Three-Day Community Forest Resource Management Workshop in Gaurela, Chhattisgarh

ATREE’s CFR team organized a three day training workshop focused on Community Forest Resource Management in collaboration with Nav Nirman Chetna Manch (NNCM) in Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi district, Chhattisgarh. Representatives from Community Forest Resource Committees (CFRCs) of approximately 5 villages from across the district as well as ATREE FRA coordinators from Dindori district participated in the workshop.
On the first day, Hritik Bhatnagar (ATREE RA) and Dr. Shruti Mokashi (ATREE Post Doc) highlighted the importance of understanding different types of maps to the NNCM field staff, as well as the utility of the WebGIS platform developed by ATREE, explaining how satellite maps can be effectively used in forest management planning. This was followed by a field visit to village Khanta in Marwahi block to understand some of the local issues faced by the villagers.
On the second day, Anubhav Shori (ATREE District Coordinator) and Dr. Shruti Mokashi gave a detailed presentation on important provisions of the Forest Rights Act 2006, the objectives of forest management, and key aspects of a successful forest management plan. The session included video demonstrations showcasing exemplary forest management practices in Maharashtra and Bastar. Following this, participants broke out into groups and drafted forest management plans for their respective villages.
On the third day, Anubhav Shori began the session with an in-depth discussion on the responsibilities and duties of the Gram Sabha and the Community Forest Rights Management Committee (CFRMC). He emphasized the role of Gram Sabhas, democratic processes, and the importance of collective decision-making in ensuring effective forest management. Finally, the workshop concluded with participants presenting their village-specific forest management plans in groups.