In a bid to hasten the afforestation process across India, the ministry of environment and forests in association with state forest departments has decided to involve 1,07,000 forest villages in participatory forest management. The decision was reached after a two-day-long national level workshop held at the capital on July 22 and July 23 to debate upon the involvement of local communities in conservation of forests and wildlife. The conference was attended by Union environment and forest minister T R Balu and all state forest ministers.