The implementation agreement for Himachal Pradesh Forest Ecosystem Services Management (HPFES) project has been signed between the Government of Federal Republic of Germany (GIZ) and Government of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Forest Minister Thakur Singh Bharmouri on Monday said that the total outlay of the project is Rs38 crore, which is in form of grant from German government through GIZ.
Presiding over a meeting regarding implementation of this project, Bharmouri said that the project would be implemented throughout the state, with headquarters at Shimla and synergy with the KfW project being implemented in Chamba and Kangra districts would be established.
This is a technical cooperation project aimed at institutionalizing ecosystems approach in forest management in Himachal Pradesh. The project would build capacity of the HP Forest Department to take a lead in integrating economic assessment of ecosystem services in planning and decision making.
The minister said the project would include micro planning in selected pilot villages with ecosystem services approach, pilot projects to introduce PES and other incentives for promoting local stewardship in the forest management would be designed and implemented in selected villages. It also aims at development of long term ecological monitoring framework and sharing of good practices and lessons learnt with the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and other Himalayan States.
Himachal Pradesh Forest Development, Vice Chairman Kewal Singh Pathania, Managing Director lalit Mohan, Chief Conservator Archana Sharma and other senior officers of the department were also present in the meeting.
