Divisional Forest Officer Bandipora

ABOUT BANDIPORA FOREST DIVISION

The Bandipora Forest Division is one of the largest Territorial Forest Divisions in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. It was created in the year 1982, having been carved out of the erstwhile Sindh Forest Division, and presently encompasses a vast area of 1,99,936 hectares (1999 sq. km) of Forest land. The Division is surrounded by the Kargil Forest Division in North-East, Sindh Forest Division Ganderbal in the South, Kamraj Forest Division in the West and by Line of Control in the North.

Administrative Structure

The Division is administratively organized into five Ranges, namely:

Khuihama Range
Ajas Range
Ningli Range
Gurez Range
Soil Conservation Range

Among them, Gurez Range is the biggest Range of this Division comprising of about 1.44 Lac ha of Forest land thus accounting for about 72.36% of the total Divisional area.

Geographical Position

Latitudes: 74°–30´ N to 75°–20´ N

Longitudes: 34°–15´ E to 34°–35´ E

The Division lies on Survey of India Metric G.T. Sheets: 43.1–7, 43 J-9, 43 J-10, 43 J-11, 43 J-12, 43 J-14, 43 J-15, 43 N-2, 43 N-3, 43 N-6, 43 N-7 (scale 1:50,000).

Civil jurisdiction: Bandipora, Gurez and Sumbal Tehsils of District Bandipora, as well as parts of Ganderbal and Baramulla Districts.

Human Dependency

The Division supports the livelihood of over 3.00 lakh inhabitants residing in about 125 villages.
Local communities depend on forests for their bonafide requirements of timber and firewood.
Excepting certain Soil Conservation areas, Ningli and Forest Plantation Closures, much of the area remains open for grazing, serving both local livestock and migratory Bakerwal/nomadic families who seasonally inhabit the Alpine pastures of Gurez, Khuihama and Ajas.
Since 2015-16, and in pursuance of Government Order No. 193-FST of 2016 dated 21-07-2016, the timber distribution system has been entrusted to the J&K Forest Development Corporation (FDC).

Forest Utilization and Restrictions

In accordance with the National Forest Policy and in compliance with directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, a blanket ban on felling of green standing trees is in force.
Consequently, the Division relies exclusively on dry-fallen/dry-standing trees (as per prescribed qualitative and quantitative norms) to meet requirements of:

•Bonafide timber needs of local residents,

In exceptional cases, particularly in far-flung, inaccessible, and snow-bound areas lacking road connectivity, timber sanction under the Kashmir Forest Notice Rules is permitted, strictly in accordance with the governing criteria.

•Additionally, the Division supplies firewood to Mosques, Religious Institutions during the winter season/special occasions, Shia communities on Moharram occasion besides, Gurudwaras and Shamshan Ghats (for cremation).

Functions of the Department

The Division is playing critical role in Conservation, management & preservation of Green Gold & Environmental protection. This Division as a land mark achievement has initiated J&K Greening under Green India Mission & under which this Division has undertook various Green Drives & cleanliness Drives as a part of management and institutional plantation, preservation & Environmental protection. The Division under took various Eco-tourism activities so as to make safer & aesthetical Bandipora.
In exceptional cases, particularly in far-flung, inaccessible, and snow-bound areas lacking road connectivity, timber sanction under the Kashmir Forest Notice Rules is permitted, strictly in accordance with the governing criteria.

*Diversion of Forest Land for non-forestry purpose under Forest Conservation Act1980. And plantation

In lieu of the diverted land under CAMPA (CA).

DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO DFO