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Reaping the benefits by Milking rather than slaughtering it: Zhasela Community Forest



One day, trying to axe down the most formidable tree in the forest, the poor woodcutter chanced upon a resident spirit who gifted him the goose. The goose which lays the golden eggs was gifted for sparing his abode. The foolish woodcutter once home, slaughtered the goose and enjoyed the chicken menu in the dinner that evening. This should not be the case with their Community Forest is what the CFMGs of Zhasela CF firmly believes in.   
To the members of the Zhasela Community Forest Management Group, their forest is like the red lactating cow whose benefits can be enjoyed perpetually by milking it rather than foolishly slaughtering for one time benefit. They do not only draw what is required for them but also has strategies and mechanism to payback by executing numerous management activities aimed towards sustainable development of the forest. The CFMGs has over the last five years, contributed free labour in implementing many management activities inside the Community Forest area.
The free labour contribution were provided mainly in carrying out the activities such as creation of fire line, weeding, clearing, cleaning & other tending operations, Tending operations such as Clearing, cleaning and weeding which involves removal of unwanted grasses and herbaceous plants that competes with the desired species for space, sunlight and minerals are done regularly as prescribed by the approved Community Forest Management plan. This is basically done to encourage speedy and better growth and development of the desired species. The clearing and management also includes removal of dead, diseased and dying trees which are allotted as firewood, quantity of which has been already mentioned in earlier part of the report. The clearing, cleaning and removal of unwanted bushes and climbers are also done to improve the forest condition in overall. Towards this, almost 15 acres of the clearing has been carried out till date.
The thining was also carried out as part of management. The firewood and fencing posts are marked in the congested stocks to create space for the remaining trees. The management activities such as harvesting of Drashing, Cham and Dangchung are also carried out quantity of which has also been already mentioned above. The overall silviculture system practiced is single tree system whereby single tree is marked and removed. The total of 86 mandays has been contributed in the course of five years and five months of operation by the Community Forest Management Group towards clearing and management of the Community Forest area.
Other activities include harvesting for domestic use and sale of surplus, CF Nursery raising to fulfill the need of seedlings for enrichment plantations to be carried out inside the CF area and sell the surplus seedlings to generate more income through diversified fund sources. The six bedded Nursery was constructed which include 4 transplant beds and 2 mother beds. The labour was contributed by the CFMG themselves while the technical backstopping was provided by the Dzongkhag forestry sector through geog forestry extension agent. The cost of materials & transportation charges were incurred from the accumulated CF Fund. The CFMGs spend atleast 45 mandays constructing the 6 bed CF Nursery.
The enrichment plantation was carried out inside the Community forest area. The main objective of doing the plantation was to replace and replenish those utilized by the CFMGs. There is also need to improve the forest condition through plantation as mentioned in the Management plan.

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