SIKKIM: Rs. 318 crores JICA push for Sikkim Forestry
New vistas of conservation, eco-tourism & research opens up

BIJOY GURUNG

GANGTOK, January 2: State Forest department which in 2009 celebrate a 100 years of service towards the protection and management of forest resources of Sikkim has more reason to cheer this New Year with one of the largest global donor agency set to pump in around Rs. 318 crores for the ambitious integrated project for sustainable development of forest resources in Sikkim.

Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the largest donor for forestry related projects in India, is preparing the final draft of the fund the project which will be soon submitted to the Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, it is informed.

Once the project is official inked between the Sikkim government, Indian government and JICA in the next two months, Sikkim will be the 12th State in the nation to come under JICA funded projects on sustainable development of forest resources. Eighteen similar projects are already completed or being implemented in the other 11 States.
State Forest secretary ST Lachunpa told Sikkim Express that the JICA is interested in sanctioning funds worth Rs. 318 crores for the development of Sikkim forest resources after the completion of preparatory studies by a JICA expert team Dr. Toshifumi Serizawa.

The JICA team had embarked on the preparatory study of the ‘Integrated project for Sustainable Development of Forest Resources in Sikkim’ on June 4 with a take off meeting at the State forest department conference here at Deorali.
According to Lachungpa, all the preparatory studies are complete and the final draft report for the project is being prepared for submission to the State government by JICA. The funds for the development of Sikkim forest resources will be around Rs. 318 crores, he said.

The main objective of the proposed project will be on uplifting the living standard of the local inhabitants as well as conserve forest resources and biodiversity by supporting entry point activities, eco-tourism and participatory biodiversity conservation and forest protection, thereby contributing to the environmental protection and poverty reduction in Sikkim.

There will be thrust on infrastructural development, conservation of biodiversity, training of forest manpower and promotion of ecotourism, said Lachungpa. He also said that research students of Sikkim University will also get opportunities to conduct forestry related searches.

Ninety percent of the project cost will come from grants while 10 percent will be paid by Sikkim government. The project covers the State of Sikkim and is of 8 years duration.

Meanwhile, the JICA in its interim report of August 25 last year had projected a two hundred percent increase in the operation of the State Forest department if the project is implemented in Sikkim.

The operation of the project executive agency i.e. Sikkim Forest department is likely to be doubled or tripled for the conservation and sustainable use of forest resources of Sikkim, JICA had observed in its interim report.
The overall objective is to contribute to the enhancement of environmental conservation and reduction of poverty in the State of Sikkim, JICA study team leader

Dr. Serizewa had said adding that the purpose of the project is to promote conservation of biodiversity and forests and improvement of the livelihood of forest fringe communities in Sikkim, he said.

The preparatory study which commenced from June 4 earlier last year had been conducted in active consultations by the State Forest department who had formed district level committees to assist the study. The team had also engaged the local stakeholders, NGOs and the targeted beneficiaries - people living in the fringe areas of the forests of Sikkim.

It may be added here that Sikkim government had signed a MoU with JICA in February last year for carrying out the feasibility study for project. This was after the State forest department had submitted a proposal for sustainable development of forest resources of Sikkim to the Centre in 2007 which was presented before JICA for funding.