Natural resource management...... a “chosen participation” or “imposed participation”?
For the last twenty years, the international policy discourse on natural resources management has promoted communities’ participation in order to achieve sustainable development and conservation of natural resources. In India, the Central Government approved and promoted this agenda through its National Forest Policy (1988). The States have been requested to implement Joint Forest Management and Planning (JFMP) schemes so that village communities get a share from the forest resources and “identify themselves with the protection, development and management of forests and other Government waste lands”.
For my fieldwork as part of IRMA curriculum, I went to Kanhari Khurd, Mandla, Madhya Pradesh (a village surrounded by forest from three sides). There also villagers, mostly Baiga Tribals, were engaged in the so-called joint forest management. However, what I experienced was that the villagers were engaged in such a process but not willingly though have got a slight sense of ownership over their forest. They have stopped over-exploitation of forest just because if anyone does so other villagers will complain against it as they have already been denied such source of income (wood cutting, etc). No one was keen on protecting their forest whole-heartedly rather it is more of forced participation. Therefore, there remains a doubt about the long-term sustenance of such natural management practice.
So, isn’t such Collective action for natural resource management therefore assumes more of a shape that describe “imposed participation” rather “chosen participation”? And hence will it have long-term sustenance?
1 comment:
Well the fieldwork experience regarding the same was different for me. I went to Jharkhad for the fieldwork (in Gumla district). There people do realized the importance of the forest. Now people don't want to cut the trees usually, not because of the imposition rather because of the value they attach to forest.
So what I feel is that one needs to look at whether there are any cultural values attached to the forest or not? The issue Nitesh raised is very valid, that whether it is imposed or chosen. But I guess even though it is imposed in few places, the value of it will be recognized very soon and people will give importance to it. The reason being the current global warming measures taking place and the future predictions. So even if it is imposed, the values and benefits will be there in future.
Post a Comment