ForestManagementInAndhraPradesh


 

Abstract

FINAL REPORT OF MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT IN ECONOMICS

No.F.MRP-4726/14 (SERO-UGC) Dated: March 2014, Comcode: APOS015,Dept: ECONOMICS

TITLE

ECONOMICS OF JOINT FOREST MANAGEMENT IN ANDHRA PRADESH


 

By

V.Ameetha

Principal investigator & Lecturer in Economics

Sarojini Naidu Vanitha Maha Vidyalaya, Exhibition Grounds, Hyderabad


 

SUBMITTED TO

THE SOUTH EASTERM REGIONAL OFFICE-UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION, A.P.S.F.C. Buld. (4th Floor). 5-9-194, P.B.No.152, Chirag-Ali-Lane, HYDERABAD-500001


 

It is observed that lack of people’s participation and non existence of any effective regulatory system for resource use has been a major course for degradation of forests and adjoining lands. It is further observed that the commercial over exploitation and other anthropogenic activities, the forest system were rendered ineffective further leading to continuous degradation of forests and loss of productivity forming a vicious circle resulting to depletion of forests resources. Its impact is chronic problem of persistence of poverty among masses in the rural and tribal areas. Thus. It is felt that to put a halt to the process of degradation and depletion of forests, joint forest management (JFM) is adopted which forms part of national forest policy 1998.


 

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

1. To account the stakeholders’ views on the conditions before J F M

2. To study the benefits of JFM.

3. To analyze the economics of J F M


 

HYPOTHESES

1. The relationship between the composition of stakeholders of Joint Forest Management (JFM) and their perceptions on condition of forests in pre JFM setting is assumed to be statistically independent.

2. The impact of J F M on the living conditions of the beneficiaries is insignificant.
 

MAJOR FINDINGS

  1. The condition of forests in pre JFM setting are indentified in the descending order of endorsement which include degradation of forests, frequent fire accidents, depletion of forest resources, mounting tribal poverty, commercial over exploitation of forests, loss of productivity of forests, encroachment, mounting rural poverty, illicit felling, over grazing, stakeholders.

  2. The benefits of JFM are identified and arranged in the descending order of endorsement which include improvement in the participation of local community in forest protection works, regeneration of forests, empowerment of local community, strong linkage between forests and livelihoods, improvement in the productivity of forest ecosystems, improvement in the sustainability of forest ecosystems, enhancement in the resource management capabilities of local community, transparency in forest management and people’s awareness.

  3. Besides improvement in employment and income, the economics of JFM are identified and arranged in the descending order of endorsement which include improvement in the spirit of collectivity, absolute poverty is reduced, economic empowerment, cost reduction is significant, food security is ensured, guaranteed source of livelihood, realization of significance of natural resources for human development, improvement in credit worthiness, and possession of marketable assets.

  4. The first hypothesis, “The relationship between the composition of stakeholders of Joint Forest Management (JFM) and their perceptions on condition of forests in pre JFM setting is assumed to be statistically independent” is accepted.

  5. The second hypothesis “The impact of JFM on the living conditions of the beneficiaries is insignificant” is rejected.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

On the basis of the major findings presented above, the following recommendations are made which are given below.

 

  1. Since JFM has got a direct bearing on poverty reduction, the scale pf JFM must be augmented.

  2. Forest produce processing units must be encouraged to make value additions to the forest produce.

  3. Fair prices must be ensured to forest produce.

  4. Linkage effects must be improved between forests and non farm sector.

  5. JFM must be reoriented to inclusive growth of the poor.

  6. Forest growth must be made sustainable.

  7. Forest coverage area must b enhanced in a manner to help not only tribal but even the rural people.