JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT

Chapter :: I :: II :: III :: IV :: V :: VI ::

Chapter 1

JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT

continue .....

The National Forest Policy of 1988 lay emphasis on

• Maintenance of environmental stability through preservation, restoration of the ecological balance and reduction of degradation of the forests in the country

• Conserving the natural heritage of the country by preserving the remaining natural forests which represents the remarkable biological diversity and genetic resources of the country

• Checking soil erosion and denudation in the catchment areas of rivers, lakes And Reservoirs

• Increasing the productivity of the forests to meet the essential national needs

• Meeting the requirements of fuel wood, fodder, minor forest produce and small timber of the rural and tribal populations

• Increasing substantially the forest/tree cover in the country through massive Afforestation especially on all denuded, degraded and unproductive lands

• Creating a massive people's movement with the involvement of women, for achieving these objectives and to minimize pressure on existing forests

  In order to translate the participatory policy objectives into practice, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India in June 1, 1990 issued a Circular to Forest Secretaries of all States and Union Territories providing guidelines for the "Involvement of Village communities and Voluntary Agencies in the re-generation of Degraded Forests". This led to the adoption of Joint Forest Management (JFM) by several State Departments. The programme is being monitored by JFM Cell in the Forest Protection Division of the Ministry for Environment and Forests. As on 1st January 2000, 10.24 million ha. of forests in 22 States are being managed by 36130 JFM committees. Status of JFM in India as on 10-9-2003 is given in (Appendix I). The cell issued following guidelines to the States namely:

  1. States have to provide legal back up to the JFM committees.
  2. JFM should be extended to both degraded as well as good forests, except the Wild area net work. In good Forests, JFM should be started within 2 km of village boundary.
  3. Increased participation of women are to be ensured at least 50% membership in the general body and 33% in Executive Committee and one post of the Office bearer to be filled up from amongst the women members of the Committee.
  4. Recognition of Self-initiated groups.
  5. Contribution for Regeneration and Forest Resources.
  6. Conflict resolution.
  7. Integration of micro plan with working plan
  8. Monitoring & Evaluation of JFM

  Joint Forest Management "Seeks to develop healthy partnerships between local community institutions and State Forest Departments" for sustainable management of degraded public forestlands. It envisages sharing of Forest Management responsibilities and benefits of forest produce between the partners. It aims at changing Centralized bureaucratic management system introduced by the colonial powers to that of decentralized, participatory, local need based planning and management. The whole edifice of the concept is built on the premise that people who are dependent on Forests have vital stake in sustainable forest management.
  

  Back Next