Ensuring Sustainability - Afforestation, Reforestation and Forest Restoration in Arid and Semi-arid Tropics - page 245

Table 10.1 Distribution and
sharing of produce from a
plantation: an example

Produce/service Sharing method

Grass Cut and carry on payment of levy

Grazing On payment of levy per cattle unit

Treetops and pods Auction with supervised ops

Fuelwood Auction

Thorns Auction

Poles Auction

Small timber Auction

10.2.4 Sharing of Usufructs

An important aspect of sustainable utilisation of resources is the way produce is
shared among the user groups (Table 10.1 ). Equitable sharing is necessary to win
support of all users without which the plantation will not last for long. A fundamental
principle in sharing is to limit usufructuary rights to the genuine users. No one should
be in a position to sell such produce in the market—it is only the needy who should
use the produce for their bona fide needs. The mere fact that a person resides in
the geographic boundary of a commune should not entitle him to have a share in
each and every kind of produce from the plantation. For example, if a person has
livestock, he has a share in grazing or grass collection or lopping, but if he does not
have livestock, he does not have to be given share in these. If a person residing in
a village has access to liquified petroleum gas (LPG) for cooking, then he need not
have a share in the fuelwood from the plantation.
Sharing of produce could be free of cost or on payment of a nominal fee. This
should be determined by the local people, the user groups or the local managing body
such as the responsible community institution. However, it is best to collect at least
some fee from the users so that proper records of the produce and its distribution are
kept, and some revenue is realised for continued management and maintenance of
the plantation.
While the minor produce could be shared as explained above, it is more important
to have a previously agreed principle for sharing the final yield. Usually it is best to
divide the proceeds from sale of final produce in such a manner that enough revenue
is raised for replanting the area. The total produce can be divided into two parts.
One part can be distributed among the user groups on payment of a nominal fee and
the second part can be auctioned locally. The revenue realised should be enough to
replant the area including repair of its fence and execution of soil work as needed.
Detailed records of the quantity of produce, its distribution, the revenue realised,
and how it is to be spent on management of the resource should be kept. These data
will be valuable in refining future strategies of managing the resource and providing
empirical basis for prediction of the yields in future.