FORA (Forestry For All)

# FORA (Forestry For All) This wiki contains background information as well as a design outline for the intended organization "FORA", or "Forestry for All" - a not-for-profit in the socio-ecology space. The primary geography of operation for the organization for the first five years is envisaged as rural & semi-wilderness areas of the Western Ghats region within Karnataka, especially those abutting natural sites with rich bio-diversity. ## Introduction ### Trees & Biodiversity ### Agriculture & Biodiversity ### Traditional Ecological Knowledge ### Rural Employment ## Team ### Directors (To-be) **Sheshadri Ramaswamy** The quintessential forest man, Sheshadri has spent the last two decades exploring, documenting and understanding the flora of South India. He is an authority on field botany and has been sought out by many an academic, researcher and author. Having been involved in myriad citizen movements and "greening" initiatives he has converged upon forestry practice, agro-forestry and forestry education as the core of his work. He is an editor of the book *Forest Trees of the Western Ghats* by SG Neginhal, and has authored an important monograph on urban forestry. However, the true thrust of his effort has been on the ground, setting up indigenous nurseries, maintaining seed banks, developing effective methodologies for forestry and raising trees, training Forest Department staff in forestry practice, and introducing school children and interested adults to the world of trees and flora via various training programs and "tree walks". **Ramprasad Rao** Profile ### Advisors **Sujay Dinnalli** Sujay is a systems practitioner interested in building systems that promote equity and diversity in a vibrant, new world. ## Background ### A Two-decade Focus on Flora ### The *Hasiru Mudradi* Project ### The seeds of FORA ## FORA: Key Ideas ### Objectives 1. Biodiversity conservation and management 1. Conserving traditional ecological knowledge 1. Biodiversity enhancement 1. Culture creation around ecology / spread of ecological consciousness 1. Ecology-positive employment and local economy 1. Creation of new knowledge from fieldwork ### Core Activities #### Working with Farmers 1. Design and development of schemes and programs to incentivize ecology-positive farming practices 1. Co-building ecology-positive and sustainable practices with farmers 1. Development of forestry goods and marketing 1. Documenting farm success stories & communicating locally / globally 1. Bringing new farmers into the fold / expanding the network #### Forestry Education 1. Integrating with school syllabus & training program development 1. Conducting regular training sessions for local schoolchildren 1. Ecology interpretation camps & programs for interested parties #### Conserving Traditional Ecological Knowledge 1. Identifying, encouraging & enabling local traditional experts to become ecology instructors for the community / region 1. Design and development of welfare schemes for local traditional experts 2. Document knowledge by recording training sessions, interviews with local traditional experts, and interpreting ecology based folklore via scientific language #### Integrating with Local Forest Department 1. Collaboration in maintaining indigenous nurseries 2. Field training augmentation for Department staff #### Supporting Field Research #### Working with Local Communities 1. Working with local entrepreneurs to build eco-tourism and other eco-business 2. Co-developing community projects involving flora / biodiversity 3. Initiate formation of local Biodiversity Management Committees (BMC) and creation of biodiversity registers ### Critical Success Factors #### Local Capacity Building #### Local Communication #### Creating a Platform for Research #### Communicating to a Larger Audience ## FORA: Planned Structure ### Overview ### Nodes ### Measurement of Impact / Performance Indicators ### Revenue & Funding ## FORA: The Road Ahead ## FORA: Support Required