SFTRI Campus, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
0674-2386084, 2386016 webmail@ofsdp.org
Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society

About Us

Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society (OFSDS) is an autonomous organisation under Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department.

Projects under Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society

After phasing out of OFSDP Phase-1 during the financial year 2014-15, Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project Phase- II is being implemented by Forest, Environment & Climate Change Department. The project is being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and it is being executed through Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society. The project implementation period is from 2017–18 to 2026-27. The aim of the project is to enhance the forest eco-systems and the livelihood of the forest dependent communities residing in project villages. The project cost is Rs. 1000.30 crores. The project is being implemented in 14 Forest Divisions, falling in 10 Revenue Districts of the State, through 1200 joint forest management committees designated as Vana Surakhsya Samities (VSSs). The implementing Divisions are Baripada, Rairangpur, Karanjia, Dhenkanal, Athmallik, Ghumusur(N), Ghumusur(S), Boudh, Subarnapur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Sundergarh, Bamra (WL), and Rajnagar Mangrove Forest (WL) Divisions. The project will organise 3600 women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) for enhancing their income through different income generating activities.

The Forest Vision 2020 of Odisha Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department envisages promotion of Joint Forest Management (JFM) and Sustainable Forest management through Micro Plans. It also outlines the strategies to increase the forest cover outside the forest, mainly on private lands as well as non-forest public lands. Odisha Forestry Sector Development Project Phase-I, was implemented by Forest and Environment Department through OFSDS with the assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from 2006-07 to 2014-15 in Joint Forest Management (JFM) mode along with community / tribal development. As a positive outcome of OFSDP-I the dense forest and moderately dense forest in the Project area increased significantly, as ascertained through analysis done by using satellite imageries.

In line with the Government policies and from lessons learnt from OFSDP-I, the OFSDP-II is being implemented to expand the achievements of OFSDP-I with emphasis on sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation and community development.

OFSDP-II is one of the first 3rd generation JICA assisted forestry project in India. Based on the lessons learnt from OFSDP-I, improvement and innovations are envisaged in OFSDP-II. Following strategic approaches are being adopted in order to achieve the project objectives

  1. Micro Plan as a community development plan through strengthening of convergence.
  2. Enhanced support for cluster business development and partnership ecosystem through Livelihood Resource Centre.
  3. Gender Mainstreaming
  4. Creating Models for Community-Based Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification (CMRV) System for Sustainable Forest Management for Odisha.

It is envisaged to cover 57,000 ha under plantations (51000 Ha under ANR and 6000 Ha under AR) under the OFSDP-II, which will lead 15% reduction in degraded forest area in the target VSS and enhancement of house hold income by 15% in the project area. Further Farm Forestry over 10,000 Ha land (i.e. 3rd year 2500 ha, 4th year 3250 ha, 5th year 3000 ha & 6th year 1250 ha) lands also envisaged covering about famers. Further different government schemes will also be converged in the programme villages.

It is expected that by the end of the project, there will also be enough capacity building of the institutions created under OFSDP-II which will be sustainably managing their natural resources with equitable distribution of usufructs and will be capacitated enough to implement their own development plan in convergence. During the project period 1200 number of VSS will be organized. Out of which 355 VSSs are formed in Phase-I and 423 VSSs in Phase-II, 350 VSSs in Phase-III and 72 VSSs in Phase-IV are to be formed.

Activities Proposed in OFSDP-II

Major activities proposed under OFSDP-II are divided into various components and sub-components.

  1. Preparatory Work
  2. Sustainable Forest Management Plan
  3. Sustainable Biodiversity Management
  4. Livelihood improvement component under OFSDP – II
  5. Capacity Development component

Similarly, Ama Jangala Yojana is proposed to be implemented in 30 Territorial & wildlife Divisions covering 7000 VSSs/ EDCs, which have not been covered under OFSDP Phase-I or OFSDP Phase - II.
The scheme envisages further strengthening of participatory forest management, in the state by way of bringing the informal village level institutions/ bodies involved in the protection and management of forest resources under the fold of AJY, in addition to creation of new VSSs.The scheme will be implemented by the State Forest Department through Odisha Forestry Sector Development Society (OFSDS), in partnership with selected NGOs and VSSs at the field level, by involving the Divisional Management Units (DMUs) and Forest Management Units (FMUs). The duration of the scheme is 6 years i.e. from 2016-17 to 2021-22.