- Government of Rajasthan has received a loan from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through Government of India for implementation of Rajasthan Forestry and Biodiversity Project Phase 2 (“RFBP-2”) across 15 districts of Rajasthan and in around 7 Wild Life sanctuaries. The 8 year Project with an outlay of Rs. 1152.53 Crores involves taking up activities in the field of Afforestation, Soil and Water Conservation, Biodiversity Conservation, Poverty Alleviation and Livelihood Improvement in selected villages of the project area through active peoples’ participation under the Joint Forest Management (JFM) approach. The project envisages active involvement of NGOs/VOs in the field of community mobilization and development and expert individuals, agencies and institutions in technical and specialized fields. The Project has already started in financial year 2011-12.
- The Project is being implemented by Rajasthan Vaniki Evam Jaiv Vividhata Sanrakshan Society registered under Rajasthan Societies Registration Act 1958. The Society forms the State level Project Management Unit (“PMU”) of the Project. The Project Director, RFBP-2 is the ex-officio Chief Executive Officer of the Society and is responsible for the implementation of the Project. He is also the head of the Project Management Unit whose office is located in Aravalli Bhavan, Jhalana Institutional Area, Jaipur.
- Respective forest/wildlife divisions, implementing the project are called Divisional Management Unit (DMU) of the Project. The Ranges implementing the project are called Field Management Unit (FMU) of the project. At the lower levels, the Project is being implemented by Village Forest Protection and Management Committee (“VFPMC”) or Eco-Development Committee (“EDC”). A VFPMC/EDC is formed as per the extant resolutions/regulations issued by Government of Rajasthan (GoR). Livelihood Promotion activities are envisaged to be undertaken through formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) from within the members of VFPMCs/EDCs.
