sources in the forest department said the JICA team is scheduled to visit the Medininagar Forest Division on May 18.

Highlighting the broader goals of the initiative, HoFF Sanjeev Kumar said Jharkhand has nearly 30,000 hectares of degraded forests that need restoration.

“Jharkhand has 30,000 hectares of degraded forests. These need to be reclaimed,” he said.

He added that the state currently has around 10,000 Van Samitis operating under the Joint Forest Management framework.

“Our goal is to build the capacity of the Van Samitis. A strong and efficient Van Samiti indicates growing and expanding forests,” Kumar reiterated.

Forest department sources said the HoFF is reviewing the day-to-day progress of the JICA survey every three days. Officials also assured that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be completed within the stipulated timeframe.

JICA’s long association with forestry projects in India

JICA began its engagement in India in 1991 with an afforestation and pasture development project in the Indira Gandhi Canal area.

The agency is known for providing long-term, low-interest loans and grant assistance to emerging economies for sustainable development projects, including initiatives aimed at protecting forests while improving local livelihoods.