The objective of the Karnataka Sustainable Forest management and Biodiversity Conservation (KSFMBC) Project is to restore forests to bring about ecological restoration and also to facilitate livelihood improvement of the inhabitants of the project villages by afforestation through Joint Forest Planning and Management (JFPM) in the State of Karnataka, which further contributes to reducing poverty and preserving biodiversity in the area. This Project is under implementation in the State with the assistance of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) from the year 2005-06 to 2012-13 (8 years) in accordance with the loan agreement of 31.03.2005 and as per the Minutes of Discussion (MoD) of 5th November 2004 signed by Government of India (GOI), Government of Karnataka (GOK) and JICA, the project is being implemented in all the 30 districts and 176 taluks of the state. The GOK vide Order No. FEE-279-FAP-2003 dated 23.05.2005 have accorded sanction to implement this project.

The total financial outlay of the project is Rs. 745.00 Crore, of which Rs. 613.266 Crore (82.32%) is reimbursable component from JICA and Rs. 131.734 Crore (17.68%) is to be contributed by the State Government as state share.

For the purpose of implementation of this project, and largely on rainfall criteria the project has been divided into Project-A and Project-B areas. The Project 'A' cost is Rs. 492.70 crores (66.13%) and for Project 'B' it is Rs. 252.30 crores (33.87%). Project-A consists of 12 districts. viz., Belgaum, Dharwad, Haveri, Uttar Kannada, Shimoga, Chikkamagalur, Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Hassan, Mysore and Chamarajanagara. Models on plantation of timber species and Restoration of Mangroves are provided in Project A only. Project-B covers 18 districts. viz., Bangalore Urban, Bangalore Rural, Ramanagar, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Bellary, Chitradurga, Koppal, Davanagere, Bidar, Gulbarga, Yadgir, Raichur, Bagalkot, Bijapur, Gadag, Tumkur and Mandya.

The main activities of the Project are Afforestation (Ecological restoration through natural regeneration, Assisted natural regeneration, Plantation for timber production in Western Ghat area, Plantation for fuel wood and small timber, NTFP plantation, School plantation and  Mangrove plantation), Soil and Moisture Conservation measures, Farm Forestry and Agro Forestry on private lands, Joint Forest Planning & Management, Bio-diversity Conservation & Habitat Improvement in Protected Areas, Income Generation Activities (IGA) for poverty alleviation, Research, Training, providing basic infrastructural support for field works, GIS-MIS etc.   

Against the total provision for Afforestation works over an area of 1,85,000 ha. the achievement is 1,87,124 ha. Soil & Moisture Conservation works have been done over 1,83,200 ha., 1222 Village Forest Committees (VFCs), 73 Eco-development Committees (EDCs) and about 5656 Self Help Groups (SHGs) have been constituted/identified under the project.

Biodiversity conservation and habitat improvement in Bandipur National Park, Sharavathi Wildlife Sanctuary, Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary, Ranebennur Wildlife Sanctuary and Daroji bear Sanctuary is also targeted under the project.

All the afforestation programmes are to be carried out through people's participation to achieve desired results under JFPM.  Further, in order to maximize the impact of IGA and to make participation of communities under JFPM more active and effective at the state level one JFPM Co-Ordinator, 5 lead NGOs, 62 JFPM facilitators and 4 EDC facilitators under the project are employed.

Formation of Self Help Groups under VFCs aiming at improving the household economy of the poor forest dependent people in project villages by providing alternate source of income by IGA and enhancing the participating of women and other weaker section in VFC decision making and their activities are other important objectives of the project.

Under human resource development, both domestic as well as overseas trainings have been proposed for officers and staff of the department, NGOs, SHGs and VFC members in the area of JFPM, skill upgradation, institution formation and sustenance, account keeping etc. Construction of buildings, purchase of vehicles and Computers are planned under the project as part of infrastructure development.       
Adequate emphasis is laid on concurrent field evaluations in order to optimize the performance of the organization towards better achievements.