Participation and dependency of forest dwellers in forest management - A comparative study of Bankadaha and Neora Valley forest

Abstract

Forest is an important natural resource not only in respect of its' economic facilities but also biological, hydrological services of environment. Forest plays an important role in daily livelihood of forest villagers. They depend on the forest in various ways for their earnings, fuel, fodder, medicine. They work as forest protector or as eco developer in Joint Forest Management (JMF) programme under Forest Department. In this study the dependency of forest villagers on forest and their role in forest management is studied through socio-economic survey in respect of 2 different forests of West Bengal-Bankadaha forest of Bankura and Neora Forest of Darjeeling district. These 2 forests represent different biological and climatological scenario. But both of the forests are protected and managed through Forest Protection Committee (FPC) or Eco Development Community (EDC). The comparative study shows that Neora Valley forest is more resourceful than Bankadaha but the later is proved to be more beneficial to forest villagers than the earlier.