Peoples Participation and Joint Forest Management in Tamil Nadu

Abstract

More than 300% of the total forest area in Tamil Nadu has been badly degraded due to heavy biotic interference in the past years. Neither the enforcement of various legal Acts nor the raising of plantations could produce any desired result. It was gradually realised that the only answer would be to take up afforestation programmes on watershed basis with complete participation of people on Joint Forest Management principle. The evolution and development of Joint Forest Management in Tamil Nadu is described.