The system of free usufructary was extended in 1991 to regenerated degraded forests of Darjeeling hill areas, Dooars and foot-hill areas of north Bengal as well as the degraded areas in Sundarban forests of south Bengal. It has now been extended also to the buffer zones and fringe areas of wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and Tiger Reserves (under Project Tiger) . Joint forest management for rejuvenation and development of existing forests as well as wildlife sanctuaries has been adopted as state policy. The fact that it has helped in reversing the trend of rapid degradation of forests is evident from satellite imageries.

While "Joint Forest Management" (JFM) is a fairly new concept and is a success in West Bengal, it is too early to judge its suitability in other States. However, the important issues emerging out of our experience are summarised below :

	People's participation in planning and implementation of wasteland development programmes, through definitive institutional arrangements involving sharing of benefits, can bring about significant improvement in the status of land and forest cover.
	Poverty alleviation programmes in rural areas play a significant role in greening wasteland and resuscitating degraded forests. Eco-development works for creating long term resources, sericulture, aquaculture, silvipasturage, agroforestry, etc. help in generating income for the rural poor. Simultaneously, innovative technologies for improving local cottage industries must be developed to boost the economy of the communities in the hinterland so that they do not over-exploit the forests.
	A pragmatic land reform policy is imperative to encourage resource-poor villagers, with state assistance, to undertake development of wastelands under their ownership into farm forests, group farm forests or other vegetative cover for meeting their requirements and generating income. Tree farming on such marginal and sub-marginal lands is fast emerging as a viable land-use option in the drier districts of the State. Production of timber, fuel, fodder, fruits, etc., through such farming meet the people's general needs while relieving the pressure on forests.
	Effective interaction with Panchayati Raj (local self-government) institutions will help in dispelling apprehension, doubt and cynicism from the minds of villagers about the JFM system and the role of the Forest Department, and help in conflict resolution at the local level.
	Village women are principal forest users, and they suffer most when neighbourhood forest are degraded. Without their active involvement, forest management's success will be elusive.