Guwahati, July 1: The Northeast Forest Policy Committee has recommended increased focus on ways to wean away people from jhum cultivation.

The committee was set up by the Centre under the chairmanship of S.C. Dey to suggest a suitable forest policy for the Northeast within the framework of the national forest policy.

A ministry of environment and forests report said the committee had called for giving top priority to alternative employment for people engaged in jhum cultivation so as to dissuade them from engaging in it.

The committee also suggested a separate forest policy for the Northeast because of the uniqueness of the region where communities hold substantial forest land and also because of its rich biodiversity and the threats associated with it.

It suggested conservation of genepool and biodiversity and maintenance of environmental stability through preservation and soil and moisture conservation specifically on steep slopes, river catchment and eco-fragile areas.

The committee has also called for encouraging efficient utilisation of forest produce and maximum value-addition.

The report said, “Survey and demarcation and preparation of working plans/working schemes for all forests for sustainable and scientific management has to be done”.

A Nagaland Environment Protection and Economic Development Project, jointly funded by the Canadian International Development Agency through the India-Canada Environment Facility and International Development Research Centre, is working for villagers engaged in jhum cultivation.

They are trying to make the villagers adopt traditional practices by using soil-conservation, land-shaping methods and plant local tree species that have the potential to raise income and help improve soil quality during fallow periods.