ANNOUNCEMENTS
Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF)is where the user agencies must compensate for the diversion of forestland to non-forest purpose. The funds received will be used for Compensatory Afforestation, Management of Forest and protection, infrastructure development, wildlife management & protection, soil and moisture conservation activities and research & capacity building activities to mitigate the diversion of forestland. The present study aims to evaluate the CAMPA implementation in four forest divisions in Odisha state- Ghumsur North, Ghumsur South, Paralekhamundi and Berhampur. The study was carried out by using quadrant method and various phytosociological parameters like density (D), frequency (PF), abundance (AB), basal area (BA), relative density (RD), relative basal area (RBA) and importance value index (IVI) and diversity index Shannon Weiner index, Simpson’s Index. Extent of siltation was used as an indicator to evaluate soil and moisture conservation structure. Other interventions like Infrastructure, forest protection measures and wildlife protection measures were evaluated based on availability of basic facilities chosen as indicators.
Out of different plantation types in all the divisions covered, Ghumsur North had the highest Shannon Wiener index in Block Plantation (1.418), Ghumsur South had the best ANR (1.92), Paralekhamundi had the highest value in Avenue Plantation which was 1.07 and Berhampur had the highest overall canopy cover (50%). Ghumsur North also had the best overall score when compared to other 3 forest divisions.
Key words: Compensatory Afforestation, Block Plantation, Bald Hill Plantation, Assisted Natural Regeneration, Hazat, Malkhana
