The forests in the state are managed under the prescriptions of a Working Plan/ Scheme prepared on the basis of sustainable forest management and recognized innovative silviculture practices. The Working Plans are being approved by the authority as designated by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India.
Working Plan is generally revised every 10years.
For involvement and benefit of local stakeholders micro-plans are to be prepared within the ambit of working plan prescriptions for JFM areas and eco-development plan are to be prepared for ecosensitive forest areas adjoining the notified protected areas.
The micro-plan of jointly managed forests is prepared by the members of the JFMC through participating Rural Appraisal (PRA) with the technical assistance of forest staffs of the territorial division as per MoU for sharing the responsibilities of implementation and equitable sharing of usufructs among stakeholders within the broad prescriptions of WorkingPlan.
Micro-plan preparation should be incorporated in the JFM Overlapping Working Circle.
The forest area of the state is being managed under fifty one (51)number of Forest and Wildlife (WL) Divisions; out of which seven (7) Wildlife Divisions namely ChandakaWL, Sunabeda WL, Satkosia WL, Mahanadi WL, Hirakud WL, Simlipal Tiger Reserve (North) and Simlipal Tiger Reserve (South) having only protected area are managed under approved Wild Life Management Plans. The Forest area of remaining seven Wildlife Divisions namely, Bamra WL Rajnagar WL, Puri WL, ChilikaWL, BalasoreWL, Bhadrak WL and Keonjhar WL partly having protected area are managed under Wild Life Management Plans for protection of forest areas and outside protected area managed under Working Plans. Thus, altogether 44 Forest Divisions including part of 7 Wildlife Divisions are covered under Working Plans for scientific management of Forests.
Status of approval of Working Plans
| Sl. | Status of Working Plan | No. | Name of the Division |
| 1. | Approved Working Plan | 36 | Angul, Athgarh, Athamallik, Baragarh, Chilika (WL), Puri (WL), Baripada, Keonjhar (WL), Subarnapur, Khordha, Bonai, Jeypore, Dhenkanal, Nabarangpur,Bamra(WL), Cuttack, Jharsuguda, Rayagada, Karanjia, Rairangpur, Baliguda, Phulbani, Kalahandi North, Khariar, Kalahandi South, Nayagarh, Koraput, Malkangiri, Keonjhar(T), Rairakhol, CityF orest, Bhadrak(WL), Sambalpur, Rajnagar(WL) & Bolangir, Balasore (WL) |
| 2. | Working Plan not submitted | 02 | Parlakhemundi and Boudh Division |
| 3. | One year Extension of Working Plan for the year 2025-26 | 06 | Ghumsur South, Sundargarh, Gh. North, Deogarh, Berhampur, Rourkela |
>> National working Plan Code _2023