Karnataka has 22 percent of land under forest comprising of five National Parks and 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries. The State has formed Village Forest Committees to conserve, develop and manage forests. The Committee members help Forest department in planning, protection, conservation and development of wastelands. A Village Forest Committee in Anehalla, a small village perched in the pristine environs of Western Ghats in Kodagu stands testimony to amazing efforts put to conserve forests and sustain livelihood at the same time. The Village Forest Committee in Anehalla has lit up the life of 180 households living in remote hills of Western Ghats. The Committee has set up 36 electric units to generate power locally. The power is generated by keeping turbines under water that falls naturally in the hills. The villagers stopped grazing of cattles in forest area, established smokeless chulas to reduce dependence on firewood. Bio-gas plant was set up and vermin compost manure is produced locally. Farmers practice organic farming now thereby protecting the eco-system. The Committee benefited from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for repairing roads. The Committee extended micro loans to Self Help groups which make arecanut plates to generate income. All the thatched huts were replaced by tiled houses. Anehalla Village Committee has received the Best Village Committee Award from the State Government for its special achievements.