P. Oppili CHENNAI: A team of experts from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will visit forest areas in Sathyamangalam, Coimbatore and the Nilgiris for three days from next Monday to approve funding for the State Forest Department's Natural Resources Management Project. A.S. Balanathan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, told The Hindu that the team would visit the different forest areas to get information about various models of the forestry works being implemented in the State. After the visit they would hold discussions with the officials at the headquarters in Chennai. Explaining about the project Mr. Balanathan said four important components have been covered - Biodiversity Conservation, growing trees outside the forest areas, tribal welfare and infrastructure development and supporting activities of the Forest Department. The Department has sent a proposal to the JICA asking funds to the tune of Rs.635 crore to implement the programme, he said. Impressed by the successful implementation of two phases of the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project, the JICA has once again agreed to visit forest areas to fund the third project, a senior officer pointed out. The organisation is funding forestry-related projects in 11 States in the country and only in Tamil Nadu they are planning to fund a project for the third time. When the Afforestation Project was funded the organisation was known as Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).