The long-term goal of the project is the sustainable management of forest lands in Himachal Pradesh (HP). To achieve this, it is necessary to modify existing land use practice to take account of the increasing pressure on forest land and to maintain and improve the livelihood of people living in the project area, particularly those dependent on the forests.

This project is the outcome of a preparation and planning process begun in June 1990 when a feasibility mission was mounted to HP. This led to draft proposals being prepared by the DFFC. A DFID project preparation mission drawn from the Natural Resources Institute, the Overseas Development Institute and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, visited Himachel Pradesh between April and June 1991. The resultant reports from this mission formed the background to the Concept Paper and the Approach Paper and led to the preparation of a draft project document with DFFC staff for a 3 year pilot phase project (£3.094m) to conserve and improve the productivity of forest lands in Kullu and Mandi.

In 1996/97 a design process was completed for a further three year consolidation and design period (£3.225m) set within the overall frame of Phase I - the project purpose remained unchanged. The C&D phase will test implementation of the processes developed in the pilot phase, and will promote new client focused systems in less degraded areas. More emphasis will be placed on determining the social, economic and institutional viability and cost effectiveness state wide of approaches to sustainable forest management, based on the application of the principles and practices of joint forest planning and management (JFPM) in the Kullu and Mandi areas. Institutional development of the HP Forest Department remains central to the achievement of the · project goal.

The project aims are consistent with the Government of Himachel Pradesh policies and guidelines for the development and conservation of forests. The GoHP resolution in support of joint forest management provides the necessary institutional mechanism through which the project will be able to initiate joint forest management activities in Kullu and Mandi forest circles.

Support to the Himachal Pradesh Forestry To plan and implement a long term programme of improved and sustainable management of forest lands designed to halt the environmental degradation taking place in Kullu and Mandi districts, develop, test and implement with communities joint planning and management procedures for forest lands in Kullu and Mandi districts, strengthen the institutional capacity of the Department of Forest Farming and Conservation (DFFC) in order to implement immediate objectives above. The core activities in support of these objectives are focused on supporting the DFFC at division level and below to establish and support effective, equitable and representative joint forest management groups capable of sustained management of forest resources. This includes Establishment of at least two Joint Forest Management Support Teams, one in each circle. Reorientation and training of territorial staff. Support for monitoring and management systems. Formation of joint forest management groups. Preparation of joint forest management plans. Support to joint forest management groups. Extension advice for both community and private planting.

• To help with introduction of participatory forestry through JFPM - training and pilot projects.
• To revise working plan procedures to establish more cost-effective approaches and funding for operations.
• To develop new procedures to promote integration of JFPM and WP.
• To undertake special studies to improve the planning and management of Phase I and provide data to establish the case for Phase II.