Joint Forest Management Committee resolves to strengthen community-led forest management

Joint Forest Management Committee members and other officials after the consultative meeting in Pfutsero town on Wednesday.

• DIMAPUR — With an aim to strengthen institutional arrangements, participatory decision-making and convergence with existing government schemes, a consultative meeting of Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) under the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP), JICA, was held at the Community Managed Training Center Hall in Pfutsero on Wednesday.
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• An update from NFMP stated that representatives from 19 project villages including village council members, JFMC executive committee, women leaders, and youth discussed on the operationalisation to enhance community-led forest management and rural development. The meeting was organised by the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), in collaboration with the Divisional Management Unit (DMU) Phek.
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• It stated that the participants discussed the importance of establishing a structured and collective platform for JFMC to ensure greater impact in community-led forest governance. The discussions focused on the structure, objectives and decision-making mechanisms for an integrated JFMC platform.
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• The meeting also emphasised the need for clear roles, responsibilities and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the platform’s long-term success and also explored strategies for leveraging government programmes and external partnerships to strengthen JFMC.
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• It stated that the JFMC of Meluri and Phek have resolved to strengthen collaboration between the government and different villages for sustainable forest management. It also agreed to enhance transparency, foster coordination among villages and create a common voice for effective decision-making.
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• Through knowledge exchange, cross-learning and shared information, the members resolved to promote forest and wildlife conservation, ensuring the protection of natural resources for future generations.
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• Besides, a roadmap was drafted to guide collective efforts in implementing the JFMC platform effectively.
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• Speaking on the occasion, Chenibemo Odyuo, NFMP FNGO team leader of Phek and senior project manager of FES, emphasised the significance of community-led forest governance, highlighting the need for integration, participatory decision-making and a structured platform for JFMC.
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• “Strengthening JFMC through collaboration and convergence is key to ensuring sustainable forest management and rural development,” Odyuo said.
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• Sanjay Sharma, regional team leader of FES, stressed the need for community-driven conservation initiatives and assured continued support in strengthening local institutions, while Yaranajit Deka, senior programme manager of FES, motivated the participants by highlighting the critical role of local communities in protecting and managing their forests.
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• It stated that the consultation meeting concluded with a strong commitment from all stakeholders to enhance collaboration, institutionalise the JFMC platform and work towards long-term sustainability in community forest management.