The JBIC Project in Tripura is being formally launched on this day. This newsletter is being published on this solemn occasion to mark the beginning of a new era in the conservation and development Endeavour of the State Government. The Newsletter henceforth shall give the readers an insight into various activities of the project being carried out on a quarterly basis. 
The JBIC Project has been conceived to transform the degraded forest land, especially ravaged shifting cultivation areas of the state into ecologically and commercially productive forests with further aiming at improving the quality of life of the people living in the project areas by improving the livelihood opportunities. It is expected that large number of households shall receive benefits in the form of employment, education, health & family welfare so that in the long run the process would slow down and eliminate the pace of degradation of the natural resources of the state. We have already identified the areas to be included in the JFMCs under cluster approach and the District Magistrates of the 3 Districts of the state have been requested to organize seminars inviting people from every walk of life including the members of the PRI bodies for integrating them with the project. It will bring synergy between government funding mechanism and the Project so that the flow of funds in the identified villages and areas are complementary to each other instead of duplication of the efforts. The project also aims at empowering the people for resource management through capacity building activities and sharing of experiences.
It has been decided that Forestry & non forestry component of the Project in the forest land would be executed by the Forest Department. The forestry works in the Non forestlands will also be executed by the Department while the non forestry works in the non forestlands will be implemented by the DRDA in consultation with the members of the PRI bodies and the BAC & Village Development Committees in the ADC areas. To monitor the project work a committee has been constituted at the District level headed by the District Magistrates.
One of the high point of the project is creation of a Centre of Excellence for the NTFPs which will be first of its kind in the entire developing world. The strong Bamboo and Cane based NTFP industry in Tripura will be involved along with the JFM members to create this Centre to lift these industries to international level along with developing new thrust areas like Floriculture, Beekeeping, Honey etc. A board of management has been constituted under the CEO&PD JBIC Project to oversee the functioning of the Centre.
The various steps already taken at the preparatory stage by the PMU are included in the Newsletter. The Newsletter shall be published on quarterly basis and would reflect the aspiration of the people for whom the Project has been designed.
Finally, I would invite the response from public and other stakeholders not only on the contents of the newsletter but also on functioning of the Project in terms of timeline, efficiency and transparency and also on suggestions for improvement.