Procedure for felling of trees in the registered lands

~c:J~·~°i·~ll]·ll]~~·1 ~·°i~·~~·cl\ll]~·a5~·~°i·ftlll]\ 3ill]~·a5~·~~·~~·1·1c\q~·1ll]·~~·~~~1 Royal Government of Bhutan Ministry of Agriculture and Forests Department of Forests and Park Services No.DoFPS/K.a-3/2012/ //)-CJ I. The Director, UWICE, Lamegonpa, Bumthang 2. The Program Director, RNR-RDC, Yusipang 3 The Chief Forest Officers, THIMPHU FPED, WCD, SPED, FRMD, WMD & NRED. 4. The Chief Forest Officers, All Territoral Forest Divisions & Parks. 5. Dzongkhag Forest Officers, all Dzongkhags Subject: Procedure for felling of trees in the registered lands. November 12, 2012 The procedure for fell ing of trees from the private/governemt registered land has been approved by the Hon ' ble Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Forests based on the proposal submitted by the Department of Forests & Park Services vide notesheet no. DoFPS/Kha-13-28/2012/890 dated 15th October, 2012. Henceforth, al l the matters pertaining to felling of trees in the registered lands should be implemented as per approved procedures with immediate effect. A copy of the approved procedure is attached herewith. • JI 'II. ,'n0&;,.,l.ov,~r The Procedures are also available on the DoFPS website: www.dofps.gov.bt.l ,.,.""4 • V (Chen~ • DIRECTOR CC to: I. The Hon'ble Minister, MoAF for kind information. 2. The Hon'ble Secretary, NLCS for kind information. 3. The Hon ' ble Secretary, MoAF for kind information. 4. The CFO, FRMD to upload the procedure on DoFPS website ~- ~a />l,Jes✓ /V/11~,:: .-4cr o.:,J.sllt Proettlutt for ft lling of trttS in tbt rtJUtm-ci bnth I. Background The Lund J\ct 2007 hJs i.i\'Cn ownership rights to the thr.tm holder over trees gro\\>·ing on the rcgislcrcd lnnd. 'l he rorcst and Nature Con.scn·ation Rulci. 2006 v,llS panly amended in 2008 10 rcgulme trees growing on Lhe registered land in uccordnnee wi1h the Land Act. Thi; nmcndcd Rules or2008 authorize DFOIPM LO issue forestry clcaroncc lbr Che removal of trees from the rcgi, 11.;rcd lnnd. The clcar:mccs were i~sued bnscd on the field report of Lhe Range Officer nnd the cndor)Cmcnl or registered land by the Gup. One of1hc Jlims ofll11! 2008 amelldcd rules was that the ph)i.ical houndar)· verification of1he regi!-.lCred land ,,&) difficult The land owners ,,c-re either not eliiiblc to apply for forestry clearance i1, per their cn11dcmcn1 or in some ca~s. it \\l!nt bC):ond their boundaries into GRF areas \\he~ dear (elfin, ,,ere reponcd. The prcscribc:J '-'=knlilic methods of h.ar\csting umber \\Cf'C also no1 implied. There ii t1 ncc:J 10 1,ll.c m.:a-.urcs w reduce or s1op clear fcll1ni nr tr1."C~ on pn,·ate lands. cncrwchnl<nt mto GRF land. and n.'<luce rk!pli\'t impacts on CCO))')lcm ~n·ices of local la.ndsc.npc; 1hc D..:partmem proposes enforcement of 1hc'C 1ntcrun rulci nnd procf.-durcs. 2. Legnl provbions In Ful'C$b and Nature Consen•;1tion Amencfod flulc", 2008 rile forest 1>roduccl! shall be removed by the lnnd own1.;r Imm the 1,rivntc. Uovcrmnent. Orgoni,mion, and Corporations regi:,tered londs only on obtuinina rorcsl produces clea.rance. Jn ca!tC or tree rcinm·nl the tree has to be mnrkcd by forestry official. For a bonnfidc domestic purrose!I, no permit nnd royohy is required, however, for tmmporlulion of fores t produces the 1ransil permit ,hall he obtained. Jn case of commercinl purposes, the permit shall be obtained and royal!} shall be chru-~cd a, par "ilh rural house buildina 111nher No person may fell or remove All) tr«l\ from rc-gistcrcd land unl~ such tree 15 marled I!. its ba.o;c with impre$iOn ofa ,alid nwi<in& lwnm<r ] . Interim Ru Its and no~g prottdures for nmo,·al of fornb pn,cluc~ from rtg.istend bod l'ro«dun 10 b< follo.,td: n) The cadas1rnl mop, lo.gth.ram. plot number should be \'Cri lied ond endorsed by the Gi!wow(l tm.lllldc authority, b) ·1 he land rcqucslcd for rcmovol of forcsl produce ndjolnln~ CIU' lmul should be well dcmnrcolcd wilh government approved pegs, The demnrcotion with pegs will however only be olong the periphery ol'lhe portion ofregiMcrcd lund udjoinins the GR.F. I of 3 c) The physical verification of the land shall be done by Gewog Administration in rural areas and Thromdey Administration in urban areas in presence of concerned forest representatives. 4. Application a) The DFO/PM shall entertain the application for the removal of forest produces from private, Government, organizations and corporation's lands in rural areas only if Lagthram is verified by the concerned Geog Administration authenticating the ownership and survey record of the land in question as per the prescribed application form Annexure 18 (c).In case of urban areas (Thromdey), the application for removal of forest produces from private, Government, organizations and corporation's registered lands shall be verified by the Municipal Authority as per the prescribed application form Annexure 18 (c). b) Inspection and clearance The Ranger shall inspect forest produce in question, as per the prescribed format given in Annexure 18 (b ). These reports along with a copy of sketch map shall be submitted to the DFO/PM for final forest produces clearance. 5. Management of trees growing in any registered land a) Only 25 % of the tree stand should be removed as per thinning guidelines in order to maintain stability of the remaining stands. b) In case the thram holder desires to convert his forested land for cultivation of agricultural crops, then a Letter of Undertaking is required from the Department of Agriculture stating that the clear felled land is suitable for agricultural purposes. Based on undertakings the forestry clearances can be issued. c) In case the thram holder desires to convert his forested land for infrastructure development that include permanent diversion of land use, then the thram holder should submit approved area development plan and also submit a copy of construction approval from relevant authority and agency. 6. Timber Disposal from registered land a) Any tree proposed for commercial consumption from Government registered land shall be marked and handed over to NRDCL for extraction and disposed as per NRPC approved rate through existing timber allotment system. b) Any tree proposed for personal use from private registered land shall be marked and handed over to thram holder for extraction. 2 of3 c) The selling rate of sawn timber in the market irrespective of origins or mode of transactions shall be at par with latest approved NRPC rate. d) The thram holder is not entitled for rural timber subsidy if timbers are so ld for commercial purposes from the private forest. 7. Royalty a) Commercial rate of royalty shall be levied for any kind of transactions, such as selling and lending. b) No royalty shall be levied for personal construction in rural areas. If the timbers are used in commercial areas for personal construction, then commercial royalty shall be levied. 8. Prohibition Forestry clearance wi ll not be issued for the fo llowing activities in the registered lands: a) clear fel ling for trading purposes b) clear fe lling in erosion prone areas c) clear felling in critical watershed areas 9. Penalty a) The violation of above mentioned rules shall be considered as forest offence and shall be liable for fine and penalty. b) The fel ling of trees without approval, valid permit, and without marking shall be liable for fine of Nu. I 00 per cubic foot and the confiscation of forest produce and any equipment including vehicle. 3 of 3 ANNEXURE -18 (b) ROY AL GOVERNMENT OF BHlJT A~ MINISTRY OF AGRJCUL TT RE DEPARTMENT OF FOREST I. Details of appl icant (a) Name: .. .... .. ........... . . (b) House No.: ... . .. .... ... . .... . .... . (c) Thram No: . .. .. .. ... . ......... . . ... .. . . (d) Chiwog: ....... . . ....... . ..... . ... . .... . (e) Village: .. .. ... ...... . ...... .. .. . . ... . .. . (f) Geog: ......................... .. .. . (g) Dungkhag: ... . .. . ........ ... .. . .. . (h) Dzongkhag: ........... . .... . ...... . . 2. Land In question details Inspection Report for r emoval Forest Produce from R egistered Land Si. Plot I ~ Forest produce No No. - ::.. Species Trees(> 3' I Poles .... I ?--. "-> " -~ ~ ..... 2 ~ ...... ~ girth) ( , T • , • - :::: (,J <-, o •v f•:1 2 e., - .:., , .. .. 1.,. ~ ~~ (I.I (...) ::.: ... ~ ~ Q ~ ;;, §- ~ ~- "' ~ < --..i '--.l ~ ~ --..;.. ~ 2;:j ~ I I I I I I I I I I I i I ! ! I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ! i I I I I I I I I ! i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I i I ' I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I i I ! ! I ' J. Sketch map attached . ...:.. l::s~ect:~m Officer's ;-err:arks/view-s: "\:~;.1c ...... . ............. . ............ .... ..... . .. . ..... Des!g1:ati0!1 . . . ?:.:?. ;(I> .................. . ..... . .. D.:!ie ................. . ! I .. ,, ... ... \ I ,7'{ e.,,("' i,s I I I i ! I I I i I I I ' I ! ' : ' ·----·· J I "f r J l'f I I ll 5. Recommendation of the Range Officer Office No .......................................... .. ................................ Date .................... . . Forwarded to the Head of the Division/Park with the following recommendations: (a) Recommended for issuing forestry clearance OR (b) Recommended for review of point No ....... . ............... . .... above .................... . Signature of the Range Officer (Office Seal) Name . . .. . .. .. . . .. . .. . ... Place .............................. .. 6. Approval or Rejection by DFO/PM Office No .... . ........... . .................................... . .................. . ... Date ..................... . Justification for approval/rejection Sign:.iture of the DFO/PM Office seal Name Place .. Anncxure I S(c) APPLICATIO FORl'VI FOR REMOVAL OF FOREST PRODUCE FRO:vI REGISTERD LAD Part A - To be filled in by the Applica nt a. b. c. d. e. f. Name of Applicant Village Geog Dzongkhag Thram No. Plot No. g. Details of forest produce to be removed: . ............. .................. . . .. . . . . . . . . ! hereby certify that the details given <;cove W! tr:.ie to the best of my knowledge. I;, cc1.;e ot· .11~:: false or wrong information, I nm lia~le m be penalized under prevai!ing Forest & Nurure C'onservcttioil Act and the Rules mad~ fr1ere l!nder. l .~ffix legal 1 stamp i I Date Part b : To be fii led in by Gup I. . .. .................... .. Gup of. . ............. . .... Geog, l,creby cert:fy that: I have verif:ecl the c!crai:s or '.he appiic:1:n ar.d foi.:nd to b~ trne and c,)rrect Ji. Dt:ring ~;1c p:1ysical irspcl:tic~;, t'.:e !and will be shown to the forest cfri-: i::'. !y/ T,ogpa.'Chii;on. . .,,...--­ ! t I ' I .. • ·