Question

contribution of Dr A K Banerjee in management of forest

Answer 1

The joint forest management (JFM) were overwhelmed despite by the best efforts of the forest department, the baffled S.a.l forest of Ar.abari in in Midnapore district could not be regenerated. Then came to the rescue was forest officer Dr. A.K. Banerjee who was allowed to seek participation of villagers in regeneration on employment cummative share basis (a scheme to boost the regenerative efforts or a project to make the forest public again). Within a few years, by 1983, Arabari forest had been revived. Buoyed by this success, the Government of India introduced the concept of Joint Forest Management (JFM) in the early 1980s. From then on, the local communities have been involved in protection and management of forests for which the communities get benefit of various forest products like fruits, gum, rubber, medicine, etc.
So in all Honorable Dr. A.K. Banerjee was a revolution in forest management after all.

Answer 2

In 1972, the forest department realized its mistake while reviving the degraded sal forests of Arabari forest range. Arabari forest lies in Midnapore district of West Bengal. The earlier methods of policing and surveillance were a total failure as they often led to frequent clashes with local people. It also led to alienation of people from the conservation programme. Then came a forest officer; named A K Banerjee; who was a real visionary. He involved the local people in the revival of 1,272 hectares of forest. In lieu of that the villagers were given employment in silviculture and harvest and were given 25% of the harvest. They were also allowed to gather firewood and fodder against a nominal payment. Due to active participation of the local community there was remarkable revival of the Arabari sal forest. By 1983, the value of the forest rose to Rs. 12.5 crores.