Working Plan is the main instrument of forest planning (more exactly forest working) for scientific management of forests. It is a very useful document for evaluating the status of forests and biodiversity resources of a forest division, assessing the impact of past management practices and deciding about suitable management interventions for future. Periodical up-dating and revision of working plan is essential to keep pace with the trends emerging out of forest–people interface and meeting the requirements of the objectives of the National Forest Policy.

Preparation of working plan is a highly technical exercise under taken at regular interval in each forest division. The preparation of the working plan is based on stock and vegetation maps which are prepared through ground surveys. Recently, the use of modern tools like remote sensing, GIS and GPS is being utilized for preparing the forest cover maps of forest divisions. Every working plan includes the area specific scientific prescriptions for proper management of forests of a particular forest division.

All forests are to be sustainably managed under the prescriptions of a working plan. The National Forest Policy clearly states “No forest should be permitted to be worked without an approved working plan by the competent authority”. It is the duty of the manager or owner of the forest area to ensure the preparation of the working plan. The authority as designated by the MoEF&CC, will approve the working plan and ensure its implementation.

Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India has released ‘National Working Plan code-2023’ for preparation of working plans, their approval and monitoring. The preparation of Working Plans initiated after 1^st July 2023 shall comply with National Working Plan Code(NWPC)-2023.

“The National Working Plan Code-2023” has been prepared to incorporate the internationally accepted and evolving principles of sustainable forest Management and will continue to bring uniformity into scientific forest management in India and integrate multiple functions of forest in the country with the application of modern tools and techniques.

The National Working Plan Code-2023 includes the “Indian Forest Management Standard” a unique document which provides standard for all principles of sustainable forest management practices in the country in measurable terms. The standard has solutions for the complex issues and challenges posed by the diverse forest management in the country. The Indian Forest Management Standard will also act as an evaluation tool for the management effectiveness of the working plan prescriptions in the forest area of our country.

 

Mandate of Working Plan Wing  :

Working Plan Wing of the department is headed by Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Working Plan.

Mandate of Working Plan wing is preparation, periodic revision & implementation of working plans of 31 territorial divisions and Palamu Tiger Reserve area falling outside the Tiger Conservation Plan (TCP) area. Normally working plans are prepared for a period of 10 years. Working Plans are written/revised by 6 nos. of Conservators of Forests, Working Plan Circle

(designated as Working Plan Officers) under the overall guidance and supervision of APCCF Working Plan.

Six no. of GIS Cells have been established at Region Hqs to provide GIS support to WPO for preparation of working plans. These GIS cells also provide GIS support to forest divisions under that particular region.

 In addition the responsibility of co-ordination of Forest Fire Management has been given to Working Plan wing. Near real time Forest Fire alerts received from Forest Survey of India (FSI), Dehradun during forest fire season are transmitted to all the forest divisions regularly through GIS Cell, Ranchi for follow-up action. Action taken report/feedback from divisions is also monitored by working plan wing.

Approved Working Plans in Jharkhand :

SL	Name of Division	Tenure of Working Plan
1	Ramgarh Forest Division	2009-10 to 2018-19
2	Garhwa South Forest Division	2010-11 to 2019-20
3	Hazaribagh East Forest Division	2010-11 to 2019-20
4	Bokaro Forest Divison	2010-11 to 2019-20
5	Pakur Forest Division	2011-12 to 2020-21
6	Dumka Forest Division	2011-12 to 2020-21
7	Godda Forest Division	2011-12 to 2020-21
8	Lohardaga Forest Division	2011-12 to 2020-21
9	Giridih East Forest Division	2011-12 to 2020-21
10	Giridih West Forest Division	2011-12 to 2020-21
11	Dhanbad Forest Division	2011-12 to 2020-21
12	Jamtara Forest Division	2012-13 to 2021-22
13	Medininagar Forest Division	2012-13 to 2021-22
14	Latehar Forest Division	2012-13 to 2021-22
15	Chatra North Forest Division	2012-13 to 2021-22
16	Chaibasa Forest Division	2012-13 to 2021-22
17	Deoghar Forest Division	2012-13 to 2021-22
18	Simdega Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
19	Garhwa North Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
20	Hazaribagh West Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
21	Chatra South Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
22	Porahat Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
23	Khunti Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
24	Sahebganj Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
25	Koderma Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
26	Saranda Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
27	Saraikela Forest Division	2013-14 to 2022-23
28	PTR (Daltonganj South Forest Division)	2013-14 to 2022-23
29	Jamshedpur Forest Division	2014-15 to 2023-24
30	Ranchi Forest Division	2015-16 to 2024-25
31	Gumla Forest Division	2015-16 to 2024-25

 

National Working Plan Code, 2023