(1) The Provincial Ministry may, for the following objectives and on recommendation of the Division Forest Officer, manage any part of the Government-managed forest as the partnership forest, as prescribed, in partnership between the Division Forest Office, Local Level and forest users:
(a) To render contribution to the economy by making development and sustainable management of the forest,
(b) To make supplies of forest products to the traditional users who live nearby or far from the forest area by getting such users to participate in forest protection activities,
(c) To enhance the productivity of the forest area and utilize the open area,
(d) To protect and promote biodiversity and watershed area,
(e) To make improvement in the users’ livelihood.
(2) The Division Forest Officer shall, in consultation with the Local Level and partnership forest users’ group as prescribed, prepare a work plan for the management of the partnership forest and submit it to the Province Forest Directorate, and the Province Forest Director may approve such a work plan.
(3) It shall be the obligation of the Division Forest Office, Local Level and the partnership forest users’ group referred to in Section 24 to enforce the work plan approved pursuant to sub-section (2).
(4) If the partners referred to in sub-section (1) fail to operate functions in accordance with the work plan or commit any act which causes significant adverse effect on the environment or fail to comply with the terms and conditions to be complied with pursuant to this Act and the rules framed under this Act, the Provincial Ministry may terminate the management system of such partnership forest, and that forest shall ipso facto be managed as the Government-managed forest.
Provided that such users' group shall be provided with a reasonable opportunity to submit its clarification, prior to making such a decision to so cancel the registration of the user's group and take back the partnership forest.