FOREST AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT Government of Sikkim

• Royalty Rates and Fees on various Forest Produce and Services: Notification dated 12/09/2024
  Revised Rates (with effect from 13/09/2024) of Royalty on different categories of timbers/trees and other forest produce like sand, stone, etc. Revised Import fees, Entry fees to PAs and W/L sanctuaries, etc. » See details
• Private Quarry License Processing Time Lines:   Office Order dated 14.08.2024 of Forest and Environment Department, Government of Sikkim in regard to time lines for renewal and processing of private quarry licenses at various levels.
• Sikkim Gazette No 445 dated 22/11/2023:  Notification in regard to Reorganization of Forest Divisions/ Sub-Divisions/ Ranges/ Blocks and RF demarcation
• Sikkim Payment for Ecosystem Services Rules, 2022 (Sikkim Government Gazette Notification dated 18/07/2022)  
• Sikkim Forest Tree (Amity and Reverence) Rules, 2017: In order to promote and revive the age-old tradition of forging brotherhood relationship with trees, the State Government has notified Sikkim Forest Trees (Amity and Reverence) Rules, 2017 that allows any person to associate with trees standing on his or her private land or on any public land by entering into a Mith/Mit or Mitini relationship with a tree or trees, in which case, the tree shall be called a ‘Mith/ Mit tree’; or by adopting a tree as if it was his or her own child in which case the tree shall be called an ‘Adopted tree’; or by preserving a tree in remembrance of a departed relative in which case the tree shall be called a ‘Smriti tree’. See the notification
• The Indian Forest (Amendment) Ordinance, 2017: Bamboo not a 'tree' any more
• Heritage Trees of Sikkim
• Sikkim Government Gazette Notification No. 431 dated 15/11/2016 : Revised Rates (w.e.f 1st October, 2016) for various logging and conversion works.
• Sikkim Government Gazette Notification No. 90 dated 31/03/2016 : Revised Rates (w.e.f 01st April, 2016) of Royalty on different categories of timbers/trees and other forest produce like sand, stone, etc. Revised Import fees, Entry fees to PAs and W/L sanctuaries, etc
• Sikkim Private and Other Non-Forest Lands Tree Felling Rules 2006
• The Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) ACT, 2006
• Sikkim Forest (Transit of Timber and Other Forest Produce) Rules, 1999
• Universalization of JFMC order
• Status of Forest Nurseries and Future Action Plan 2009-10

• State of Forest Report 2021 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2019 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2017 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2015 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2013 - Sikkim 
• State of Forest Report 2011 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2009 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2005 - Sikkim
• State of Forest Report 2003 - Sikkim
• Sikkim Forest, Wildife, Biodiveristy - STATISTICS 2003
• Status of Forest Land Diversion cases 1980-2005

• Forest Cover Mapping
• Forest Type and Density Classes
• Vegetation Types
[Source: Joint Collaboration Project of Forest Deptt., Govt. of Sikkim and Regional Remote Sensing Service Centre, Kharagpur, Indian Space Research Organization, Department of Space, Government of India]

Forest Management

• Project Concept Note for Funding by JBIC for Sustainable Forest Management
• Universalization of JFMC order

Strengthening of Territorial Sector: Forrest Management and Protection are the dual functions of this sector.  The Government has addressed these vital issues in recent years than ever before in politically sensitive way.  A motivated field staff, sound legal enactment, efficient & effective transport and communication, accommodation facilities, self defence and uniforms, etc. are some of the pre-requisites to accomplish the effective management and protection.

The State Government has brought about vital amendments in the present Sikkim Forest Water Courses and Road Reserve (Preservation and Protection) Act,1988 (Amendment 2000)  to make the specified clause more stringent and harsh in enforcement.  Offences such as illegal felling of trees, encroachment and grazing in the Reserve Forest have been made non-bailable.  Other important initiatives, measures and actions taken are as follows:

Intensification of Management & Protection: The overall management of forest land and forestry resources have been intensified by better patrolling, effective forest check posts, check on illegal extraction and   transit of forest produce, reporting and recording of all forests offences and other information in Head quarter control room and Division control rooms, registration of forest cases, check on leakage of forest revenue and better communication system.

But, still many more things needs to be done at field forest staff at Forest Guard Level, More Wireless systems, Patrolling vehicles for Ranges, Arms & Ammunition, Office & residential buildings, renovation and up gradation of many existing buildings, Fixed TD/ DA to non Gazetted field staff, Ration allowance to non Gazetted field staff, better facilities in High Altitude and difficult area are required to be considered for further strengthening the system.

Forest Fire Management: A forest fire management policy has been developed in State for the first time to enable the government to focus on fire prevention aspects and to coordinate efforts by various agencies towards this important function. The policy integrates modern fire fighting approaches with community based fire fighting strategies and is devised to preserve the unique biodiversity of the forests of the State especially those of the lower altitudes. The policy provides for zoning of the forests on the basis of their vulnerability, assessed ecological impacts and intrinsic value so that different treatments can be meted out to the different zones. In the year 2003-04 the Forest details are as under:

Grazing control: The Government has imposed a ban on grazing within the Reserve Forest, Plantation areas and Water sources  areas with a view to encourage regeneration of forest resources, augment rural water supplies and develop degraded lands. The beneficial effects of this policy are already manifested in the form of improved supplies of water in the villages bordering the Forest areas, regeneration of degraded forest land and enhancement if overall natural resources status. A number of Gots have been removed and the cattle have been impounded & fined along with the wide publicity & awareness.

Infrastructure Development (Buildings): The Government has been developing infrastructural facilities for the Forest, Environment & Wildlife management staff with Central as well as State assistance in order to modernize its management and protection functions. At Gangtok Transit Hostel, Repair of road, quarter has been completed.  Divisional Forest Officer quarters/office(4), Assistant Conservator of Forest quarters(4), RO quarters(6), BO quarters(12), FG quarters(30) and Check posts(3) have been completed during the period 2002-03-04.

Infrastructure Development (Wireless Communication & Arms/ Ammunition): The wireless communication has been strengthened further. Almost State-wide Wireless Networking has been achieved except a few locations like Lachen, Lachung, Lingmoo and a few other areas which are likely to be covered in the next year. Static sets, hand sets mobile sets have been provided to all the field level functionaries for effective communication.  In keeping with the requirements of modern policing functions of forest areas the Government has also inducted arms / ammunition to the field level staff. Arms /ammunition have been provided to selected stations. There is need to procure more which may be done in the current year. Arms training was done at SAP headquarter, Pangthang. At present total (W/T): Repeater sets-5 nos, Static sets-43 nos, Hand sets-73 nos. along with accessories, Total (Arms): .22 Rifle -25nos., .315 Rifle- 6nos. and 9mm auto Pistol -9 nos along with ammunition

Infrastructure Development (Computerization): Computerizations of important forestry functions have been initiated. Computers have been provided to all the divisions. There is need to provide computer in selected Ranges also. Fax machines have also been provided to all divisions.

Survey & Demarcation: The government proposes to take up survey and demarcation of forest areas during the Tenth Plan in order to consolidate the forest resources of the State. In the area Survey and Demarcation of the forest land have been initiated in the systematic manner. The forest areas in Sikkim in the first half of the 20^th century had been surveyed and demarcated into Reserves, Khasmal and Gorucharan forests. The forest boundaries then had been demarcated by erecting loose stone mounds. These have subsequently vanished due to the burgeoning population leading to sizable forest area encroachment. In order to determine the exact extent of encroachment resurvey was required. Subsequently to establish the forest boundaries and evict the encroachers resurvey & demarcation by erecting new iron post pillars had commenced from 2001. In the initial phase 72 kms of the forest boundaries was surveyed & demarcated by erecting 223 iron pillar posts at a cost of Rs.8.53 lakhs. However while surveying & demarcating 72 kms, three pillars per km was found insufficient to distinctly demarcate the  state’s forest boundaries due to the  difficult and undulating terrain spread over remote hilly areas. Hence after obtaining the necessary approval for erecting ten pillars per km, the resurvey & demarcation activities commenced from 2003 wherein108 kms of the forest boundaries were surveyed and demarcated during 2003-04 at an expenditure of Rs.24.90 lakhs. Thus 180 kms of the boundaries have been surveyed and demarcated with 1306 nos of iron pillar posts till date. All the forest boundaries so demarcated till date are of RFs. The spillover of 32 kms at Rs.7.32 lakhs are being undertaken during the CFY i.e 2004-05. However due to the late receipt of the sanction letter for 2003-04 and the change in funding pattern from 100%CSS to 75%:25%; the original target of surveying & demarcating 700 kms of forest boundaries are being taken up in the current year.

Transport & Other facilities: Patrolling vehicle with wireless communication system has been provided to all the four Territorial divisions. There is need to  have the more patrolling vehicles in sensitive selected ranges like Lachen, Lachung, Singtam, Namthang, Melli, Nayabazar and one in Gangtok for control room.