Attitudes of Tribals of Andhra Pradesh Towards Joint Forest Management

Abstract

Joint Forest Management (JFM) is partnership involving both the forest departments and local communities entrusted with the protection and regeneration of forests by providing livelihood to the forest dwellers. The concept was introduced by Government of India through the National Forest Policy of 1988 and started implementation process in 1990. The present study Attitudes of Tribals of Andhra Pradesh towards Joint forest Management, is a draft project report, sponsored by world bank and submitted to the Tribal Cultural Research & Training Institute, Tribal Welfare Department, Andhra Pradesh. The project report calls for an integrated approach with tribals as focus of the development within the framework of resources around tribal habitats through Joint forest Management. The thrust areas of the study are existing rights on forests to the tribe economic activities carried out today in relation to the forests and returns obtaining from them people preferences for joint forest management processes such as mechanisms for local people participation in employment in the reserve forest and in nursery raising activities and women priorities for forestry activities. As per the guidelines provided by World Bank, the investigation team carried out a socio economic study by using participatory rural appraisal methods in 8 tribal sub-plan districts and the Chenchu area. The study has been conducted among 22 villages from these districts and the selection of villages have been done through Purposive Sampling. After the extensive research, the research team has proposed key suggestions for the successful implementation of Joint Forest Management. The recommendations include changing the name of Samithi from Vana Samrakshana Samithi to Adavi Samrakshana, Abivrudhi Samithi; the criteria for the selection of the first batch villages; selection of species for gap filling; sharing of produce; duties and responsibilities of the vana samrakshana samithis and management committiees and the norms for their disqualifications; and implementation, monitoring and review machinery. The project report also comprises a specific chapter on the detailed study of Socio economic study of Tribal Woman of Andhra Pradesh. It envisages the analysis of women customary rights on land; their traditional livelihood approaches; health, diet and nutrition practices; state of literacy and the role of organizational groups in JFM.