Joint Forest Management Committee consultation meeting was held at Community Managed Training Center Hall, Pfutsero on March 19.
Pfutsero, March 19 (MExN): The Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) consultation meeting was held at Community Managed Training Center Hall, Pfutsero under the Nagaland Forest Management Project (NFMP) JICA, bringing together representatives from 19 project villages to discuss the operationalization of a collective JFMC platform for enhanced community-led forest management and rural development.
Organised by the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES) in collaboration with the Divisional Management Unit (DMU) Phek, the meeting aimed to strengthen institutional arrangements, participatory decision-making, and convergence with existing government schemes, stated a press release issued by Chenibemo Odyuo, Senior Project Manager, FES.
The event held on March 19 was attended by village council members, JFMC executive committee representatives, women leaders, and youth, ensuring diverse perspectives in the discussions.
During the meeting, the participants discussed the importance of establishing a structured and collective platform for JFMCs to ensure greater impact in community-led forest governance.
Deliberations focused on the structure, objectives, and decision-making mechanisms for an integrated JFMC platform. The meeting emphasised the need for clear roles, responsibilities, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure the platform’s long-term success. Strategies were explored for leveraging government programs and external partnerships to strengthen JFMCs.
During the meeting, the participants emphasised on their collective objective. The JFMCs of Meluri and Phek, reiterated to strengthen collaboration between the government and different villages for sustainable forest management. “Our platform aims to enhance transparency, foster coordination among villages, and create a common voice for effective decision-making. Through knowledge exchange, cross-learning, and shared information, we strive to promote forest and wildlife conservation, ensuring the protection of our natural resources for future generations,” they reaffirmed.
As the action plan for the next three months, the press release stated that a roadmap was drafted to guide collective efforts in implementing the JFMC platform effectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Chenibemo Odyuo, NFMP FNGO Team Leader, Phek & Senior Project Manager, FES, emphasised the significance of community-led forest governance, highlighting the need for integration, participatory decision-making, and a structured platform for JFMCs. He added, “Strengthening JFMCs through collaboration and convergence is key to ensuring sustainable forest management and rural development.”
Sanjay Sharma, Regional Team Leader, FES, stressed the need for community-driven conservation initiatives and assured continued support in strengthening local institutions.
Yaranajit Deka, Senior Program Manager, FES, motivated the participants by highlighting the critical role of local communities in protecting and managing their forests. He emphasised, “This platform has immense potential to amplify community voices, facilitate knowledge-sharing, and drive meaningful change in forest governance. The collective action of JFMCs will shape the future of sustainable forest management in Nagaland.”
