Supporting the Sustainable Management of India's Forest Landscapes

India’s 70 million hectares (MHa) of forest area is essential for livelihood security of communities living in and around forests. In addition to fuelwood, fodder, timber as well as non-timber forest produce, these forest areas also provide a wide array of ecosystem services. This includes biodiversity conservation, water supplies, as well as climate mitigation and adaptation, which contribute to India’s economic development. Sustainable management of forests is a national priority, as articulated by the National Forest Policy of 1988.

To support this sustainable management of forest landscapes, World Resources Institute India and Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) with support from USAID have brought together cutting edge technology, including GIS and remote sensing, innovative tools that facilitate data collection, collation and visualization, along with participatory processes into an Integrated Forest Management Toolbox (IFMT). The IFMT supports managers to develop 10-year management plans for their forests. These forest plans, called Working Plans are a statutory requirement in India and must be prepared as per the National Working Plan Code 2014. The IFMT has been developed in consultation with the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department and tested in the Ani division of Himachal Pradesh. It can, however, be adapted to working plan preparation across the country.

To know more about how this project can support your work, contact Ruchika Singh (ruchika.singh@wri.org) or Marie Duraisami (marie.duraisami@wri.org).