Project Components

No.	Measures
1-3	Lantana Eradication and Conversion
4	Silvicultural operations in all forest types (no planting, no fencing)
5	Soil and water conservation measures
6	Spring rehabilitation
7	Nursery development and improvement
8	Entry point activities
9	Training and capacity building
10	Monitoring and evaluation
11	Project facilitation by locally hired experts
12	JFMC Coordination User Group Meetings
13	Forest Protection Incentives
14	Preparation of Micro Working Plans
15	Project Management (SPMU and DPMU)

1.  Lantana Eradication and Conversion: Removal of Lantana and planting of multipurpose broad-leaved tree species will comprise the largest area among the rehabilitation operations. to be identified in the forest divisions of Kangra and Chamba districts. For rehabilitation only mechanical/manual methods will be employed and chemical methods will be avoided because of ecological concerns. Rehabilitation activities will start from the fringes of infestation zones with lower intensity of infestation and will progress towards the heavily infestation areas. This approach will (i) allow tackling larger areas with the given financial resources and result in creating quick visible impacts, and (ii) help in containing the further spread of exotic weeds. The approach would be eco-restoration of forest areas in the shortest possible time, which also includes the removal of seed sources.

The management of lantana infested areas will include:
1.1  Rehabilitation of forest areas infested with Lantana.
1.2  Improving the fodder production capacity of forest lands and pastures.
1.3  Enhancing biodiversity of forest areas.
1.4  Improving the moisture regime and water percolation capacity.
1.5  Improving the regeneration status of forest areas.
1.6  Providing livelihood opportunities for rural populations.
1.7  Contributing to mitigation of expected adverse effects of climate change through the establishment of stable, mixed forest vegetation.
1.8  Increasing resilience of steep mountainous areas against erosion.
1.9  Enhancing water conservation and protection of water resources.

All working measures in the context of rehabilitation of the lantana infested areas will be carried out by local population to provide for income generating opportunities. The Project will support the formation of user groups for the implementation of project interventions.

2.  Soil and Water Conservation Measures: It is necessary to provide for drainage line treatment and soil and water conservation measures in the forest treated under the project.

3.  Spring Rehabilitation: Natural springs are drying due to a combined effect of anthropogenic factors and climate change. Slight increases in the groundwater recharge as predicted by future climate change scenarios are neutralized by increasing evapotranspiration. It will be necessary to identify existing and nascent gullies/ravines in the intervention areas (by GIS) and plan appropriate technical measures to stabilize the slopes and prevent further erosion and landslides. In that context, drainage line treatments as well as area treatments are foreseen. Accompanying planting measures are recommended with deep rooting tree and shrub species along the edges of the gullies and around the gabions (area of approximately 0, 3-0, 4 ha in the vicinity of gabions). Direct sowing is recommended to be carried out with easily germinating tree and shrub species such as Ailanthus excelsior.

4.  Nursery Development and Improvement: Establishment of model nurseries wherein provision of modern tools and facilities will be made as well as in propagation of gained new experience (training of personnel of other nurseries).

5.  Entry Point Activities: EPAs carried out need to be in line with the overall objective of contributing to climate change mitigation / adaptation. EPAs are needed to enthuse local people / community to protect and manage assets and should aim beside others to improve and strengthen the local water and natural resource base more willingly.

6.  Training and Capacity Building: Success of the project will strongly depend on the capacity of target groups and implementing and facilitating agencies to understand and skillfully accomplish their tasks. Most of the field trainings will be conducted at the Divisional Level. Resource persons for the training can be invited from the Forest Department, other departments of the GoHP, training institutes, NABARD etc. There are numerous institutes in HP where such training and capacity building of stakeholders can also be undertaken. A comprehensive training plan is already in place and the trainings are organized as per the plan.

7.  Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) is a very important aspect of any project to ensure smooth and efficient implementation. Through regular feedback mechanisms, monitoring allows to track results, processes and experiences to be documented and used as a basis to steer decision making and learning processes. Monitoring is checking progress against plans. The data acquired through monitoring is used for evaluation.

Proposed key components of M&E under the project are:
7.1  Baseline Survey.
7.2  Self-monitoring by community institutions.
7.3  Self-monitoring by Forest Department personnel at divisional and range level.
7.4  Half-yearly review by technical experts.
7.5  Independent third-party verification and audit.
7.6  Monitoring visit by PMU and DPMU and Desk Monitoring.
7.7  Mid-term evaluation (KfW).
7.8  End of the Project Evaluation (KfW).

8.  Project Facilitation by Locally Hired Experts: To make people aware about the project and to mobilize people’s participation in implementation of project activities social experts are needed. As Forest Department has limited capacity for social mobilization it will have to be supported by the project by means of appointment of village organizer and project facilitation experts at the range level and project coordinators at the division level.

9.  Forest Protection Incentive: This project component aims to incentivize forest protection by local people against fire, illicit felling and grazing. This will be done by means of payments to Village Forest Management Societies (VFMS) based on successful protection of fire and illicit felling on the total forest areas, and survival rates of plantations within the respective Micro Plan for which the villages (village groups) of a VFMS are responsible. Annual monitoring will be done by the Forest Department (FD) and verified by third party organisations to confirm the fulfilment of obligations by each VFMS. The incentives will be paid to the VFMS using the “Savings Book Approach” (or more accurately “Deposit Account Approach” as here more interest can be achieved).