MESSAGE OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & PROJECT DIRECTOR

Tripura Forest Environmental Improvement and Poverty Alleviation Project (Tripura JBIC Project) was launched with registration of the Society on the 24th May, 2007 for implementation over a period eight years commencing from FY 2007-08 to improve the quality of the forest cover and the livelihood opportunities of the rural poor especially the tribal population who are dependent on forests for sustaining their lives.

2. The Project aims at rehabilitation of degraded forests as well as the individual land with preference to local tree species, bamboo and value addition.

3. The State is located in the Bio-geographic zone 9B-North-East Hills and posses an extremely rich biodiversity which is getting increasingly threatened. The State also has one of the oldest, richest & most diverse cultural traditions associated with use of medicinal plants. There are large number of village-based practitioners of herbal medicines & also specialized practitioners who have traditional knowledge of herbal home remedies of ailments & nutrition. The project aims to further develop the sector so that the state becomes a veritable repository of this heritage.

4. Under the Bio-diversity component there is a proposal to undertake an inventory of the rich bio-diversity resources of the state and harness the Eco-tourism potential on selected sites. All the hill ranges of Tripura are running parallel to each other from the north to the south, and the valleys with fertile paddy land. The unique geographical features of the hills are ideal for formation of natural lakes and towards sustained resources of livelihood under the Joint Forest Management. Bamboo plays a very vital role in the economy of the State as it serves the artisan & non-artisan users of the State.

5. The project shall be implemented through the JFM mechanism in 400 committees (200 new and 200 existing) which are not covered under National Afforestation Programme. A separate project component for holistic development of the people through establishment of 16 regrouped tribal villages who honeycomb the forests shall be taken up towards permanent settlement so that they can avail of the opportunity of all the developmental activities of the State.

6. The Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) Centre for Excellence will focus on Bamboo, Cane and other Non Timber Forest resources for creation of entrepreneurship and importing superior industrial technology from outside the country for value addition. Meaningful research on marketing potential for improved products of the States shall be created

7. Development of Geographic Information System and Management Information System for sound and efficient management of forest resources are other important components of the Project.

8. The Project is expected to alleviate the poverty, improve the economic condition of rural people through sustainable development of natural resources and other primary sector activities, environmental improvement and eco-development.
9. It is with the expectation that there would be reflection of the wishes and aspiration of the People that the website has been launched and I hope that the website shall continue to act as the medium for which the Project has been conceived and designed.

S. Talukdar
Chief Executive Officer & Project Director
Tripura JBIC Project.
e-mail: sanatantalukdar@hotmail.com &
talukdarsanatan@yahoo.com