COMMUNITY BASED

ORGANIZATIONS

RAGHAV KHANDELWAL & SOUMYA AJMERA

PRESENTATION TITLE

SUBTITLE

WATERSHED COMMITTEES

VILLAGE FOREST COMMITTEES

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PRESENTATION TITLE

WATERSHED
COMMITTEES

The watershed is the area of land that drains or sheds water

into a specific receiving waterbody, such as a lake or a river.

As rainwater or melted snow runs downhill in the

watershed, it collects and transports sediment and other
materials and deposits them into the receiving waterbody.

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 FO RM A TIO N O F W A TE RS HE D
CO M M ITTE E S
IDENTIFICATION: IDENTIFYING A WATERSHED AREA IN NEED OF DEVELOPMENT.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: LOCAL PANCHAYATS AND GRAM SABHAS ENGAGE COMMUNITIES.

COMMITTEE FORMATION: CREATING COMMITTEES WITH COMMUNITY-ELECTED OR NOMINATED REPRESENTATIVES.

DECISION-MAKING: PARTICIPATORY DECISION-MAKING BY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

IMPLEMENTATION: EXECUTING PLANNED ACTIVITIES WITH COMMUNITY LABOR.

CAPACITY BUILDING: TRAINING COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

SUSTAINABILITY: ENCOURAGING LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES.

 FUNCTIONS OF WATERSHED COMMITTEES

SOIL CONSERVATION: WATERSHED COMMITTEES IMPLEMENT PRACTICES LIKE CONTOUR FARMING, TERRACING, AND EROSION
CONTROL TO PREVENT SOIL EROSION
AFFORESTATION: THEY PROMOTE TREE PLANTING AND REFORESTATION ACTIVITIES WITHIN THE WATERSHED.
CROP ROTATION: THEY ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES LIKE CROP ROTATION AND DIVERSIFICATION.
FLOOD CONTROL: THEY WORK ON FLOOD CONTROL MEASURES SUCH AS EMBANKMENTS AND CHANNEL MANAGEMENT TO
MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF HEAVY RAINFALL AND PREVENT DAMAGE TO CROPS AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION: WATERSHED COMMITTEES OFTEN INITIATE CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE DIVERSE
FLORA AND FAUNA WITHIN THE WATERSHED AREA, PROMOTING ECOLOGICAL BALANCE.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION: THEY ADDRESS CONFLICTS RELATED TO RESOURCE USE, ENSURING EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF
WATER AND RESOURCES AMONG COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
 SUCCESS STORIES
RALEGAN SIDDHI, MAHARASHTRA:
RALEGAN SIDDHI IS OFTEN CITED AS A MODEL FOR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT. LED BY SOCIAL ACTIVIST ANNA HAZARE, THE
VILLAGE TRANSFORMED ITS LANDSCAPE THROUGH RAINWATER HARVESTING, CHECK DAMS, AND AFFORESTATION.
POSITIVE IMPACTS: INCREASED GROUNDWATER LEVELS, IMPROVED CROP YIELDS, REDUCED MIGRATION OF VILLAGERS, AND A
LUSH GREEN ENVIRONMENT.

WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT IN ANDHRA PRADESH:

ANDHRA PRADESH'S INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME (IWMP) HAS SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED
NUMEROUS PROJECTS. ONE SUCH PROJECT IN THE KOLAR WATERSHED AREA FOCUSED ON SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION.
POSITIVE IMPACTS: ENHANCED SOIL FERTILITY, INCREASED WATER AVAILABILITY, DIVERSIFIED CROPPING PATTERNS, AND
INCREASED INCOMES FOR FARMERS.
 CHALLENGES
FUNDING AND RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS : SECURING FUNDS FOR LONG-TERM MAINTENANCE AND SUSTAINABILITY OF
PROJECTS IS A PERSISTENT CHALLENGE.
RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND EQUITY : BALANCING THE NEEDS OF AGRICULTURE, WATER SUPPLY, AND CONSERVATION WITHIN
THE WATERSHED REQUIRES CAREFUL PLANNING.
COORDINATION AND COLLABORATION : EFFECTIVE COORDINATION AMONG VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES, CAN BE COMPLEX AND
TIME-CONSUMING.
CLIMATE CHANGE AND UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER PATTERNS : DROUGHTS, FLOODS, AND CHANGING RAINFALL PATTERNS CAN
HAVE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON WATER AVAILABILITY AND SOIL CONDITIONS.
BUREAUCRATIC RED TAPE : DEALING WITH BUREAUCRATIC PROCEDURES AND ADMINISTRATIVE DELAYS CAN SLOW DOWN
PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION AND HINDER DECISION-MAKING.
LAND OWNERSHIP AND LAND USE PATTERNS : ENCOURAGING LANDOWNERS TO ADOPT SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL
PRACTICES CAN ALSO BE CHALLENGING.
 GOV ERNMENT SUPPORT
FINANCIAL SUPPORT : GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. THIS FINANCIAL
SUPPORT IS CRITICAL FOR THE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND MAINTENANCE OF PROJECTS.
POLICY FRAMEWORK : THESE POLICIES OUTLINE GUIDELINES, OBJECTIVES, AND STANDARDS, ENSURING THAT WATERSHED
DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ALIGN WITH NATIONAL GOALS.
CAPACITY BUILDING : TRAINING COVERS TECHNICAL ASPECTS, PROJECT PLANNING, AND MANAGEMENT, ENABLING COMMITTEES
TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE : EXPERTS PROVIDE GUIDANCE IN THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS, IMPROVING THEIR
EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS.
MONITORING AND EVALUATION : REGULAR REPORTING AND EVALUATION ALSO FACILITATE COURSE CORRECTIONS AND
INFORMED DECISION-MAKING.
CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION : GOVERNMENT POLICIES RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON WATERSHEDS. THEY
SUPPORT ADAPTATION STRATEGIES, HELPING COMMITTEES PREPARE FOR CHANGING WEATHER PATTERNS AND MITIGATE
RELATED RISKS.
 FUTURE OUTLOOK
EXPANDING THE IMPACT OF WATERSHED COMMITTEES IN INDIA HOLDS SIGNIFICANT POTENTIAL FOR
SUSTAINABLE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. TO REALIZE THIS POTENTIAL, IT'S CRUCIAL TO
EMPHASIZE CONTINUED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT. ENGAGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES ENSURES THAT
PROJECTS ALIGN WITH THEIR NEEDS AND ENCOURAGES OWNERSHIP, LEADING TO LONG-TERM SUCCESS IN
SOIL CONSERVATION, AFFORESTATION, AND WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, SCALING UP
SUCH INITIATIVES, REPLICATING SUCCESSFUL MODELS, AND LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY FOR DATA-DRIVEN
DECISION-MAKING CAN FURTHER ENHANCE WATERSHED COMMITTEES' IMPACT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
PRESENTATION TITLE

VILLAGE FOREST
COMMITTEES

Village Forest Committees (VFCs) in India are community-

based organizations formed at the village level to manage
and protect local forest resources.

They oversee conservation efforts, promote sustainable

resource use, prevent unauthorized activities, and encourage
community participation in forest management decisions.

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 INTRODUCTION
LOCAL STEWARDSHIP : VFCS(VILLAGE FOREST COMMITTEES) EMPOWER LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THE
MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF NEARBY FORESTS.
BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION : . VFCS PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN CONSERVING BIODIVERSITY BY MONITORING AND
SAFEGUARDING THE DIVERSE FLORA AND FAUNA WITHIN THE FORESTS . THEY HELP MAINTAIN ECOLOGICAL BALANCE AND
PROTECT ENDANGERED SPECIES.
SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE: THESE COMMITTEES PROMOTE THE SUSTAINABLE USE OF FOREST RESOURCES, INCLUDING NON-
TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFPS) LIKE FRUITS, NUTS, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION : THE COMMITTEES FOSTER COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION AND DECISION-MAKING IN FOREST
MANAGEMENT.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION : VFCS CAN SERVE AS PLATFORMS FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES RELATED TO FOREST RESOURCES AND
LAND USE, REDUCING CONFLICTS AMONG FOREST-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES.
LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT : BY FACILITATING ACCESS TO FOREST RESOURCES AND INCOME-GENERATING ACTIVITIES, VFCS
HELP IMPROVE THE LIVELIHOODS OF FOREST-DEPENDENT COMMUNITIES, REDUCING THEIR DEPENDENCE ON UNSUSTAINABLE
PRACTICES.
 F OR M A T I ON OF V I L L A G E F OR E S T
C OM M I T T E E S
COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION : THE PROCESS USUALLY BEGINS WITH GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL
ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS), OR LOCAL LEADERS ORGANIZING MEETINGS AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS WITHIN THE VILLAGE.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS: A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS ARE HELD TO GAUGE INTEREST, DISCUSS THE PURPOSE AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VFC, AND IDENTIFY POTENTIAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
SELECTION OF VFC MEMBERS: BASED ON DISCUSSIONS AND CONSENSUS-BUILDING, COMMUNITY MEMBERS EITHER ELECT OR
NOMINATE REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON THE VFC.
PROJECT PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING : THE VFC ACTIVELY ENGAGES IN PLANNING AND DECISION-MAKING REGARDING
FOREST MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION : VFCS ALSO PLAY A ROLE IN RESOLVING CONFLICTS RELATED TO FOREST RESOURCE USE WITHIN THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION : THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, VFCS ACTIVELY ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN
DECISION-MAKING.
 F U N C T I ON S OF V I L L A G E F OR E S T
C OM M I T T E E S
FOREST PROTECTION:
PATROLLING AND SURVEILLANCE: VFCS CONDUCT REGULAR PATROLS TO DETER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES SUCH AS LOGGING,
POACHING, AND ENCROACHMENT. THEIR PRESENCE HELPS PROTECT THE FOREST FROM UNAUTHORIZED EXPLOITATION.

ECOLOGICAL MONITORING: VFCS MONITOR THE HEALTH OF THE FOREST ECOSYSTEM, TRACKING CHANGES IN FLORA AND
FAUNA POPULATIONS. THIS HELPS IN EARLY DETECTION OF BIODIVERSITY THREATS.

LIVELIHOOD ENHANCEMENT:
INCOME GENERATION: VFCS EXPLORE INCOME-GENERATING OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE FOREST, SUCH AS APICULTURE, ECO-
TOURISM, AND SALE OF NTFPS, TO IMPROVE THE ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
 Functions of Village Forest
Committees

Biodiversity Conservation:
VFCs drive biodiversity conservation by engaging local communities in safeguarding ecosystems and
promoting sustainable practices, ensuring a harmonious balance between human needs and
environmental well-being. Through active participation, they contribute to the preservation of diverse
plant and animal species in their natural habitats.

Fire Management:
VFCs actively engage in fire management strategies, employing community-driven efforts to prevent
and control forest fires, safeguarding local ecosystems and promoting sustainable practices. Their
role includes education, early detection, and coordinated response to mitigate the impact of
wildfires.
 S U C C E S S S T OR I E S

KALIKA VFC, UTTARAKHAND:

KALIKA VFC INITIATED AFFORESTATION EFFORTS AND ESTABLISHED A COMMUNITY NURSERY TO RAISE TREE SAPLINGS FOR
REFORESTATION.
POSITIVE IMPACTS: REFORESTATION OF DEGRADED AREAS, IMPROVED WATER RETENTION, AND A SUBSEQUENT INCREASE IN
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY.

BANAS VFC, RAJASTHAN:

BANAS VFC IN RAJASTHAN SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED A WATER CONSERVATION AND RECHARGE PROJECT, INCLUDING THE
CONSTRUCTION OF CHECK DAMS AND WATER HARVESTING STRUCTURES.
POSITIVE IMPACTS: INCREASED GROUNDWATER LEVELS, AVAILABILITY OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION, AND IMPROVED CROP YIELDS
FOR LOCAL FARMERS.
 CHALLENGES

ILLEGAL LOGGING AND POACHING:

ILLEGAL LOGGING, TIMBER SMUGGLING, AND POACHING OF WILDLIFE POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO FOREST
CONSERVATION EFFORTS. VFCS OFTEN LACK THE RESOURCES AND AUTHORITY TO COMBAT THESE ACTIVITIES EFFECTIVELY.
LACK OF LEGAL AWARENESS:
MANY VFC MEMBERS MAY NOT HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF FOREST LAWS AND REGULATIONS, MAKING IT
DIFFICULT TO ADDRESS LEGAL CHALLENGES OR DEFEND THEIR RIGHTS IN CASE OF DISPUTES.
GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY:
DEALING WITH GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY AND OBTAINING NECESSARY APPROVALS FOR FOREST-RELATED ACTIVITIES CAN
BE TIME-CONSUMING AND CHALLENGING FOR VFCS.
LACK OF LEGAL RECOGNITION:
SOME VFCS MAY NOT HAVE FORMAL LEGAL RECOGNITION, MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT
RESOURCES AND ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS.
 G OV E R N M E N T S U P P OR T

LEGAL FRAMEWORK : THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT AND FUNCTIONING
OF VFCS THROUGH ACTS SUCH AS THE FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006, AND THE INDIAN FOREST ACT, 1927.
FINANCIAL SUPPORT : GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ALLOCATE FUNDS FOR FOREST CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS, WHICH VFCS CAN ACCESS TO IMPLEMENT INITIATIVES SUCH AS AFFORESTATION, SUSTAINABLE RESOURCE USE,
AND LIVELIHOOD IMPROVEMENT.
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE : GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES PROVIDE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE AND GUIDANCE TO
VFCS IN AREAS SUCH AS AFFORESTATION, FIRE MANAGEMENT, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, AND SOIL CONSERVATION.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT : GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WORK ON DEVELOPING AND UPDATING FOREST POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS THAT ALIGN WITH SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES AND COMMUNITY RIGHTS.
RECOGNITION AND SUPPORT : RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL ROLE OF VFCS, THE GOVERNMENT OFTEN PROVIDES THEM WITH
FORMAL RECOGNITION, MAKING IT EASIER FOR THEM TO ACCESS GOVERNMENT RESOURCES AND SUPPORT.
 CONCLUSION
PRESENTATION TITLE

Watershed Committees and Village Forest Committees play

pivotal roles in India's environmental sustainability and
community well-being. Watershed Committees focus on
sustainable land and water management, while Village Forest
Committees emphasize forest conservation and livelihood
improvement. Together, they promote ecosystem health,
biodiversity conservation, and empower local communities,
contributing significantly to both environmental sustainability
and the socio-economic well-being of communities across the
country.

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