Skip to content Skip to navigation

Man-made forest at Bhairabkunda

Spectacular sceneries of Gedsimani (JFMC) forest at Bhairabkunda

In an effort for long term conservation amid the gloom of large scale deforestation in Assam specially in violence infested Udalguri district, villagers of six villages on the Assam-Bhutan-Arunachal border at Bhairabkunda joined hands successfully regenerating a stretch of barren sandy forest land.The results of this quiet community initiative done under joint forest management (JFMC) are evident with the regenerated forest expanse of 5500 bigha already emerging as a shelter of wild animals and birds.The 22.24 sq KM Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest (RF)was left without a single tree by the early 1980s due to rampant illegal logging. Afforestation drive by forest department in association of people of six villages namely-Sonaigaon, Bhairabpur, Goroimari, Sapangaon,No.1 Mazargaon and No.2 Mazargaon started in April 2007 and within five years a spectacular man made forest presently known as Gedsimani Forest(JFMC) has grown up at Sapangaon by converting plot of barren sandy lands measuring 5500 bigha in to a new picturesque forest by planting more than 1400000 (fourteen lakhs,which could be a world record)saplings of various valuable species ie, khoir,gomari,simul,shisham etc near Dhansiri river,very close to Bhutan and ArunachalWildlife loving people of Assam hope that the place would draw the attention of tourists all over the world,if government developed infrastructure of the area.The regenerated forest land now has rich vegetation and has given shelter to wild animals,birds beside various species of flora.A small river with several canals -a few of those man made runs throughout the forest, providing replenishment for the green cover.


Nature loving office bearers of JFMC,namely Esmail Daimari, Elision Daimari,Lenin Daimari, Bimal Daimari,Purna Daimari, Atul Basumatari, Prenson Daimari, Pilup Daimari,Alfred Daimari,Helena Basumatari and Someswari Daimari believe that with some support from Assam government and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) the area can be developed as an ideal eco- tourism hub.With rivers criss-crossing the verdant Assam-Bhutan-Arunachal border and the Bhairabkunda Reserve Forest providing some undulating trekking trails,there is a definite scope for promoting tourism.In the year 2003,thirty five numbers of village people formed and registered “Sonaigaon Multipurpose farm”,for cultivation,farming purposes.It had been a historic turn when these people came into contact of Naba Kumar Bordoloi,then Forest Range Officer serving at Bhairabkunda RF.Forest officer Bordoloi convinced members of the farm to proceed with planting of trees under JFMC (Joint Forest Management)scheme.


In 2005 process of documentation, survey etc had been done and proposal was submitted to Ministry of Environment and Forest government of India. Plantation was done during 2007 to 2011.It has been a continous procees when people of the six villages, students, woman etc had been planting more than 14 lakhs of saplings till now.All the saplings had been well protected by the members.They formed six subcommittees under the central committe.The six sub committees are-1.Goraimari JFMC;2.Sonaigaon JFMC;3.Sapangaon JFMC; 4.Bhairabpur JFMC; 5.No.1 Majorgaon JFMC and 6.No.2 Majorgaon JFMC.Its a matter of pleasure that wild animals like elephants, leopards, Mongoose,python,deer,wild boar,various species of snakes etc.A flying snake of paradise species was also seen in the forest last year in 2015.Wild elephants were seen delivering babies in this forest last year bringing a ray of hope in mitigating severe “Man-elephant conflict” in Udalguri district.So far more than 83 people and 35 numbers of wild elephants have lost lives in the district during last five years(2012-2016) because of rapid destruction of forests.The arrival of wild elephants has been a good sign,as they could live peacefully in the forest with plenty of fodder and drinking water.Unfortunately there is no funding for maitainance of the forest since 2011.The honest and simple villagers have been working without any salary since 2007.Neither BTC nor Assam government had ever thought of supporting this unusual man made forest.Only the then Deputy Commissioner of Udalguri Thaneswar Malakar arranged to construct a guest house for the visitors and members with Rs.500,000 (five lakhs).Aranyak of Assam supported them with two solar light sets.Members Udalguri District Journalist's Union and Udalguri Press Club request BTC authority and DFO,Dhansiri Forest Division,Udalguri to support them with any scheme for more plantation for providing shelter to wild animals and birds and to promote eco-tourism in the district.


 


 

 



 

Comments

Amal Das's picture

Can you provide the full address of JFMC Forest. It will be more easy if you can provide the Latitude/Longitude or Updated direction in Google Map. Many toursits asked about the address of the forest.

Pages

Add new comment

Random Stories

Binalakshmi to attend GPC program

25 Aug 2016 - 4:20pm | AT News
Reputed human rights activist, author and scholar from Manipur, Ms Binalakshmi Nepram will attend the Meet the Press program of Guwahati Press Club on Friday. The interactive session will begin at 3...

Sonowal on visit to Kokrajhar Oct 26

22 Oct 2017 - 6:12pm | AT Kokrajhar Bureau
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal is attending as chief guest on the inaugural session of the Silver Jubilee celebration of the National Children’s Science Congress(NCSC),Assam chapter in...

Concern over Ulfa(I)’s claim of execution

7 May 2022 - 8:15pm | AT News
Guwahati: Patriotic People’s Front Assam (PPFA) has expressed grave concern over the news relating to the execution of two Assamese youths by the separatist militant outfit with the conviction of...

Suror Pansoi 2013

Melodious evening in Delhi

21 Mar 2013 - 9:53am | Indrajit Das
The Sankardev Bhawan premises in Delhi turned into a nest of singing birds on Sunday when singers---old and young alike mesmerized the packed gathering in the evening. Talking to Assam Times, the...

Other Contents by Author

Health minister of Assam and congress spokesperson Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma has turned tide in favour of congress in the 8 Mangaldai HPC. He addressed six big election rallies in 8 Mangaldai HPC on the same day on April 17.Nearly five thousand people attended his first election rally at Lakhimpur followed by Amba Chouk with three thousand, Nepali bazaar with ten thousand, Asimtal with seven thousand, Balabari with five thousand,Dahi and Janaramchouka with thousands respectively. Addressing people at Lakhimpur under Kalaigaon LAC,Himanta hit hard at BJP, AGP and AUDF.He said that congress had been paying salaries of the employees regularly while AGP had failed to pay its employees ,not to...
BJP workers of Darrang and Udalguri districts have expressed serious concern at the inactiveness of BJP candidate and state BJP president Ramen Deka. Hundreds of dissatisfied party workers headed by Jiten Kalita, president Udalguri District BJP Yuba Morcha, have resigned from the party to join BPF. They alleged that Ramen Deka could hardly find time to meet party officials. Common voters were out of question. In a press release Jiten Kalita said that they were against the candidature of Ramen Deka from the beginning, as he had never been aware of the problems of Darrang and Udalguri. Another allegation against Ramen Deka is that state BJP officials including Ramen Deka had never taken...
Village to village campaign by party bigwigs, including its candidate Dina Nath Das has placed BPF well ahead of all other political parties including congress,AUDF and BJP in Kalaigaon LAC under 8 Mangaldai HPC, particularly in BTAD areas.While speaking to ‘The Assam Tribune’ at Borkola near Kalaigaon, on April 11, BPF candidate Dina Nath Das said that he would prove to be the unchallenged candidate with no close contestants. Answering to a question how was his prospect outside BTAD,he said,he had equally been popular and well known in non BTAD areas like Mangaldai and Sipajhar etc. and would easily get at least five lakhs votes, enough to make him winner.He said that he was...
One suspected ULFA cadre was killed yesterday afternoon on April 8 at 4.30 pm, in an encounter with 65 Field regiment of Army at Bhuankhat village, under Kalaigaon police station in the district of Udalguri. The matter has created sensation in the areas as LS polls are on shortly. According to information received, two or three armed youths had tried to escape while met with the army patrolling party. Army immediately opened fire killing one youth on the spot, while others escaped unhurt. Officially the dead body has not yet been identified; but unofficial sources said that the dead body belonged to one Paresh Das alias Champak Deka of Goreswar. SP Udalguri along with senior officials...
Bikers of Kalaigaon have had tough time as more than ten bikes of various marks have either been stolen or snatched away by miscreants during last 30 days alone.It has been reported that armed miscreants in groups of two or three used to take away bikes forcefully from people at several places in broad day light causing serious concern among people in and around Kalaigaon.It could not be ruled out the possible use of these bikes in anti social activities including explosions by extremist groups during or before the LS polls.Police so far has failed to book any of the culprits there by enhancing the activities of the miscreants. Interestingly there had been two police constables among the...
Electioneering in 8 Mangaldai HPC has not been hotting up as majority of the common voters are seen quite indifferent to election activities of the various political parties. According to a few voters living in the villages of various LACs under 8 Mangaldai HPC, candidates of all the political parties have only been busy with their own party workers and media personals. They hardly find time for meeting common voters, what according to them could pose serious problems to all the candidates. The opening of election offices at various places in the HPC, witnessed very low attendance of common voters.At most of the places, less than one hundred people, mostly party workers were seen present on...
Nearly three hundred people of Kalaigaon and neighboring villages assembled at the P.W.D inspection bunglow on March 28, at 11 am to attend a small ceremony to express gratitude to D.N.Hazarika, former circle officer, of Kalaigaon , who had been recently transferred from Kalaigaon Revenue Circle. Representatives from forty organizations and institutions attended in large numbers to appreciate his sincere service and dedication to public welfare activities.Kamal Prasad Sharma, Mauzadar,Kalaigaon in his speech, welcomed Hazarika...
The 12th annual conference of Udalguri district ABWWF (All Bodo Women’s Welfare Federation ) will be held at Kabirali near Kalaigaon on March 26 and 27 2009 with various programme.The conference will significant on the backdrop of the ensuing LS polls, as there would be two Bodo political organizations namely BPF (Hagrama) and BPPF (Rabiram) fighting each other. The conference will be inaugurated with the opening of the main gate on 26 March at 10 am to be followed by the inauguration of the delegate session at 11.30 am. The second days programme on March 27 will commence with the hoisting of organizational flag at 6.30 am by Bibimai Daimari, president of Udalguri district ABWWF....
Poll campaign is hotting up in the 65 Kalaigaon LAC under 8 Mangaldoi HPC and hectic political activities could be seen among party workers as well as general voters in the constituency. Congress candidate Madhab Rajbongshi, BPF candidate Dina Nath Das and AUDF candidate Badiuj Zaman have been visiting voters at various places of Kalaigaon LAC. All the three candidates have been busy accusing each other for misleading the people. Madhab Rajbongshi, who had been MP on two occasions earlier addressed party workers and voters at a public meeting at Kalaigaon on March 27. This was his first election rally in Kalaigaon LAC. He hit out hard at BJP and its candidate Ramen Deka, saying that people...
People of Naharbari village under Kalaigaon revenue circle have raised allegations against PWD officials and contractors for misappropriation of huge amount of money amounting several lakhs of rupees in the name of repairing of PWD road and construction of a culvert.In a written allegation addressed to Lmsraw Daimari, EM BTAD, hundreds of prominent citizens of Naharbari areas headed by retired principal Hareswar Baishya,demanded immediate action against the concerned contractor and PWD officials, including the JE,for substandard works. According to the allegation, an amount of Rs.5 lakhs were sanctioned for the repair of the Kulsipar-Tiapukhuri PWD road in the session 2006-2007. But the...