Contributed articles.

Joint Forest Management (JFM) has emerged as an important intervention in the management of India's forest resources. This report sets out an analytical method for examining the costs and benefits of JFM arrangements. Two pilot case studies in which the method was used demonstrate interesting outcomes regarding incentives for various groups to participate. The main objective of this study is to develop a better understanding of the incentives for communities to participate in JFM.

This Book Assesses The Performance And Impact Of The Joint Forest Management (Jfm Programme) From The Community S Perspective, Based On The Studies Conducted By The Ecological And Economics Research Network In Six States--Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Tripura And West Bengal. The Approach Adopted By The Network Involved The Development Of A Common Methodology, Based On Which Studies Were Undertaken During 2001--2002.This Book Presents The Evolution Of The Jfm Policy In India, Information About The Status Of Jfm With Respect To Its Spread, Performance And Impact In The Six States, Case Studies Of Successful Jfm Committees And Ecological And Silvicultural Aspects Of Jfm, Besides Suggesting A Strategy For Monitoring And Evaluation Of Jfm, And Advancing Policy, Institutional And Silvicultural Strategies And Options To Sustain Jfm.

The Joint Forest Management Programme, epitomising the 1988 national forest policy of the Government of India, set the country free from the shackles of over a century of bureaucratic straglehold. Centralisation of management was envisaged to give way to decentralisation, unilateralism to participatory decision-making and bureaucratisation to institutionalising people's participation in the protection, management and development of forests. But the policy-frame change-over has not been quick and effective. The involvement of the villagers into the programme where they could deliberate and ecide issues concerning their livelihood through the forest management is, by its nature, very delicate and difficult to achieve. Not only has the hard-crusted resistance to be broken down by winning confidence and proper education through information and knowledge, the due recognition tot he villagers' innate ability and wisdom has to be extended so as to make them equal partners in the implementation of the programme.

Joint Forest Management (JFM) is now a principal forest management strategy in India. The government views JFM as a pivotal strategy for addressing the national policy goal of achieving 33% forest cover by 2012. JFM represents one model of community based forestry in which the State engages with communities with forestry. Though the current JFM model is weighted in favour of state forest department control over planning, management, investment, harvesting and marketing. This book is an attempt to understand the evolution and introduction of the JFM principles and concepts of JFM. The combine influence of historical, social, economic, cultural and ecological factors along - with policy impacts in people's participation in managing forest is illustrated by taking case of North West Himalayas. Over the past several decades, the focus in forestry has shifted towards forest protection and conservation and JFM represents a key policy thrusts in India. JFM is continued to be evolved as the experiences from different states across India are informing the process of JFM implementation so that policy and guidelines to improve the program are revised by the central and state governments regularly. The process approach is being followed so that forests are managed sustainably with people's involvement in forestry programmes to improve the livelihoods of forest dependent people's and reduced poverty. The studies have demonstrated that the potential economic benefits from improved forest productivity and policy reforms in favour of JFM are huge, both for people and government.

With reference to Joint Forest Management program of India.

Village Voices, Forest Choices offers the first comprehensive examination of revolutionary changes occurring in the management of India's forests. Over the past two decades, responding to scarcities, thousands of villages have taken charge of public forests, thereby controlling grazing and cutting. The result has been a striking renewal of once badly degraded ecosystems. Lush young secondary forests are emerging in many parts of central India, rich in biodiversity, where degrading, eroding wastelands were recently dominant. Equally remarkable, this has often happened with no outside assistance. The fourteen contributors to this book look at how this has occurred, including the institutional, economic, ecological, and political implications of this historic transformation. They assess how management goals for natural forests will change under community control and how government agencies, scientists, and other organizations might respond to these shifting priorities. Anyone concerned with the state of India's forests, or those interested in forestry and environmental policies will want this study.