It has been decided to set up a Task Force on Social and economic aspects of conservation and Restoration for the Environment and Forests Sector for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan. The composition of the Task Force will be as under:

1.	Prof. Kanchan Chopra, IEG, Delhi University	Chairman
2.	Shri Achyut G. Gokhale, New Delhi	Member
3.	Prof. Gopal Kadekodi, Director, ISEC, Bangalore	Member
4.	Dr. Madhu Sarin, Chandigarh	Member
5.	Dr. Mahesh Rangarajan, New Delhi	Member

II. Terms of Reference of the Task Force will be as follows:

1. Deliberate on the various social, economic and conservation aspects of the Biological Diversity Act and suggest a roadmap for its implementation conforming to the socio­economic and management objectives emanating from the Convention on Biological Diversity, in particular the ecosystem approach, and the provisions for benefit sharing under article 8(j).
2. Recommend a strategy for greater involvement of folk taxonomists and ecologists in forestry, wildlife and environment research and application of such research towards development of management plans.
3. Evaluate the role of local bodies, which have the responsibility for management of local natural resources, in promoting sustainable development.
4. Recommend ways of enhancing people's participation in sustainable management of water, fisheries and other related resources.
5. Examine ways of creating positive incentives for conservation and regeneration of biodiversity resources, and for sustainable management of natural resources through payment of service charges following the Costa Rica model for payment of service charges for watershed conservation services.
6. Examine the possibilities of extending programmes of joint forest management to protected areas.
7. Review the experience of the participatory forest management approach and recommend ways to consolidate the regime in order to generate empowered commitment among stakeholders for conservation and protection of forests. This may include integration of local self governments, community institutions and delivery mechanisms through instruments of empowerment like PESA, the provisions for functioning of Biodiversity Management Committees under the Biological Diversity Act and the Right to Information Act.
8. Suggest ways and means of optimizing the symbiotic relationship between forest dwellers and forest by promoting efficient and quality value addition for realization of gainful employment opportunities through development and sustainable use of medicinal plants, bamboo and canes and other Non-timber forest produce (NTFP) by tribals and other forest dweller communities.
9. Ministry of Environment and Forests will provide basic information and data input to the Task Force as and when required.
10. The Chairperson of the Task Force will be free to co-opt any official / non-official as special invitee for its meeting.
11. The non-official members will be paid TA/DA by the Planning Commission as per SR 190 (a) for attending meetings of the Task Force.
12. The Task Force will submit its report to the Chairman, Working Group on Forests by 31.10.2006.
13. Shri M. Ravindranath, Joint Adviser (E and F), Room No. 301, Yojana Bhavan ( Tel No. 23096725) will be the Nodal Officer for the Task Force for all further communications.