दफा १८
To Hand Over The Community Forest
(1) If a users’ group formed pursuant to Section 31 wishes to manage any part of the national forest as the community forest with entitlement to develop, conserve, use and manage the forest and to sell and distribute the forest products by fixing their price independently, it shall make an application, along with a work plan, to the Division Forest Office.
(2) The Division Forest Officer may, if he or she deems it appropriate upon inquiring into the work plan referred to in sub-section (1), approve it.
(3) If the work plan is approved pursuant to sub-section (2), the Division Forest Officer shall give the certificate of hand-over of forest in the format as prescribed to the users’ group referred to in sub-section (1).
(4) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the Division Forest Officer may provide technical and other assistance required to constitute a users' group with participation of the users and to prepare the work plan.
(5) The users’ group may, on the basis of its desire and need make the work plan of the community forest or amend it as per necessity, in consultation with the concerned Local Level, in order to make effective the forest management. Prior to implementing the work plan so made or amended, the users’ group shall give information thereof to the Divisional Forest Officer.
(6) If it appears that the work plan made, or amendment made to it, by the Users' Group pursuant to sub-section (5) is likely to cause significant adverse impacts on the environment, the Division Forest Officer may direct the users' group not to implement such work plan or amendment, within thirty days from the date of receipt of information of such work plan or amendment, and it shall be the duty of the users' group to comply with such direction.
(7) The users’ group may carry out forest enterprises specified by the work plan approved by the Division Forest Office and such eco-tourism programs as prescribed.
(8) The users’ group may use the forest area as prescribed for the development of eco-tourism pursuant to sub-section (7).
(9) The users’ group may, by making an agreement as prescribed, provide any part of the community forest to the users who are below the poverty line, for income generation through the development, protection and use of the community forest.
(2) The Division Forest Officer may, if he or she deems it appropriate upon inquiring into the work plan referred to in sub-section (1), approve it.
(3) If the work plan is approved pursuant to sub-section (2), the Division Forest Officer shall give the certificate of hand-over of forest in the format as prescribed to the users’ group referred to in sub-section (1).
(4) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the Division Forest Officer may provide technical and other assistance required to constitute a users' group with participation of the users and to prepare the work plan.
(5) The users’ group may, on the basis of its desire and need make the work plan of the community forest or amend it as per necessity, in consultation with the concerned Local Level, in order to make effective the forest management. Prior to implementing the work plan so made or amended, the users’ group shall give information thereof to the Divisional Forest Officer.
(6) If it appears that the work plan made, or amendment made to it, by the Users' Group pursuant to sub-section (5) is likely to cause significant adverse impacts on the environment, the Division Forest Officer may direct the users' group not to implement such work plan or amendment, within thirty days from the date of receipt of information of such work plan or amendment, and it shall be the duty of the users' group to comply with such direction.
(7) The users’ group may carry out forest enterprises specified by the work plan approved by the Division Forest Office and such eco-tourism programs as prescribed.
(8) The users’ group may use the forest area as prescribed for the development of eco-tourism pursuant to sub-section (7).
(9) The users’ group may, by making an agreement as prescribed, provide any part of the community forest to the users who are below the poverty line, for income generation through the development, protection and use of the community forest.