Working Papers

In this paper an attempt has been made to analyse Joint Forest Management programme processes in West Bengal and Gujarat. The paper traces the weaknesses and strengths of the programme in these two states. Joint Forest Management Programme is currently facing several issues such as demarcation of boundary, selection of appropriate community, the role of local self-government like village panchayats and the forest department in management of community protected forests. These issues could be resolved if we are prepared to learn lessons from the Van Panchayats of Uttar Pradesh Hills. However; it appears that the programme faces greater threat from the proposed Forest Bill 1994 which, if enacted, will turn it into a parastatal programme to serve the purpose of the government rather than the people. In the context of the new realities, the JFM would die like many other such noble programmes.