SOCIAL FORESTRY SCHEMES

The importance of social forestry can hardly be underestimated in a district like Jalpaiguri. A huge chunk of RSVY fund has been provided to the social forestry sector wherein a number of Divisional Forest Officers are acting as the PIAs. The nodal officer being The DFO, Social Forestry Division, Jalpaiguri. The fund so far allocated amounts to Rs. 3,15,19,800/-. The important schemes undertaken includes (i) creation of village wood lots in the form of community ownership forests, (ii) distribution of nursery to provide for quality seedlings of good first growing species (iii) scheme for community orchards with improved varieties of Areca-nuts, coconuts, Guava, Citrus and Bananas. The over all objective has been employment generation, income supplement, ensuring security for the forest villagers. Supplement the aforestation target of the Govt. is yet another objective in this sector.

Physical Achievements
1st Year		2nd Year
Scheme	Achievement	Scheme	Achievement
Village Woodlot plantation	617.5 ha	Distribution nursery	987 ha
Community orchard	110 ha	Nursery for plantation	60 ha
Distribution nursery	880 ha	Creation of orchard	30.7 ha
-	-	Plantation of Jetropha	30 ha
-	-	Maintenance of Plantation	64 ha