REACH have been involved in the process empowerment of rural poor since 1992.Since the beginning REACH has been working with the rural communities, who are depending on natural resources. It started its activities in Kumaranahalli cluster of villages in Harapanahalli taluka District Davanagere by organizing the landless laborers through Krishi Karmikar Sangha (KKS) and women through Self Helf Groups (SHGs). For the first time in Karnataka it introduced and succeeded in natural regeneration of forest through “Social fencing”(banning grazing, putting fire lines, stopping mining, preventing cutting trees, seed dribbling and soil and water conservation measures). It has done a remarkable progress in ensuring the community right over Non- Timber Forest Produces (NTFPs). The Kumaranahallli VFC organized by REACH has won the State level “Vanamitra” award from Karnataka Forest Department, Government of Karnataka under Joint Forest Planning and Management (JFPM) for the year 1998.