In a powerful display of grassroots environmental stewardship, Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today honoured top-performing Village Forest Management Societies (VFMS) from Kangra and Chamba districts during a ceremonial event held at Dehra in Kangra district. The recognition was part of the KfW-funded participatory forest management project, which is driving sustainable forestry, biodiversity conservation, and community-led ecological resilience in Himachal Pradesh.
The awards recognized exceptional efforts of local forest committees across three consecutive years—2021–22, 2022–23, and 2023–24. For the year 2021–22, the first state-level prize of ₹1 lakh was awarded to VFMS Lagdu of Dehra Forest Division, followed by VFMS Chambhar of Dalhousie Forest Division with ₹60,000, and VFMS Bhated of Dehra with ₹40,000. In 2022–23, VFMS Bhated claimed the top prize, while VFMS Jaini Masroor-2 and VFMS Lagdu secured the second and third places respectively. Continuing their remarkable work, VFMS Jaini Masroor-2 again bagged the first prize in 2023–24, with VFMS Bhatth and VFMS Lagdu receiving the second and third prizes respectively.
The event also recognized division-level performances from the Dehra Forest Division, where committees from Khudian Range, Nagrota Surian Range, and Dehra Range were honoured with cash prizes ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹20,000. These awards celebrate the consistent efforts of forest communities in afforestation, land conservation, weeding out invasive species like lantana, and sensitizing local populations toward sustainable forest management.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sukhu praised the awardees for their relentless dedication to environmental protection. He acknowledged the instrumental role played by 307 active Forest Development Committees in Kangra and Chamba districts, engaged in the planning, implementation, and monitoring of this transformative forest conservation project. The CM emphasized that these grassroots efforts are essential not only for biodiversity and water catchment protection, but also for combating soil erosion and securing livelihood options for forest-dependent communities.
Highlighting the state’s ecological legacy, CM Sukhu noted that Himachal Pradesh has a forest cover of approximately 15,443 square kilometers—nearly 28 percent of its geographical area. Legally recorded forest area stands at over 37,948 square kilometers, making up a staggering 68.16 percent of the state’s territory. This, he said, grants Himachal Pradesh a unique ecological identity and moral responsibility to lead by example in sustainable development.
However, he also warned of mounting pressures from population growth, infrastructure development, and climate change, which are rapidly eroding forest wealth. In response, the state government has adopted scientific and sustainable forest management practices, with community participation at the core. As part of this initiative, a total incentive fund of ₹22.5 crore has been earmarked to encourage best-performing forest committees, out of which ₹2.5 crore has already been disbursed. The remaining funds will be transferred within the next year.
The Chief Minister also urged Himachal’s youth to take ownership of the green movement, emphasizing that a balance between development and environmental conservation is critical to ensure a prosperous and secure future. He pointed out that under this project, afforestation and land rehabilitation work have already been carried out over 13,300 hectares across Kangra and Chamba districts. More than 61,000 saplings have been planted over 8,300 hectares, while the rest of the area has been cleared of the invasive lantana plant. The project is scheduled for completion by March 30, 2026, and is being hailed as a model of how policy, modern techniques, and community participation can come together to achieve lasting environmental outcomes.
Earlier, the Chief Minister visited an exhibition organized by the Forest Department, showcasing innovative forest conservation tools and community-driven practices. Several dignitaries were present at the event, including senior government officials, legislators, and representatives from various cooperative and development boards.
This recognition event underscores the Himachal government’s firm resolve to build an environmentally secure and community-empowered state, where forests are not only preserved, but also actively nurtured by the very people who depend on them.
This is a web-generated news story.
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