Institutionalization of
Criteria & Indicators Framework for Sustainable Management of Natural
Forests in India

A Report on the Workshop held on

27-28 September 2010 at

Forest Conference Hall, Gangtok, Sikkim

A two
days workshop on “Institutionalization of Criteria & indicators
Framework for Sustainable Management of Natural Forests in India” was
jointly organized by Department of Forest, Environment & Wildlife
Management, Government of Sikkim and Indian Institute of Forest Management
(IIFM) Bhopal on 27-28 September 2010 at Forest Conference Hall, Gangtok. In
his inaugural address Dr R.C. Sharma, Ex- PCCF Chhattisagarh
and National Forestry Expert gave insight into the evolution of Criteria and Indicators
(C&I) popularly called Bhopal-India process. He further elaborated the
importance and need of the C&I framework for sustainable management of forest
resources. He appreciated the efforts made by Sikkim Forest Department in
implementation of C&I and also the
establishment of first sustainable forest management (SFM) cell in India
by Department of Forest, Environment and Wildlife Management, Sikkim. Shri S.T.
Lachungpa, PCCF cum Secretary, in his key note address gave the gist of
different programmes being implemented by Department of Forest towards sustainable
forest management. In the workshop participants were sensitized on the national
initiatives on sustainable forest  management,
C&I framework for managing natural forests, new system of forest resources forest
accounting , data  collection and
assessing the sustainability index, Forest Management Control System (FORMACS)
and  institutionalizing  C&I  framework at Forest Management Unit/Forest
Division level. C&I frame work for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) has
been developed by IIFM, Bhopal in collaboration
with various State Forest Departments including Sikkim. C&I framework has been
used to define the sustainability of forest resources, their utilization and
development. When monitored the indicators, provide the direction of the
progress (Trend) made by the sectors in achieving the SFM goal.  The workshop was coordinated by Shri Pradeep Kumar IFS, Conservator of Forest and Dr. Omprakash Madguni, Faculty from
IIFM, Bhopal.
The workshop was attended by Shri. Prashant  Jadpav , IFS,
faculty  IIFM, Conservator of Forests,
Divisional Forest Officers, Range Officers and Block Officers.