Contribution of Forestry to Poverty Alleviation - APFNet

Water. Demand for water for a variety of uses is assuming critical importance and there will be an
increasing awareness on the significance of protecting the forest in critical watersheds. It is likely that
the poor communities will be provided incentives to protect forests under the PES mechanism. There
will be a deliberate focus on watershed programs. Linking MGNREGS with watershed programs is
a possibility, given the necessity of addressing spatial poverty in dry lands of the country.
Primary production sectors. Unlike in other developing countries, agricultural expansion at the
cost of forests may not pose a big threat. With about 500 million livestock population (18% of the
world livestock population) that contribute substantially to the livelihoods of poor people especially
in the dry lands of the country, there is a growing recognition that the grasslands need ecological
restoration and integrated management to support the people’s livelihoods (as in Green India
Mission). An integrated view of the forestry, agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors in an
ecosystem-based approach will be one of important focal areas for future management.
Science and technology. New developments in the field of science and technology will help the
forestry sector in many ways. The use of Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographical Information
System (GIS) in forestry will be mainstreamed to help management decisions in future.
Future Scenario for Forestry and Poverty Alleviation
Forest area. In view of the current trend, forest cover may increase though to a small extent, and
provide more goods and services to all, including poor people. The national goal of bringing onethird
of the land area under forest or tree cover will continue to be a distant dream. The trend in the
decline of shifting cultivation areas in North East India will have a positive impact for increasing
forest cover.
Ecological services of forests. The recognition and importance of ecological services will improve
and there will be new mechanisms to transfer the compensatory benefits and incentives to people
who conserve the resources. PES, REDD plus, NPV of forests for diverted forest areas, and
rights under Biological Diversity Act (BDA) are some of the areas where opportunities for forestdependent
poor could improve, but not much in the immediate future. REDD plus benefits to the
poor are not likely to be realized in the next five years at least. Water from forested watersheds will
assume economic significance.
Forest degradation. More than the quantity of forests, the quality of forests will be the major concern
in the coming years. Landscape and integrated approaches addressing drivers of degradation, rather
than mere afforestation and plantations, will guide future efforts. Forest fires though will remain as
the most degrading influence on forests.
Sustainable forest management. Green tree felling from natural forests are prohibited and will
continue to be so in the future. Increase in productivity of plantations, biodiversity conservation,
forest certification, restoration of degraded ecosystems, and wildlife conservation will be thrust
areas for future management. Forest communities stand to gain from these developments provided
the enabling policy and institutional platforms are in place.
Policies and institutions. Forest laws are likely to be re-aligned with the forest policy of the country
recognizing the tenure, rights, and responsibilities of forest-dwelling people. It is also likely that the
state will provide more space for a plurality of local institutions including traditional institutions
under the Local Self Government for forest governance and resource management. However,
the transition will not be without its share of conflicts and contestations. The regulatory and
compliance mechanisms on forest and environment will continue to be robust and will be more
institutionalized.
Community-based approaches. In spite of its deficiencies, the centrality of the community-based
approach in forest management will be further consolidated. JFM will undergo changes with
legal backing through the LSG route. In remote areas and with practically little presence of other
arms of the government, JFM institutions could become the nodal points for delivery of a host of
entitlements under different poverty reduction strategies.
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