Question

What are joint forest management committees? What values do they depict?

Answer 1

Joint forest management committees (JFMCs) are village or tribe level forest management committees that comprise all the willing adult members with respective forest or block forest officer being member secretary, an elected president and an executive body. They are engaged in development and protection of forests, choice of species to be planted, suggesting physical and financial targets, harvesting of forest produce and sharing the profits. The members also get the minor forest produce almost free. There is no pilferage, no over-exploitation, no mono culture and no damage to environment. The tribals are able to get gainful employment while the forests are given traditional as well as scientific support.