Vol. 12, Issue 2 (2023)

Author(s):
Dr. Akshata Ramannanavar, Dr. Shobha Nagnur, Dr. Annapurna Kalal and Dr. SS Inamati

Abstract:
Joint Forest Management (JFM) is an approach and programme initiated in the context of the National Forest Policy (1988), wherein the state forest department support local forest dwellers to protect and manage forests and share the costs and benefits from the forests with them. The present investigation was undertaken to study the knowledge of JFMC members and Non-JFMC members about forest management and conservation practices. The sample size comprised of 464 respondents who were selected by stratified random sampling technique (232 JFMC and 232 Non-JFMC members).Data was collected with structured interview schedule through personal interview and focus group discussion. The findings revealed that cent per cent of the JFMC members had knowledge about sustainable forest management activities like environmental awareness programmes, plantation management, fire management, biodiversity conservation, soil & moisture conservation and deforestation &land degradation while only 38.36 per cent of members had knowledge about sustainable non timber forest products (NTFP) harvesting techniques. With respect to the forest conservation practices cent per cent of the JFM members were having knowledge about forest land preparation & planting of seedlings, necessity of planting of indigenous species rather than exotic species, application of FYM at the time of planting and watering the plants as per requirement. Non-JFM members were not involved in forest management activities so they have little or no knowledge about many management practices. However they were aware of the environmental awareness programmes (84.05%), deforestation & land degradation (40.08%), plantation management (35.34%) and biodiversity conservation (34.91%).