Working Papers

The paper argues that there is a strong need of legislative backing for Joint Forest Management (JFM). The experience of Van Panchayats in Uttar Pradesh and the user groups in Nepal which have legislative backing, strongly make out a case of legal empowerment for peoplea??s institutions in JFM. Section 28 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927 a?? the section dealing with village forests a?? provided an opportunity to do this. However, this has been overlooked. Moreover, the procedures that have been set out in the case of JFM need reforms so that they aid rather than impede the progress of JFM. The paper uses the Game Theory to look at the behaviour of the two main actors, namely, the Forest Department and the communities, and suggests that the JFM as a co-operative strategy has been arrived at by both the actors. The case of Nepal is cited as an example of what India could achieve. Demonstrating that JFM is the option on the cooperative lines, the paper once again applies the Game Theory principle to make out a case for empowerment of communities as the only option for the Forest Department.