(a) whether Forest Committees have been provided any powers by the Government under Joint Forest Management; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
(a) whether Forest Committees have been provided any powers by the Government under Joint Forest Management; and
(b) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) & (b) Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC) are registered either with the Forest Department or under statutory provisions. Resolution of the State Governments on the Joint Forest Management prescribes the manner and the extent to which these Committees are to be involved in the Joint Forest Management (JFM). JFMCs are involved in implementing various forestry activities at village level. The JFMCs and the forest department enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to manage the forest area jointly with forest department and JFMCs are also entitled to get usufruct benefits from the forest area. The constitution of the JFMCs with the due representation of the weaker sections of the society and women strengthens the democratic decision making process.
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