Non-timber forest products and village livelihoods in Rajasthan,India: adaptation in a changing environment |
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| Authors: | David Natcher Vijayalakshmi Kalagnanam Ramesh Rawal Mark Johnston Abdullah Al Mamun |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics and the Global Institute for Food Security, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;2. School of Environment and Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;3. BAIF Development Research Foundation, Pune, Maharashtra, India;4. Saskatchewan Research Council, Saskatoon, SK, Canada;5. Department of Agriculture and Resource Economics, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada |
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| Abstract: | This paper presents the results of research conducted between 2009 and 2014 in the village of Khanda Sharol in the state of Rajasthan, India. Our research objective was to determine how the livelihoods of village residents have been affected by the intensification of forest use, and the resulting loss of domestic access to traditionally used forest resources. Results indicate that changes in forest cover have resulted in a loss of livelihood options for village residents. Yet rather than being victimized by environmental change processes, this paper shows how villagers have responded by partnering with public and private actors to develop a community protected forest area that is now helping villagers to meet their livelihood needs. These findings suggest that sustainable livelihoods in rural regions of India require committed and scaled approaches involving local, public, and private actors. |
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| Keywords: | Non-timber forest products community forest management collective action socioecological adaptation tribal people |
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