Afforestation and regeneration of degraded forests have been the prime objectives of all forestry activities undertaken by the Forest Department since inception. Poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods are the two most important issues in JFM.

Once in the year 1998, in search of a village on the way to Panchmarhi for conducting the exposure visit for the international participants of an international training programme the village Khatpura was discovered by three IIFM Faculty. The village became a remarkable successful JFM village in Sehore Forest Division.

India is recognized as one of the countries having the oldest, richest and most diverse cultural traditions associated with the use of herbal medicines. But due to over-harvesting in their natural habitats, many medicinal plants have been put on the endangered list of IUCN.