to encourage participation of communities in forest conservation activities, the Madhya Pradesh government has decided to give 100 per cent non-timber forest produce to forest protection committees working under the joint forest management (jfm) programme. The state has an extensive jfm programme to regenerate degraded forest with the help of the communities. The committees were earlier getting a share of 30 per cent. From the regenerated forests, 20 per cent value of bamboo and 10 per cent from the sale of timber production will go to these committees. "Following this decision, the forest committees will get nearly Rs 30 crore yearly," said R D Sharma, principal chief conservator of forests. Sharma opines that with the help of these funds, the committees can offer employment opportunities to the forest dwellers. Harvansh Singh, the state's minister of forests, said the step has been taken to encourage committees to preserve and improve the degraded forest areas. The successful working of these committees has already led to less poaching and mining inside the forest areas.
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