The non-government organisations (NGOs) also play a prominent role in Joint Forest Management by organising orientation programmes to department personnel and public, in training and coordination, in preparation of communication packages regarding JFM, liaison with Government, supporting peoples' initiatives in protecting forest lands, documenting field experience to focus on emerging issues and in encouraging the VSS members to take up nursery raising, peripheral plantation, fodder cultivation, biogas plants and other non-conventional energy resources. Wherever there is an active involvement of NGOs in the activities of VSS, they are also requested to take up monitoring and evaluation with the active involvement of the Samithi members and representatives of the Forest Department.