Dehra: German team inspects project to improve forest ecosystem

Nurpur, February 11

A six-member high-level team from the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development along with the representatives of German bank KfW reviewed the ongoing forest management and development works launched at Bhatehar and Masroor in Kangra district under Dehra forest division.

Forest management and development

• The project was financed for 39 forest ranges of different forest divisions in Kangra and Chamba districts. Initially, for six years from 2016 to 2022, this Rs 308.45-crore project was later extended till March 2026
• The project is aimed at the eradication of lantana and other weeds with the cooperation of local people as well as the rehabilitation of such areas, promotion of bamboo areas and pine forests by plantation of multipurpose plants, besides rejuvenation of water sources

KfW has financed the forest ecosystem development project on behalf of the German Government in 39 forest ranges of different forest divisions of Kangra and Chamba districts. As per official information, the project was launched in 2016 to increase the sources of income of local communities in Kangra and Chamba districts.

The delegation, while inspecting the ongoing project, lauded the Forest Development Management Committees for developing forests and generating livelihoods through domestic production from forest waste. Chief Project Director of the Forest Department Upasana Patial, Divisional Forest Officer, Dehra, Sunny Verma and other officers working under the project and members of rural forest management committees were present.

The KfW team inspected saplings planted on 14.50 hectares of forestland in the Bhatehar and Masroor areas, besides trench work and filtration ponds undertaken to stabilise underground water level. The team lauded forest products like mats, baskets and brooms prepared by self-help groups of the area.

Initially, this Rs 308.45 crore project was for six years from 2016 to 2022. In 2023, the project was extended till March 2026. The project aims at eradicating lantana and other weeds with the cooperation of local people as well as rehabilitation of such areas, promotion of bamboo areas and pine forests by plantation of multipurpose plants, besides rejuvenation of water sources.

Upsana Patial, Chief Project Director, told The Tribune that it was a unique project under which the main thrust was on improving the resilience of the forest ecosystem by planting different and local tree species after removing lantana and other weeds and the local community was also playing the role of a planner, executor and protector under the technical guidance of the field staff of the Forest Department. Besides plantations, springshed works are being undertaken to improve soil moisture and strengthen the natural water harvesting system.