Forest Land Use Planning for Dharhara Range, Monghyr Forest Division (Bihar)

Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) is an effective and formal approach to provide policy-makers and others with sufficient information to make sound decisions. PLA is a combination of participatory activities, semi-structural interviews, observations and formal questionnaires intended to provide decision makers at regional, national and international level with valuable information for present and future planning. The study highlights that by combining information from government officials, peoples participation and scientific assessment of rural knowledge, it has been possible to categorise the forest land into different forestry land uses and subsequent planning for better sustainable management of these forest lands for good return and fulfilling the day to day needs of society.