News > Forest Management By People, For People: A Look At Van Panchayats 

Forest Management By People, For People: A Look At Van Panchayats 

“The forests are very useful for the people living in the mountains. These forests cater to their basic needs such as clean water, pure air, cooking fuel, farming, fodder, etc. Wherever the forests are meeting the basic needs of the people, the forests are healthy,” says Mallika Virdi. She is the sarpanch of the Van Panchayat of Sarmoli village in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh district.

And her Van Panchayat is counted among the finest in the mountain state.