Awareness camps for conserving Forest and Bio-diversity in desert

Awareness camp is the important tool in spreading awareness about the project objectives and helps in better implementation of the project in long run. Since the start of RFBP 2 project in 2012-13, it has become the main center of attraction among the village community. Last year we conducted total of 9 awareness camps in the targeted villages.

The team has been constantly engaged with the community members and making efforts to build on mechanisms for strengthening of their institutions. Various camps and training programs were conducted for the VFPMCs and its members. These camps and training programs were successful because of the joint effort of our team and the Forest Department.

In the month of March 2013-14 our team conducted 9 awareness camps of one day each in newly formed villages. These awareness camps were huge success as it involved people from all walks of life. The main agendas of the awareness camps were:

• 1. Awareness of project and its objectives.
• 2. Various government schemes/benefits.
• 3. Importance of girl education and child nutrition.
• 4. Women empowerment.
• 5. Sustainable forest development by involving village community.
• 6. Various important aspects of forest conservation.

The one day awareness camps were held in village of Amarpura, Jarkhari, Tharoosar, Bajju Tejpura, Bangarsar, Jodhasar 1 DM, Miyan Ka Dher (Gokul), Kolasar west, Jaimalsar.

Unlike forest dominating area desert region lacks a well-established Community Forest with clearly identified mandate for sustainable management. To make people aware about the importance of existing vegetation in desert and to promote the objectives of project RFBP (Rajasthan Forestry & Biodiversity Project, Phase II) we have organized 9 awareness camps in deselected villages under each project cluster.

During the camp villagers were informed about the procedure and guidelines of management of Community Forest as per JFM Act. The information like who will be the user group, how can they fetch the forest produce and what shall be the liability and responsibility of villagers and village level forest management committee were explained in detail.

One of the major targets of camp was to bridge the differences in views of villagers towards concerned government and partner agencies and other grassroots level organization and to manage sustainable natural resources that will initiate effective conservation of biodiversity through conservation based management on priority species of the corridor. Building close coordination between communities, local bodies, government line agencies and concerned stakeholders of cross boundary area will further strengthen the conservation of key species in the desert villages by enhancing their capability on protection, monitoring and mitigating threats to conservation.