The Uttar Pradesh Participatory forest management and poverty alleviation project is under implementation in the 20 forest divisions spread over 14 districts of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The project is being funded through a soft loan provided by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, JICA (formerly Japan bank for International Cooperation). It aims at restoring degraded forests, augmenting forest resources and improving livelihood for and empower the local forest dependent communities. The empowerment is sought to be achievement by promoting sustainable forest management including JFM plantation and community development, thereby improving environment and alleviating poverty.