Sustainable Management of Non-timber Forest Produce through Joint Forest Management

Joint Forest Management (JFM) in India is an attempt to reverse the process of forest degradation on one hand, and to meet people's need on the other. Forest-user communities across the country have been dependent on forests for fuelwood, fodder, small timber and NTFPs for their basic needs. Under the JFM programme these communities playa special role as they have been provided access to forest produce including NTFPs to meet their basic needs in lieu of protecting, regenerating and maintaining forest in collaboration with forest department. NTFPs are critical to JFM programme because they can be a regular source of income and employment opportunities to JFM committees. JFM Committees may take lead role in sustainable management of NTFP resources by focussing on U} collection and sustainable harvesting; (ii) processing and value addition; and (iii) marketing of NTFPs.