(a) the salient features of Joint Forest Management Programme;
(b) whether a large number of local people have been involved in Joint Forest
Management for protection and management of forests on the basis of mutual trust
in the country;
(c) if so, the number of such local people involved at present, State-wise; and
(d) the extent to which the objectives of the programmes have been achieved?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) The Joint Forest Management (JFM) envisages ‘care and share’ principle wherein the
local village communities enter into an agreement with the forest department to jointly manage
the forest area and are entitled to get usufruct benefits as prescribed in the resolutions of
the State Government. JFM promotes participatory approach and democratic governance of forest
areas involving local communities in the bottom up planning process for the forest management
as well as implementation of various schemes.
(b) & (c) About 14.5 million families are reported to be involved in 1.18 lakh Joint
Forest Management committees in the country. The Statewise details of the families involved
are given in annexure.
(d) Apart from the increased protection of forest and afforestation in 1.94 million
hectares of area, the programme has aided in empowerment and capacity building of the
local communities. The people have also been benefitted by the usufructs provided and
the employment opportunities generated under this programme.