Minaketan Behera

Abstract

Orissa is one of the most backward states of India with 47 per cent of the population living below poverty line. Forests constitute 37 per cent of the state's geographical area and are the major source of income for the poor, particularly tribals. For most of the tribal households, forests provide essential food and nutrition, medicine, fodder, fuel, thatch and construction materials and non-farm income. These products are particularly important in relieving the 'hunger periods' during slack periods of agricultural cycle. Tribal households get 23 per cent of their total income from NTFPs resources from the forest areas. This study suggests development models of forest management that will strengthen the life support system of the tribals keeping in view the principle of sustainable forest management.

Keywords

Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP), Tribal Livelihood, Kandhamal District, Orissa

Full Text

     

Minaketan Behera , B. K. P. Sinha

Abstract

Joint Forest Management (JFM) was introduced into Orissa on 1st June 1988 by JFM resolution. It involves sharing forest benefits and forest management responsibility between the state and the community, and it currently covers 1,061,705 ha. Government of Orissa's efforts for encouragement of participatory forest management through people's participation by different JFM models have positive impacts on forest management and livelihood of forest dwellers but still there is need of continuous effort to recognize Peoples institutions (PIs) with an optimistic approach of development practitioners for JFM programme to make it more people-centric. This study suggests that empowerment of the user group, peoples' institutions, greater devolution of power, functionaries and funds, active participation of the stakeholders, due weightage to entitlements of the community, etc. are likely to benefit the forest-dependent poors most in future and sustainable management of forest.

Keywords

Forest Benefits, Government of Orissa, JFM Models, Stakeholders

Full Text

     

B. K. P. Sinha ¹, Minaketan Behera ²

Affiliations
1 Amity School of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, Amity University Campus, Sector-125, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, IN
2 Centre for Informal Sector & Labour Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, IN

Abstract

Forest governance is an important factor for poverty eradication and sustainable forest management. A field study was conducted to understand the parameters of governance in four different JFM implemented models (FDA, OFSDP, UJFM and RLTAP) in four forest division of Odisha. The data were collected from VSS members, forest personals, PRI members and civil society (NGOs) to identify and establish building blocks of forest governance. The parameters of Forest Governance covered are based on the Good Forest Governance Framework. The finding of the study revealed that maximum gap was observed in livelihood sustainability followed by transparency, democratization and accountability. The achievement in totality accounts for 77 per cent with corresponding gap of 23 per cent in overall forest governance. Among the four JFM models under study OFSDP was found to be the best available JFM model suiting to condition of the State of Odisha and fulfilling the requirements of forest dependents.

Keywords

Stakeholders, Forest Governance, JFM, Odisha, Sustainable Forest Management.

Full Text