Samdrup Jongkhar Division

Introduction

The Divisional Forest Office, Samdrup Jongkhar is one of the oldest divisions established way back in 1971. It is located about 200 meters away from Samdrup Jongkhar border gate and about 70 meters above the national highway that runs from Samdrup Jongkhar town. The division has large area jurisdiction covering an area of 230837 ha. It caters forestry services to two dzongkhags viz Samdrup Jongkhar and Pemagatshel covering 22 geogs (11 geogs each in both the dzongkhags).

The division is headed by a Chief Forestry Officer, supported by four Technical Sections (CPS, RATS, RIMS and RMS), Administration Section and Accounts Section at the head office. It is further supported by five field Ranges Offices namely Jomotshangkha, Nganglam, Pemagatshel, Samdrup Choeling and Samdrup Jongkhar which are spread in different locations. Range Offices are further supported by Beat Offices to improve effective service delivery. The division has also few forest check posts to ensure proper track of forest produce on transit. The divisional forest office, Samdrup Jongkhar is largely challenged by illegal felling of trees and wildlife poaching due to growing demand for forest resources with highly porous border.

Jurisdiction:

• 2 Dzongkhags : Pemagatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar
• 3 Dungkhags : Jomotshangkha, Nganglam and Samdrup Choeling
• 22 Geog: 11 Geogs each in both the dzongkhags

Boundaries:

• East: Arunachal State of India.
• West: Doimari River (BP-210 bordering RMNP).
• South: Indo-Bhutan Boundary.
• North: Dzongkhag Administration boundaries of Pemagatshel & Samdrup Jongkhar

Mission and Vision:

Conservation of natural resources through the principle of sustainable forest management to contribute and maintain at a minimum of 60% of country’s land under forest cover for all times to come which is precisely reflected under Article 5, Section 3 of the Constitution of Bhutan.

Mandates

• Conservation of natural resources to ensure sustainability for all times to come.
• Control illegal timber harvesting and wildlife poaching including exploitation of NWFP resources
• Promote smooth and permissible allocation of forest resources in line with standing rules and regulations
• Conservation of biodiversity through science and research based actions and management

Sections

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION SECTION (CPS)

• This section will basically organize and coordinate anti-poaching activities in the division as and when necessary in close collaboration with the concerned Range Office
• It is also mandated to review and process for issuance of Forestry Clearances for various developmental activities such as road construction, transmission lines, land substitution/allotment, removal of forest produce from private registered land, land lease cases, mining and quarrying among others
• This section will also compile and prepare quarterly progress report with regard to forest offence cases including forestry clearances and maintain proper record of the seized materials.
• It is also responsible to keep proper record and monitor over proper utilization of fire arms and ammunitions in close collaboration with the concerned Arms In-Charge (formerly called as Arms Section) in the division including timely maintenance, license renewal, receive, compile and submit arms and ammunition report on monthly/quarterly/yearly basis.
• The section is also expected to provide technical back stopping to Field Range Offices with regard to forest offence cases and field work related to forestry clearances.
• This section will work under the supervision of the Chief Forestry Officer and may officiate him as and when deemed necessary

Requirements:

• To shoulder the above listed responsibilities, the Section Head should be a minimum of Sr. Forest Ranger with adequate experience in this particular field
• This section should be well versed with standing rules and regulations including Forest and Nature Conservation Act and Rules of Bhutan and their amendments, remain updated with latest rules, circulars and notifications issued by the Department and Government from time to time.
• To hold and perform the desired responsibilities as listed, the management will ensure that the section has all the requirements including office furniture, computers, printers, scanners, file rack, GPS, voice recorder, digital camera, and binoculars.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND TRADE SECTION (RATS)

• This section will look after and process for smooth, permissible allocation of forest resources both timber and non-timber forest products to eligible applicants in collaboration with the concerned field Range Offices under the division
• It is also mandated to compile and prepare quarterly progress report with regard to forest resource allocation and maintain proper record both in hard and digital copies.
• This section is also expected to provide technical back stopping to Field Range Offices with regard to resource allocation procedures and quantum, periodicity of entitlement among others in line with amendments and latest rules notified by the Department from time to time.
• This section will also work under the supervision of the Chief Forestry Officer and may officiate him as and when deemed necessary

Requirements:

• To shoulder the above cited responsibilities, the Section Head should be a minimum of Sr. Forester Ranger with adequate experience in this particular field
• This section should be well versed with standing rules and regulations including Forest and Nature Conservation Act and Rules of Bhutan and their amendments, remain updated with latest rules, circulars and notifications issued by the Department and Government.
• To uphold and perform the desired responsibilities as listed, the management will ensure that the section has all the requirements including office furniture, computers, printers, scanners, file rack, GPS, voice recorder, digital camera, and binoculars.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESEARCH INFORMATION AND MONITORING SECTION (RIMS)

• It will function as the focal section to coordinate and conduct biodiversity surveys and research in collaboration with other sections and Field Range Offices under the division
• Prepare survey and research proposals based on ministry’s or department’s priority and in particular to answer to the burning issues related to species conservation, human wildlife conflicts among others.
• It is also entrusted to review research proposals from other sections and field range offices under the division and develop survey methodologies, guidelines, formats and basic field manuals for use under the division
• This section is also mandated to maintain database and update information on both plants and animals including birds
• Like other sections, it will work under the supervision of the Chief Forest Officer and officiate him as and when deemed necessary.

Requirement:

• To shoulder the above cited responsibilities, the Section Head should be a minimum of Sr. Forest Ranger with adequate experience and exposure in this particular field
• This section should be well versed with basic survey methodologies and should be able to prepare and review research proposals with certain knowledge on writing technical reports. It is also expected to know some of the software programs including ArcGIS to ease data collection, management, analysis, interpretation and reporting.
• To uphold and perform the desired responsibilities as listed, the management will ensure that the section has all the requirements including office furniture, computers, printers, scanners, file rack, GPS, voice recorder, digital camera, and binoculars.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT SECTION (RMS)

• This section will function as the focal section to coordinate activities related to Community Forestry, Private Forestry, Nursery, Plantation and Forest Fire Management Programs.
• It is also entrusted to review Community Forest Management Plans in close collaboration with concerned Field Range Offices and other stakeholders
• This section is also mandated to maintain database and update information on Community Forest, Private Forest, plantations, nurseries and forest fire
• Like other sections, it is also mandated to prepare progress report as per reporting schedule developed either by the Department or Division.
• It is also expected to function under the supervision of the Chief Forest Officer and officiate him as and when deemed necessary.

Requirement:

• To shoulder the above cited responsibilities, the Section Head should be a minimum of Sr. Forest Ranger with adequate experience and exposure in this particular field
• To uphold and perform the desired responsibilities as listed, the management will ensure that the section has all the requirements including office furniture, computers, printers, scanners, file rack, GPS, voice recorder, digital camera, and binoculars.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ADMINISTRATION SECTION

• This section is entrusted to help the division in the best possible ways to achieve its mandates and goals
• It will ensure that all official or semi-official correspondences including record keeping are done with good reason and within the desired time frame
• Keep proper track and store all the important official documents both in hard and digital copies and ensure that all communication facilities remain up to date through timely payment and renewal
• Conduct regular inventory of all office equipment, structures, vehicles and furniture items in the division and maintain proper stock registers for all consumable and non-consumable items including fixed assets such as land.
• Properly and timely manage the division’s human resource such as service book update, process annual increments, LTC, Leave Encashment, promotions, transfer, leave, trainings, disciplinary actions, compile and submit Individual Work Plan (IWP) as per one of the major reforms (Bhutan Civil Service System) initiated by RCSC.
• Maintain updated and comprehensive list of staff along with their contact information both cell phone numbers and email id and communicate to all section heads and Field Range Officers
• Distribution of office equipment and stationaries to all the Field Range Offices and other Sections in line with approval accorded by the Chief Forestry Officer and accordingly update the stock registers.
• This section will also ensure proper receipt and dispatch official correspondences (earlier reflected as Dispatch Section) by delegating the job to the most suitable staff in the absence of the dispatcher.
• This section is directly answerable to and will work closely under the supervision of the Chief Forest Officer unless stated otherwise.

Requirement:

• This section should be well established with computers, printers, fax machine, scanners, photocopy machines along with internet connection to ensure effective and prompt service delivery including communication
• This section is also expected to be well versed with basic computer operation including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access and Dzongkha Unicode.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ACCOUNTS SECTION.

• The section is entrusted to deal with all financial matters related to the Division including deposition and disbursement of monthly salaries and TA/DA bills and other payments.
• Properly maintain all financial transactions of the division with all necessary supporting documents as per Financial Management Manual developed by the Finance Ministry
• Timely and transparently disburse monthly salaries, allowances and do prompt remittance especially the loan repayments to avoid penalties
• Regularly update the Chief Forestry Officer on the status and financial progress and fund balance for different activity under various budget head
• Review and seek necessary supporting documents from the suppliers, contractors and implementing agencies prior to any payment
• Initiate and process for necessary and permissible re-appropriations and supplementary budgets as and when deemed needful to ensure smooth functioning of the day to day activities of the division
• Invite, coordinate and respond to all audit queries pertaining to financial lapses, over payments, outstanding balances and clearly justify during Audit Exit Meeting by involving concerned officials related to such observations
• Initiate and process for annual budget preparation for RGoB funding and fund incorporation for project related activities
• This section is also entrusted to work under direct supervision of the Chief Forest Officer and all financial matters should be endorsed by the Chief.

Requirement:

• To uphold the roles and responsibilities as listed, this section should be well equipped with high capacity computers, printer, scanner machine, internet connection, project documents, procurement manual, property management manual, HRD manual, BCSR, Financial Management Manual among other references.
• It should be headed by a minimum of a Sr.Accountant with adequate working experience both in project activities and RGoB funded programs

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FIELD RANGE OFFICES

• By virtue of being spread over different locations in the field, these offices are the main custodians of the forest resources under this division and are also entrusted to act as bridge between local communities and different stakeholders who are directly or indirectly involved with this division in terms of service delivery among others.
• These offices are entrusted to allocate forest resources to local communities, private individuals, government and religious institutions falling under the jurisdiction of this division as per and strictly in line with standing Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan and amendments made thereafter including circulars and notifications issued by Ministry and Department from time to time.
• Fully mobilize the staff under the respective Range Offices and conduct regular patrolling and monitoring of all activities related to forestry within their respective jurisdiction and report to the division if it poses threat to overall conservation mandates.
• Coordinate and collaborate activities of common interest by maintaining cordial working relationship with the local communities, local leaders, government institutions, schools, arm forces including RNR extension offices within the respective jurisdiction.
• The respective Range Offices are also entrusted to attend Geog Tshogchung (GT) on regular basis and clarify issues related to forestry and conservation.
• Mobilize staff and assist the Section Heads in implementing the activities as per annual plan, monthly work plan or Individual Work Plan to achieve the overall mandates and objectives of the division
• The Field Range Officers are directly answerable to and will work under the supervision of the Chief Forest Officer unless stated otherwise
• Similarly the respective field range staff are directly answerable to and will work under the supervision of the Range Officers unless stated otherwise
• All the field Range Staff including respective field Range Officers are mandated to remain well versed with the standing Forest and Nature Conservation Rules of Bhutan, amendments made thereafter including circulars and notifications issued by the Ministry and Department from time to time.
• The field Range Officers and respective staff are also required to respect the code of conduct including forestry uniform code and maintain office decorum at all times unless specified otherwise

Requirement:

• To shoulder and uphold the roles and responsibilities as listed, all field Range Offices should be well furnished with computers, printers, fax and photocopy machines, scanners, voice recorders, digital cameras, binoculars, GPS, telephone and internet facilities to ensure smooth service delivery and safeguard the forest resources.
• All field Range Offices should be staffed adequately to perform effective patrolling, deliver prompt services to the applicants (local communities and others) and to ensure smooth implementation of planned or adhoc programs.
• The Range Officers should be a minimum of Sr. Forest Ranger with adequate experience especially in terms of conservation and enforcement.

Contact

CONTACT ADDRESS (OFFICIAL)