Rs. 330.5 crores JICA project for Sikkim biodiversity conservation reaches ‘loan effectuation’ stage

Project includes developing 260 kms of trekking routes in Sikkim


GANGTOK, July 27: The Rs. 330.57 crores ‘Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management’ project funded by Japanese International Cooperative Agency (JICA) has reached ‘loan effectuation’ stage from June 15 with the State forest department inviting proposals from competent consultancies firms for the project.
Loan effectuation means that whatever costs incurred for the ten years project as per the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and minutes of discussion signed between the governments of India and Japan will be reimbursable, State forest officials here explained.

The two governments had signed the agreement in March earlier this year for the JICA assisted ‘Sikkim Biodiversity Conservation and Forest Management Project’. The total outlay of the project is Rs. 330.57 crores and afforestation activities over 4300 ha of forest areas in Sikkim will be taken up during the ten years period of the project in Sikkim.

Informing the media about the progress on the project so far, additional PCCF and JICA project director Dr. Anil Mainra said that the department has already invited proposals from competent consultancies, both national and international. The bidders will be short-listed and then the final firm will be selected through a proper process, he said.

The selected firm will be providing technical inputs for the components of the project which includes promotion of eco-tourism in Sikkim and an eco-tourism policy for Sikkim will also be formulated, said Dr Mainra.

The State forest department which is the implementing agency for the JICA project is seeking technical inputs from specialized firms to strengthen biodiversity conservation activities and forest management capacity, which are the core objectives of the project.

A biodiversity centre will also be coming up in Gangtok as per the project besides imparting training to improve the efficiency of the forest frontline staff, said Dr Mainra.

With JICA being the largest donor for forestry related projects in India, its project in Sikkim is different from other such JICA funded projects in eleven States in the country.

“Our biodiversity is very rich. In the project, the focus is on the biodiversity of Sikkim. Lots of surveys and documentation will be done along with research activities”, said Dr Mainra. We will also lay stress on building ecotourism practices which are self-sustainable, he said.

The project envisages usage of latest technology to map the areas of the wildlife species found in Sikkim. It also seeks to improve the economic status of the communities living in the fringe forest areas by promoting sustainable biodiversity conservation, afforestation, income generating activities including ecotourism and through non-consumptive management of the forest areas under their control.

The project activities thus would uplift the living standard of the local inhabitants living in forest fringe areas as well as conserve forest resources and biodiversity by supporting ‘entry point’ activities, eco-tourism, participatory biodiversity conservation and forest protection, said the forest department.

The sense of ownership among the communities has already been developed through the ongoing projects of the department and Joint Forest Management Committees and Eco Development Committees that are functioning in various areas in Sikkim, it was informed.

The project also proposes to establish 540 Self Help Groups in the rural areas and take up ‘entry point’ activities in the targeted villages. Several scientific studies and survey of existing biodiversity of the State will be taken up under the project to enhance the knowledge base for conservation, as per the project.
Ex-situ conservation activities like upgradation of the Himalayan Zoological Park, establishment of a butterfly park in North Sikkim and action research on sustainable use of forest resources and trainings for capacity building are also proposed under the project. Development of 260 kms of eco-friendly trekking routes in Sikkim is also envisaged in the project

source;sikkim express