Circular Concerning Joint Forest Management (No. 6-21/89-P.P).

This Circular of the Department of Environment, Forests and Wildlife to Forest Secretaries of all States and other territories concerns the involvement of village communities and voluntary agencies for regeneration of degraded forest lands. The National Forest Policy envisages it as one of the essentials of forest management that the forest communities should be motivated to identify themselves with the development and protection of forests from which they derive benefits. Voluntary Agencies/NGOs with a proven track record may be associated as interface between State Forest Departments and the local village communities for revival, restoration and development of degraded forests in the manner suggested in this Circular. Matters dealt here with include usufruct of land, ownership or lease of land, working schemes for the protection of sites, tree nurseries, etc.