The Dzongkhag Geographical area of Mongar Dzongkhag is 1947.37 Sq. Km, Forest Area Coverage is 1722.58 Sq. Km (88.4 %), Forest Composition i) Conifer - 577.05 Sq. Km (29.6 %), ii) Broadleaf - 1107.96 Sq. Km (56.9 %) and iii) Scrub forest – 37.57 Sq. Km (1.9 %)
As per the decentralization policy of the Government Dzongkhag Forestry sector was started in the early 90s and the momentum was picked up only from 2001. Till 2000 the main function of Forestry sector was to distribute seedlings to the schools, Institutions and urban areas as a Social Forestry program. Some plantations on small scale also were carried out by the Forestry sector in critical watershed and catchment areas. But then, there was no clear framework from the Government to function Forestry sector.
From 2001 the terms of Reference was developed and approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and the main roles and responsibilities was Participatory Forest Management which covers the following activities:
1. Community forestry
2. Private forestry
3. Forestry Extension
4. Forest Fire Management
5. Watershed and soil conservation
6. Afforestation and nursery management
The main objective of the Department and Forestry sector are:
a. Ensuring 60% of the country’s geographical area maintained under forest for all times to come.
b. Conservation and promotion of sustainable utilization and management of biodiversity, forest and water resources.
c. Meeting the long-term needs of all the people for wood and other forest products by placing all the country’s productive forest areas under sustainable management.
d. To ensure maximum people’s participation in sustainable forest resource management in order to improve the protective and productive functions of forest ecosystems and to generate income and enhance rural livelihood from forest products.
e. To conserve the unique biodiversity of the country for the benefit of the future Bhutanese generations and the world community as a whole.
f. To protect the fragile mountains systems from erosion, landslips, forest fire and other natural calamities
g. To protect and rehabilitate watersheds for the production of quality water for drinking, irrigation and for the production of hydroelectric power.
h. To manage forest resources on a sustained yield basis based on silvicultural principles and scientific management prescriptions.
i. To enhance and improve Forest Information collection, management and dissemination.
j. To enhance forestry extension and service delivery through awareness, publicity and improvement of forestry services to the public.
k. To ensure that all Bhutanese citizens have access and rights to forest products at a reasonable cost and timeframe.
Potential Income generation Activities:
1. Lac Cultivation (Chaskhar, Sherimuhung, Ngatsang and Dremitse geog)
2. Wood Craft (Kengkhar and Jurmey geog)
3. Handicraft on Bamboo and Cane (Silimbi, Gongdue, Saling and Tsamang geog)
4. Lemon Grass Oil Distillation (Chali, Dremitse, Mongar, Ngatsang, Chaskhar, Thangrong)
5. Resin Tapping (Chali, Dremitse, Mongar, Ngatsang, Thangrong, Chaskhar, Kengkhar, Jurmey, Gongdue geogs)
Outcomes and Achievements:
Community forestry: During the 8th and 9th FYP there are only 3 Community Forest Management Groups (Dozam, Dremitse, Yakpogang, Mongar and Masangdaza, Saling ). Now we have 12 Community Forest Management Groups (Aaja and Gangmung under Sherimuhung geog, Dozam and Phunsum under Dremitse geog, Nagor and Gyelgong under Silimbi geog, Phajong under Gongdue geog, Bajaar under Tsamang geog, Yapogang under Mogar geog, Sankama under Jurmey goeg, Masangdaza under Saling geog and Wamakhar under Chali geog). Four Management plans are with Department and will soon be approved. Our sector has target of 30 CFs at the end of 10th FYP.
Private forestry: As per New Land Act 2007 we couldnot do much on Private Forests but our sector is ready to support any kind of development if proposed from the land holder.
Forestry Extension : It is an ongoing activity and it will be continued
Forest Fire Management: Mongar Dzongkhag is prone to Forest Fire during the dry seasons, our sector has made aware on the negative impact of Forest Fire in all the Fire prone geogs and have in place Community Managed Forest in the frequently Forest Fire zones. Due to the awareness there is less incidence of Forest Fire
Watershed and soil conservation: Korila to Ponchula is declared as critical catchment through DYT and Yakpogang area has been handed over to the Community of Yakpogang and Kilikhar with the main objective of watershed conservation. Land Management has been carried out in Ballam, Tsakaling and Saling geogs in larger scale. On small scale Land Management and soil conservation methodology was implemented in all the 17 geogs.
Afforestation and nursery management: In all the geogs afforestation/plantation has been carried out through geog budget as well from the central fund in the degraded and critical catchments during the 9th and 2 years of 10th FYP. Almost all the water sources in all the 17 geogs has been brought under the protection under this program.
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