8 M. KUMAR ET AL.

A brief account of the evolution of working plan in India

1837: Introduction of the working plan in India by Mr. UV Munro, the Superintendent of
Forests in Travancore.
1840: The famous teak plantation works of Nilambur by Conolly and Chattu Memon
considered as the birth of human-induced forest management in India.
1860: Sir Dietrich Brandis prepared the first forest management plan for Pegu Yomo
Forests of Myanmar.
1882: Decentralization of forest department which acted as a major setback for the
management of forests following the principles of a working plan.
1884: Wilhelm Schlich, the Inspector General of Forests, brought the control of the
preparation of the working plan and the management of forests under the prescriptions of
the working plan under the centralized control of his office for the whole India.
1891: WE D’Arcy wrote book “Preparation of Forests Working Plans in India” and
illustrated guidelines for the preparation of working plans in a systematic manner.
1906: Establishment of the Imperial Forest Research Institute, Dehradun (latter
renamed as Forest Research Institute) to organize and lead forestry research in the
country. The work of checking working plans was given to the Superintendent of
Working Plans stationed at FRI.
1923: Trever and Smythies prepared handbook entitled “Practical Forest Management”
describing procedures for the preparation of the working plan.
1929: Ribbentrop prepared working plan code for Uttar Pradesh, India.
1952: Seth revised the working plan code of Uttar Pradesh prepared by Ribbentrop.
1962: Mr. SK Seth prepared Working Plan Code for the State of Uttar Pradesh.
1996: Hon'ble Supreme Court ordered no forestry operations to be carried out in the
forests unless accompanied by prescriptions in the working plans of the FMUs as
approved by the MoEF.
2004: The Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India adopted
a uniform code for the first time for whole of India in the name of “National Working
Plan Code – 2004”.
2014: First revision of the working plan code 2004 was made and a new revised code
“National Working Plan Code 2014” was adopted which had a major focus on the
sustainable management of forests and biodiversity in India.
Looking at the exigencies of making forest management more people-centric and oriented
toward providing goods and services from the forests on a sustainable basis, safeguarding the
concerns of biodiversity conservation together with the rights of forest communities for non-
timber forest produce, grazing grounds, fuel, water bodies, etc. as per the provision of the
Forest Right Act, 2006, and to mainstream the climate change mitigation and adaptation in
forest working plans, revision was made in the prevailing code of 2004 and a new working
plan code 2014 was adopted which focuses on the sustainable management of forests and
biodiversity in India (NWPC, 2014).

Salient features of the National Working Plan Code 2014

The overall objective of the NWPC (2014) is to provide sustainable management of forests
and its biodiversity as envisaged in the National Forest Policy of the country. It integrates
 JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY 9

the major dimensions of ecological (environmental), production (economic), and social

(including cultural) well-being by addressing the concerns of biodiversity conservation
and development, JFM, community forest management, fringe forest management, water
resource management, soil and water conservation, forest health and diseases, forest fire
protection, climate change mitigation and adaptation, carbon sequestration and manage-
ment, REDD +, etc. through the application of modern tools and techniques for the
preparation of working plans.
NWPC (2014) suggests for a periodic revision of the working plans after every 10 years
with an exception in revision where the conversion period of the crop is fixed for more
than 10 years, the review is suggested at the end of 10th year. Revision is suggested to
account for the detailed description of the present status of forest land, the effects of past
treatment and to meet the demands of environmental, economic, and social dimensions,
lay down the appropriate future prescriptions. The time period for the making of
a working plan for a forest division is prescribed as 2 years with an assurance that the
entire state (for which working plans are being prepared) gets staggered over the period of
10 years, and the revision of working plans does not accumulate. The responsibility of
ensuring all forest workings in a state as per approved working plan is entrusted with the
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Head of Forest Force (PCCF, HOFF) of the State
concerned.
NWPC (2014) attempts to link working plans with the National Forest Inventory (NFI)
(http://fsi.nic.in/details.php?pgID=sb_10) and national set of Criteria & Indicator (C&I)
for sustainable management of natural forests in India (IIFM, 2014). Collection of data for
a working plan has been suggested following the procedure provided in the field data
collection manual of the NFI done by Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun (http://fsi.
nic.in/documents/manualforest_inventory_2.pdf). However, the Code lacks explicit
description and guideline for the trees outside forests which is one of the major sources
of wood in India and contributes almost one-fourth of the total growing stock of the
country. The limitation is witnessed also for the management of growing stocks outside
forests which are not under the preview of working plans and also not under the
jurisdiction of forest department. The working plans are prepared for the areas under
the control of forest departments and thus demands inter-sector synergy and convergence
for managing the growing stocks outside forests.
Assessment of the revised code (NWPC, 2014) confirms that there has been significant
attempt while revising the code to meet the national as well as international requirements
of supplying up-to-date and harmonized data and information related to a forest manage-
ment unit of the country through the working plans. Data, maps, and other information of
the working plans are expected to serve an important role while preparing reports as
a part of national or international obligations. Efforts have also been made for promoting
scientifically sound and validated methods of data collection and approach for the field
enumerations. This can be well visualized after inspecting the suggested chapters in the
making of the working plan as per the revised code which is illustrated in Table 1. Table 2
illustrates the lists of appendices suggested for the working plans. Tables 1 and 2 signify
the robustness and worth of working plans while dealing with the issues related to climate
change, biodiversity, and SFM.
The revised code attempts to bring coherency in data collection at the national level
through the working plans following common protocols. All forest management units are
10 M. KUMAR ET AL.

Table 1. Contents suggested for the working plan as per revised code 2014 (NWPC, 2014).
Executive Summary (along with the constraints faced during writing of the plan)
Chapter I: Introduction
Introduction should include:
a) Vision statement
b) Goals and objectives of management
c) SWOT analysis for prescription of strategies for achieving the goals and objectives.
d) Expected outcome
e) Abstract of plan prescriptions in the following format
f)Works prescribed during the Plan period must be given in a tabular form along with annual target in the following format.
Chapter II: Glossary of Terms
Chapter III: List of Flora (indicating Rare, Endangered, Threatened and unique species)
Chapter IV: List of Fauna
Chapter V: Others (List of lichens, algae, fungi, etc.)
PART I (Summary of facts on which proposals are made)
Chapter 1 (The Tract Dealt with): Name and situation, Configuration of the ground, Geology, rock and soil, Climatic
parameters
Chapter 2 (Maintenance/increase in the extent of forest and tree cover): Area of forests under different legal
classes (RF, PF, UF, and others), Forest area under different working circle/management plan, Percentage of forest
with secured boundaries, Land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF), Threats to the forest, Distribution of
different forest types, Tree cover outside forest area, Shifting cultivation (Jhumming)
Chapter 3 (Maintenance, Conservation and Enhancement of Biodiversity): Forest composition and distribution,
Plant species diversity, Status of biodiversity conservation in forests, Status of species prone to over exploitation,
Conservation of genetic Resources, Fauna and their habitats, Threats and challenges to wildlife, Protection and
management of fauna
Chapter 4 (Maintenance and Enhancement of Forest Health and Vitality) Status of regeneration, Area affected by
forest fire, Area damaged by natural calamities, Area protected from grazing, Lopping practices, Area infested by
invasive weed species in forests, Incidences of pest and diseases, Forest degradation and its drivers, Pollution control
and protection of environment
Chapter 5 (Conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources): Area treated under soil and water
conservation measures, Duration of water flow in the selected seasonal streams, Wetlands in forest areas, Water level
in the wells in the vicinity (up to 5km) of forest area, Status of aquifers
Chapter 6 (Maintenance and enhancement of forest resource productivity): Growing stock of wood, Growing stock
of bamboo, Increment in volume of identified timber species, Efforts toward enhancement of forest productivity
through quality plantation activities, Carbon Stock, Carbon sequestration and mitigation
Chapter 7 (Optimization of forest resource utilization): Recorded removal of timber, Recorded removal of fuel wood,
Recorded removal of bamboo/rattans, Recorded removal of locally important Non Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)
including Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAPs), Demand and supply of timber and important non-timber forest
produce, Import and export of wood and wood products, Import and export of NTFPs, Removal of fodder, Valuation of
the products
Chapter 8 (Maintenance and enhancement of social, economic, cultural, and spiritual benefits): Number of Joint
Forest Management committees (JFMCs) and area (s) protected by them, Status of empowerment of JFMCs, Labour
welfare, Use of indigenous knowledge, Extent of cultural/sacred groves, Ecotourism areas and activities, Social
customs, Status of compliance of Forest Right Act (FRA), Other Rights and Concessions, Dependency of local people
on NTFPs, Other aspects
Chapter 9 (Adequacy of Policy, Legal and Institutional framework): Existing policy and legal framework and their
compliance, Status of approved working plan and compliance, Number of forest offences, Status of research and
development, Human resource capacity building efforts, Forest Resource Accounting, Budgetary allocations to the
forestry sector, Existence of monitoring, assessment and reporting mechanism, Public awareness and education,
Adequate manpower in forest division
Chapter 10 (Five Year Plans): Activities taken up under preceding Five-year plan, (planwise and schemewise) and make
summary suggestions for future based on details of the prescriptions provided in various chapters of the plan.
Chapter 11 (Past systems of management): General history of the forests, Past system of management and their
results, Special works of improvement undertaken, Past yield, revenue and expenditure
Chapter 12 (Statistics of growth and yield including statistics of forest carbon stock): Site qualitywise local volume
table must be developed and applied. Default values used with respect to estimating forest carbon stock must be
brought clearly so that specific values can be developed through experimentation and research.
PART II (Future Management)
Chapter 1 (Basis of proposals): Objectives of management, Method of treatment to be adopted, Constitution of
working circles, Period of working plan and necessity for intermediate revision
Chapter 2 (Description related to silvicultural aspects, yield, harvest and regeneration): Name of working circle
clearly marked on GIS-based maps, General constitution of working circle, General characteristics of vegetation,
Felling series, cutting sections and JFM areas, Blocks, compartments and JFM area (marked on GIS-based maps),
Special objectives of management, Analysis of the crop, Silvicultural system, Rotation period, Harvestable diameters,
Reducing factors and reduced areas, Felling cycle, Division into periods and allotment to periodic blocks (PB),
Calculation of the yield, Table of felling, Method of executing the felling, Subsidiary silvicultural operations cleaning
and thinning, Regeneration, Associated regulations and measures
 JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY 11

Table 2. Appendices suggested for the working plan (NWPC, 2014).

Appendices Title Description
Appendix I Divisional area statement ● Listing of block ranges, villages, compartments, subcompart-
ments, coupe.
● Composition and density of trees, site quality, growing stock, area,
number of cattle units permitted and other details.
Appendix II A Enumeration and its results ● Details of compartment history including major NTFPs. The fig-
ures to be detailed by working circles, felling series, blocks and
compartments and/or beat, sub-beat and village.
● Abstract or summary of assessment of enumeration with esti-
mated total growing stock.
Appendix II B Biodiversity assessment ● Detailed report of biodiversity assessment to be annexed indi-
cating biodiversity richness of the area.
● Density (tree/unit area), frequency of occurrence (%), total basal
area (m2/ha) and Important Value Index (IVI) of trees, saplings,
seedlings, climbers, herbs, grasses and sedges to be tabulated.
Appendix II C Regeneration surveys ● Regeneration survey data to be analyzed and reported.
Appendix II D Socio economic survey ● Report on socio-economic survey indicating dependency of
people on forests.
Appendix III NTFP (including MAPs) ● Estimated quantities along with type of plants, their part, and its
Estimation utility, area, species, etc.
● Scientific and local name of species, location where found, area,
potential harvestable quantity, estimated harvest, etc.
Appendix IV Research plots ● List of existing sample plots, linear increment plots, tree incre-
ment plots, preservation plots, protected trees, plus and elite
trees, NTFPs, seed orchards, etc.
● Location and description of each of the plots.
Appendix V Rights, concessions, grazing ● All Government settlement reports, orders. and notifications
regulations, and notifications including the notifications under Forest Rights Act (FRA)
Appendix VI Schedule of rates ● The current schedule of rates of timber, NTFPs, and other forestry
works
Appendix VII Leases, contracts, transfers ● Details of leases, contracts, land transfer cases (FC Act and FRA),
other related activities, etc.
● Approved rehabilitation and reclamation plan for each mining
lease and stipulated conditions of environmental and forest
clearances.
Appendix VIII Ranges, beats and their ● Rangewise and beatwise constitution of blocks and compart-
headquarters and area ments along with maps.
Appendix IX Buildings and rest houses ● List of forest buildings, rest houses, their location by lat./long.,
number of suites/rooms, distance from road and altitudes, etc.
Appendix X Divisional Forest Officers ● List of DFOs served in the division is given right from the day of
formation of the division
Appendix XI Joint Forest Management (JFM) ● The details of JFM villages (range wise) along with location by
lat./long., area allotted to JFM, status of micro plan
Appendix XII Fire ● Details of all fire cases (range wise) for at least past three years.
● Severity and burnt area

● Others appendices such as list of forest offences may also be added

required to prepare maps following standard protocols. A common projection parameter

having the definition of spheroid as WGS84, datum WGS84 and Universe Transverse
Mercator (UTM) projection system has been suggested while making spatial layers. Use of
modern tools of RS, GIS, and GPS supported with high-end computing devices or work
stations has been suggested for the preparation of spatial layers. It has been suggested to
incorporate 19 mandatory GIS layers while altogether it suggests for total 41 spatial layers.
Table 3 illustrates indicative lists of layers suggested for the working plans.
12 M. KUMAR ET AL.

Table 3. Indicative list of spatial layers suggested for working plans (* indicates mandatory layers)
(NWPC, 2014).
S.
N. Spatial layers Possible sources
1 Division boundary* Maps in the division/department
2 Range boundary* Maps in the division/department
3 RF and PF boundary* Maps in the division/department/SOI toposheets/existing digitized
boundary
4 National parks and wildlife sanctuaries* Maps in the division/department/WII
5 Beat boundary Maps in the division/department
6 Block* Maps in the division/department
7 Compartment boundary* Maps in the division/department
8 Location of all the offices* Maps in the division/department/GPS
9 Village locations* Survey of India (SOI) toposheets/Census
10 Road network* SOI toposheets/Google Earth
11 Railway line SOI toposheets
12 Forest check gates* Maps in the division/department/GPS
13 Rest houses Maps in the division/department/GPS
14 Stream network* SOI toposheets/Satellite Images/ASTER DEM
15 Nurseries* Maps in the division/department/GPS
16 High resolution satellite imagery* National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC)
17 Forest cover* Forest Survey of India (FSI)/self-interpretation
18 Forest type/stock map* FSI/maps in the division/department
19 Police station/chowkis SOI Toposheets/Police Department’s Map
20 JFMCs* GPS
21 Plantation locations in the last 15/20 Maps in the division/department/GPS
years
22 Forest depots Maps in the division/department/GPS
23 Fire locations recorded in the last 5 FSI’s website and conversion of the same in to point coverage
years
24 Parent geology Maps from GSI
25 Protected areas* Maps in the division/department/WII
26 Wildlife corridors Maps in the division/department/WII
27 Eco-tourism spots Maps in the division/department/GPS
28 Soil type NBSS&LUP map on 1:250,000 scale
29 Altitude zones* ASTER DEM
30 Slope ASTER DEM
31 Aspect ASTER DEM
32 Fire affected area Burnt area mapping using IRS P6 LISS III data
33 Fire sensitive spots Grid analysis using FSI’s forest fire spots data
34 Encroachment* Existing map in the division/remote sensing based change detection
35 Management areas and working circles To be identified/created in GIS in the course of preparing WP
36 Location of saw mills Existing maps/GPS survey
37 Mining areas Existing maps/GPS survey
38 Grid layer of rainfall Indian Meteorological Department, Pune
39 Grid layer of temperature Indian Meteorological Department, Pune
40 Forest research plots GPS
41 Seed production areas/Plus trees/CSOs GPS

Integration of climate change, biodiversity and sustainability related issues

The NWPC (2014) provides ample scope to mainstream and addresses the issues of
climate change and biodiversity conservation through working plans in India. Detailed
systematic enumeration with appropriate geo-coordinates at repeated periodic cycles of
working plan revisions which is generally 10 years, ensures spatial and temporal informa-
tion about the changes in species composition, species range shifts, changing biodiversity,
physiological changes in plant life cycles, the growth pattern of species, changing bound-
aries of forest ecosystems, etc. These changes may be induced by climatic or other
stressors including human interferences. To distinguish between the climatic and non-
climatic stressors, creation and maintenance of sufficient numbers of preservation and