National Working Plan Code (NWPC):

What is the National Working Plan Code?

The National Working Plan Code (NWPC) is a guideline document issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, to regulate and standardize scientific forest management and planning in the country.

A Working Plan is essentially a blueprint for the management of forests in a specific division or region, usually prepared for a period of 10 years.
It outlines how forests should be conserved, harvested, regenerated, and monitored while ensuring ecological balance and livelihood support.

Key Objectives of NWPC:

1. Sustainable Forest Management (SFM):
   Balance between conservation, resource use, and community livelihood.

2. Ecological Security:
   Preserve biodiversity, soil, and water resources through proper forest management.

3. Climate Resilience:
   Support forests as carbon sinks and align management practices with climate change mitigation and adaptation.

4. Community Participation:
   Incorporate Joint Forest Management (JFM) and the rights of forest dwellers under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006.

5. Scientific Data Collection:
   Ensure evidence-based planning through Geospatial Mapping, Remote Sensing, GIS, and forest inventories.

Latest Update – NWPC 2023:

India introduced a revised National Working Plan Code in 2023, replacing the older NWPC 2014.

Major Features of NWPC 2023:

• Integration of FRA, 2006:
  The code recognizes Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) and integrates them into forest planning.

• Climate Action Alignment:
  Focus on carbon sequestration, REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation), and climate-resilient forestry.

• Technological Advancements:
  Use of LiDAR, drones, AI, and satellite imagery for forest assessment.

• Holistic Forest Management:
  Emphasizes ecosystem services, biodiversity conservation, and non-timber forest products (NTFPs) along with timber management.

• People-Centric Approach:
  Encourages participatory management with Gram Sabhas, particularly in areas where Community Forest Rights have been recognized.

Significance of NWPC: