NATIONAL WORKING PLAN CODE

2023

Planning for preparation of

Working Plan
S P Sharma
 Preamble
• Evaluate status of forest and other biodiversity resources
• Assess impact of past management practices
• Forecast future pressures
• Plan for sustainable management based on sound
silvicultural practices
• Realise the relationship between forest land use and
water yield, and maximise it
• Follow landscape approach

S P Sharma
 Preamble, contd ……
• Promote and monitor Trees outside Forests
• Create inventory on carbon stock, sequestration, and climate
change mitigation
• Formulate climate resilient management strategies, with adequate
adaptations
• Consider social needs and aspirations and international
conventions
• Enhance production function of forests
• Undertake valuation of goods and ecological services

S P Sharma
 Why revise the code
• Working Plan preparations need to be in sync with changing requirements and
technologies

• India signatory to all environment/Forests related conventions – hence,

reporting requirements

• Need to have more precise estimates and projections of forest wealth

• Need to have precise estimates and projections of Carbon stock in all land uses

• Need to catch up with the World Community in climate change detection and
mitigation
S P Sharma
 FSI Mandate
• Develop App for WP inventory
• Host data as nodal agency (3.1.2, code)
• Build capacity of SFDs (3.1.2, code)
• Develop additional modules for data collection (3.1.2, code)
• Supply geo-spatial data set to SFDs, on request (3.1.3, code)
• Forest cover
• Forest type
• TOF and others

S P Sharma
 FSI mandate, contd …..
• Assist SFDs in calculation of coefficient of variation in calculation of
sample size, on request (3.1.1, manual)
• Provide grid layers to SFDs, on request (3.1.2, manual)
• Work out Division wise sample size and grid size, on request (3.1.2,
manual)
• Provide volume equations for Growing Stock calculation, on request
(4.1.4, manual)
• Assist in Biomass and Carbon Stock calculations, on request (4.2.3,
4.2.7, manual)

S P Sharma
 Changes w.r.t. NWPC 2014
NWP Code 2014 NWP Code 2023
Focus on Sustainability and ecosystem services Same, plus harmonising all management
prescriptions, having continuous forest inventory, and
use of National database. Added emphasis on water
yield in catchment, international commitments
Growing stock as major means of assessment Mention of Net Primary Productivity
Resource survey only during WP preparation, done by Continuous forest inventory, to be done by Territorial
WP team (Although code provided linkages with team
National Forest Inventory)
Grid and sample size options left to WPO Structured Grids. May be borrowed from FSI
PWPR notes to be prepared by Territorial DFO, and PWPR to be drafted by Territorial DFO
PWPR to be written by Territorial CF
Nodal officer (FC) not involved Nodal officer (FC) made responsible for uploading
draft WP on the Portal
Grids laid manually on topsheet by dividing it into 144 5x5 km grids of NFI may be adopted, or laid using GIS
squares
Square sample plot configuration Circular
S P Sharma sample plot configuration, split into sub plots
 Changes w.r.t. NWPC 2014,contd …..
NWP Code 2014 NWP Code 2023
Tree enumeration plot- 0.1 ha (31.62x31.62 m) 4 sub plots totalling to 0.08 ha (8m radius, each)
Stump and dead wood plot- 50 sqm (2 sub plots, 5x5 4 sub plots totalling to 98.5 sqm (2.8m radius, each)
m)
Litter, shrubs, climbers- 18 sqm (2 sub plots of 3x3m) 4 sub plots totalling to 36.3 sqm (1.7m radius, each)
Tree regeneration- 36 sqm (4 sub plots of 3x3m)
Herb, grass, seedlings- 2 sqm (2 sub plots of 1x1m) 4 sub plots totalling to 4.52 sqm (0.6m radius, each)
Soil- two sub plots of 1x1m at NE and SW corner 3 sub plots of 1x1m for green biomass
Soil to be taken from any two of these
Non clump forming bamboo – left half of North Half circle of sub plot no. 2 (100.5 sqm)
quadrant (125 sqm)
General description- no boundary defined 60 m radius
No extension of WP period based on mid term review Provision of extension for 5 years

S P Sharma
 The process
• National Portal for uploading of data
• Use of National Forest Inventory methodology
• States to take up Continuous Forest Inventory – to be done by Territorial wing
• NTFP survey, Biodiversity survey, regeneration survey, soil survey, socio-economic survey,
wildlife survey, wildlife survey, assessment of wildlife habitats, TOFs
• Head of WP wing to monitor quality of data
• WP wing head to direct CF to submit PWPR (28 Months prior to end of existing
WP)
• DFO Territorial to draft the PWPR within 3 Months
• SCC to examine PWPR within 30 days and approve with or without modifications
• WPO to collect additional data and hold stakeholder consultation
• WPO to draft the Working Plan, and prepare maps on GIS

S P Sharma
 The Process, contd ….
• Draft WP (with supporting documents and maps) submitted to Head of WP wing
• Draft WP placed before SCC
• SCC to examine and recommend it for approval with or without modifications
• WPO to incorporate modifications and submit it to Head to WP wing
• Head of WP wing to submit the draft WP (along with recommendations of SCC) to
Nodal Officer
• Nodal officer (FCA) to submit draft WP on online portal
• RO, MoEFCC to examine and approve with or without conditions, or accord in
principle approval with modifications, or reject
• WP deemed to be approved after 45 days
• Mid term review by State/UT
• Plan period may be extended upto 5 years after mid term review
S P Sharma
 Data collection as per NFI
• Determination of Grid size Grid size Possible no.
of grids
Sample size

• Decide optimum sample size 5x5 km 20 1-20

• Determine size of the grid [RFA/sample size] 2.5x2.5 km 80 21-80

• Overlay RFA boundary on the grid layer to know 1.25x1.25

km
320 81-320

forested grids 1x1 km 500 321-500

• Divide the Division into grids using GIS .625x.625

km
1280 501-1280

• Generate random points in the grids for centre of .5x.5 km 2000 1281-200

sample plot 1st year Grid having S. No. 1

• Sample collection may be spread (say, 5, or 7 years) 2nd year Grid having S. No. 3

3rd year Grid having S. No. 5

• Number the plots (1 to 5, or 1 to 7) repeatedly, start
4th year Grid having S. No. 2
Randomly and then follow the suggested sequence
5th year Grid having S. No. 4

S P Sharma
 Laying the sample plot
• Correct the Projection and Datum in your device
• Reach the centre of the sample plot
• Follow the instructions in the manual
Description Area of one sub plot Total area of plot

r=8m (4) 201 sqm 804 sqm

Tree enumeration

r=2.8m (4) 24.6 sqm 98.5 sqm

Deadwood collection

r=1.7m (4) 9.1 sqm 36.3 sqm

Shrub, climber, sapling, litter, regeneration

r=0.6m (4) 1.13 sqm 4.52 sqm

Herb, grass, seedlings

s=1x1m (3) 201 sqm 804 sqm

[soil from any 2, biomass from all 3]

r=60m 201 sqm 804 sqm

General description

S P Sharma