Sonitpur West Forest Development Agency

The jurisdiction of the Sonitpur West F.D.A. covers territorial jurisdiction of Sonitpur West Forest Division, Tezpur which falls under Sonitpur District .This district is  situated in the central part  of the state of Assam .This division covers approximately an area of  2100 Sq Km,out of which notified forests are 440.67 Sq Km.It has four functional Ranges namely, Sadar Range with HQ at Tezpur, Centrel Range at Ameribari, Chariduar Range with HQ at Chariduar and Dhekiajuli Range at Dhekiajuli.It is headed by one D.C.F  who is assisted by four nos of A.C.F.

A brief description of the Divisions :-
1.Notified Forests with area :- 44,067 ha.
2. Ranges and Beats :-

SCHEMES IMPLEMENTED BY SONITPUR WEST FDA :-

1. N.A.P SCEMES (National Afforestation Programme)
2. N.B.M (National Bamboo Mission)

N.A.P. Brief description and its objects:

The Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India is sponsoring  Centrally assisted Scheme on “National Afforestation Programme” for promoting Afforestation on degraded Forests and adjoining lands in the entire country.National Afforestation Programme (NAP) was launched  during 10th five year plan.
Assam Govt. notified the Joint Forests Mangement Committee  Rules during 10th Nov/1998 and the formally the participatory management of Forests work started during Nov/2003. The scheme sponsored  by National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board N.A.E.B. (M.O.E.F) as a 100% centrally sponsored scheme.
The main objectives of NAP are :- (I) Re-generation of degraded forests and  eco-development for its adjoining areas.

(II) Augmentation of the availability of Fuel, fodder and grasses from the regenerated areas. Apart from securing peoples participation in planning and regeneration effort to ensure sustainability and equitable distribution of forest produces from the regenerated areas.

(III) Conservation and improvement of N.T.F.P., Bamboo, cane and other Medicinal plants.

(IV) Employment generation for the poor mass of the society particularly women, SC, ST and land less rural labourers inhabiting in forests and adjoining areas.

(V) to achieve the greenery i.e. 33% land area under forest cover.

NATIONAL BAMBOO MISSION (N.B.M)

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, on 27.10.06, approved the new Centrally Sponsored Scheme on National Bamboo Mission of the Department of Agriculture Cooperation with an objective to:

• Promote the growth of the bamboo sector through area based regionally differentiated strategies;
• Increase the coverage of area under bamboo in potential areas;
• Promote marketing of bamboo and bamboo based handicrafts;
• Establish convergence and synergy among stake-holders for development of bamboo; and,
• Generate employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled persons, especially unemployed youths.