Local leadership
A place at the table
Each VSS sends two representatives, one woman and one man, to its local Vanasamakhya.
Forest communities
A shared forest.
A shared responsibility.
Strengthening the local institutions through which forest-dependent communities participate, cooperate and shape their livelihoods.
Community forest institutions
Participation from
the village upwards.
Vanasamakhya’s foundation is the village-level Vana Samrakshana Samithi: a local institution for participation in forest management.
We strengthen the functioning of Village Forest Committees through capacity building, cooperation and dialogue. Representation and leadership opportunities for women, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and marginalised groups are central objectives.
Shared resources
Sustainable stewardship
Support for forest and livelihood management recognises that people’s well-being is connected to the health of natural resources.
Dialogue & cooperation
Institutions that connect
Community, government and NGO dialogue helps address VFC, EDC and related local issues.
Our structure
Built on
representation.
01
Village Forest Committees / VSSs
The foundation of the federation.
02
Local Vanasamakhyas
Formed by 5–20 VSSs at range, beat or section level.
03
State-level General Body
Two representatives from each local Vanasamakhya.
04
Executive Committee
Nine members elected from the General Body, responsible for governance and oversight.
Let’s work together
Good partnerships.
Lasting possibilities.
Explore collaboration in tribal livelihoods, community institutions and sustainable natural resource management.
Connect with Vanasamakhya