The climate of the area is semi-temperate. Temperature during summer shoots up to 34°C, while in winter it remains slightly above the freezing point. It receives a good amount of rain during the monsoon months. The altitude varies from 1100-1400 m. Wildlife is not significant. The animals most common in these forests include barking deer, leopard and monkeys.  A few bird species such as red-billed blue magpie, pine bunting, blue robin, warbler, yellow-billed blue magpie and yellow-throated minivet also live in the forest.

There are 97 households with a total population of 587 in the village. Most households are brahmins (about 75); 14 are rajputs and the rest dalits. Most people are engaged in agriculture, though there are a few (about four or five) who are doing petty jobs in nearby hotels and resorts. There is no artisan family in the village, though a few are masons. The cattle population is close to 700 heads. There are no goats in the village.

Although the van panchayat came into existence way back in 1950, the condition of the forest under its control deteriorated by the 1980s. ‘The forest that was very dense and thick was slowly razed to the ground by people and contractors. People faced immense difficulty to meet their biomass requirements and fields became barren,’ says Mahendra Singh Varma, the ex-pradhan (village head). Meanwhile, an NGO called Central Himalayan Research Action Group (CHIRAG) started working in the area. The NGO was mainly carrying out land restoration and biodiversity conservation programmes. In 1988 Varma approached the organisation to take up his van panchayat under their project. The NGO agreed to take up one part of the forest and thus a unique effort of restoration involving people and workers began.

TIMELINE

1950 – Van Panchayat came into existence. It is responsible to protect the entire forest. However, the forest was razed to a barren ground by 1980’s.

In 1988 an ex-Sarpanch invited an NGO-CHIRAG to help them revive the forest.

1988 – CHIRAG, Piloted restoration work in a small part of the forest along with the villagers. At the behest of the villagers, they adopted a policy on fresh plantations of fodder and fruit species and natural regeneration while reducing pressure on the forest. Care was taken to meet people’s biomass needs by providing them alternatives. First, they were convinced to sell unproductive animals, mostly goats and additional loans were given to buy milch cows. People, after some resistance, agreed. They were then provided gobar gas plants at subsidised rates. This also became popular in the village. This helped reduce pressure on the forest and became crucial in the success of the programme.

Post 1988 – 8 member Van Suraksha samiti (VSS) set up by the community at the behest of CHIRAG NGO, to take care of the project area. 4 members are women, and 2 members of the VSS are also members of the Van Panchayat group. Both have the same goal – Protect the forest 1999 -Women’s self-help group (SHG), This 12- member group is engaged in saving and thrift activities and all four women members of th

‘The forest that was very dense and thick was slowly razed to the ground by people and contractors. People faced immense difficulty to meet their biomass requirements and fields became barren,’ says Mahendra Singh Varma, the ex-pradhan (village head).

There are three institutions in the village collectively taking care of the forest revival and protection activities. The Van Panchayat (VP) comprises of heads of village household’s, therefore male dominant, and it is responsible to protect the entire forest. 2 members of the VP are also members of the VSS. An 8 member Van Suraksha samiti (VSS) takes care of the project area. This committee is independent of the existing van panchayat committee, although the members of the van panchayat can also join the VSS. There are two such persons who are members in both institutions. The sarpanch of the van panchayat is invited to attend the monthly meetings of the VSS, which are called on the first or second day of every calendar month. 4 of its members are women and they are part of the women’s self-help-groups (SHG). A 12-member women SHG is engaged in saving and thrift activities

In the 1980’s an NGO called Central Himalayan Research Action Group (CHIRAG) started working in the area. The NGO was mainly carrying out land restoration and biodiversity conservation programmes. In 1988 Varma approached the organisation to take up his van panchayat under their project. The NGO agreed to take up one part of the forest and thus a unique effort of restoration involving people and workers began. The Van Panchayat, Van Surakhsha Samiti and women’s Self-Help-Groups are the three institutions that work together for the common goalforest protection.

The VSS meets every month to discuss plantation, protection and other issues such as imposing fines on offenders.

There are three institutions in the village collectively taking care of the forest revival and protection activities. The Van Panchayat (VP) comprises of heads of village household’s, therefore male dominant, and it is responsible to protect the entire forest. 2 members of the VP are also members of the VSS. An 8 member Van Suraksha samiti (VSS) takes care of the project area. This committee is independent of the existing van panchayat committee, although the members of the van panchayat can also join the VSS. There are two such persons who are members in both institutions. The sarpanch of the van panchayat is invited to attend the monthly meetings of the VSS, which are called on the first or second day of every calendar month. 4 of its members are women and they are part of the women’s self-help-groups (SHG). A 12-member women SHG is engaged in saving and thrift activities 

No grazing is allowed in the forest. Twice a year it is opened to cut grass, and passes are issued for Rs 5 per sickle to people for this purpose. If there is excess grass, people from neighbouring villages can also collect it for double the amount. For special functions members can apply for fuelwood and for Rs 25 a bundle of wood is given to them. Regulated lopping of trees for fuelwood is done under the supervision of chowkidars during the winter and Rs 15 per person is charged for that. No harvesting of leaves is done. The VSS also has a number of punitive rules. If anyone is caught stealing grass, a fine of Rs 15 is charged for a small sickle and Rs 20 for a large sickle. Rs 100 is charged if a domestic animal is caught grazing inside the forest. The sickles caught are seized. The amount raised by realising these fines and from plantation— each individual has to deposit 5 per cent of his income with the VSS—was close to Rs 14,000 at the time of writing this case study (2001). The salaries of the two chowkidars and meeting expenses are met from this amount.

MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE USE

Every family of the village was taught how to raise a nursery on its own land. Each family was initially given 10,000 saplings. Then they were given seeds. CHIRAG provided money to make saplings, dig pits and to transport them to the forest. After some time, the NGO helped open accounts in the name of women from these families in the nearest bank. The forest was kept totally shut for five years to allow natural regeneration and protect new saplings. However, care was taken to meet people’s biomass needs by providing them

The forest was kept totally shut for five years to allow natural regeneration and protect new saplings in its revival period in the 1980’s and 1990’s.

1. The workload of women has been reduced considerably, as there are fewer domestic animals to look after and one does not have to walk a long distance to collect fuelwood and fodder; 2. The hills around the village, which once looked nearly barren, are now covered with green. 3. People have an additional source of income, thanks to the money given to them for raising nurseries and labour income for plantation; 4. Increased agricultural output coupled with fruit production from the plantations. The villagers are able to market fruits in the nearby fruit market at Bhowali. 5. Increased availability of water, confirmed by CHIRAG workers who put up hand pumps near water sources.

The main reasons of the success of the project have been the cooperation of people and dedication of CHIRAG workers. ‘Initially some people, such as a few contractors and hotel owners, were against the project and we had a hard time convincing them, but a constant interaction with them got their support as well,’ says Raj Mahra, Co-ordinator CHIRAG project at Naukuchia Tal. Women also feared the nonavailability of fodder. But later women gave their maximum support and they fast understood the benefits of forest protection. People like Rewati Devi proved to be an inspiring factor. However, even today, a handful of people, mostly from the neighbouring villages, remain a stumbling block. Today, the 12 van panchayats spread over 3500 ha around Naukuchia Tal are protecting their forests in one way or another despite strong pressure from the builders lobby, as this area is among the hot destinations for people from Delhi to own farm houses

Pressure from the builders lobby, as this area is among the hot destinations for people from Delhi to own farm houses. 

Policies and rules to restrict construction work

https://www.epw.in/journal/2002/38/commentary/conserving-forests-uttarakhand.html

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