Papers presented at Seminar on "Forest Policy and Tribal Development"; with reference to Orissa, India.

Sustainable forest management (SFM) has become a prominent goal of current forest management approaches within the Unites [sic] States. A growing body of literature offers support for incorporating traditional and local knowledge (TEK) with current SFM methods in an effort to improve management planning and policies. By seeking Native American perspectives and incorporating traditional knowledge into current forest management methods, U.S. forest managers have the potential to increase their understanding of relationships between human, non-human, and the physical environment, thereby increasing their ability to manage our nation’s forests more effectively for all stakeholders involved. Using the qualitative data obtained from in-depth interviews and focus groups conducted with two Native American communities, this study examines the absent perspectives of Native American voices in the dialogue on sustainable forest management. This study argues that bringing in Native American viewpoints into sustainable forest management will add key missing perspectives to the national and global discussion. Results suggest that the abilities to maintain and manage natural resources are central to the survival of Native American communities, their spiritual beliefs, and their cultural practices, and that the human element in ecosystem functions is an essential factor in sustainable forest management from a Native American perspective.

Contains 8 Essays On Health, Forest Development And Environment In 3 Section. Useful For All Those Engaged In Forest Management And Tribal Development-Whether Government Agencies Or Ngos.

The 1990s decade brought about some revolutionary change in the community management and development as the people s participation becomes an important goal in managing natural resources efficiently, sustainably and equitably. The Government initiative in policy making and issuing resolutions were welcomed, which made an impetus for the participatory process by the State Forest Departments, Civil Society Organizations, Research institutions and so on. Madhya Pradesh is well-known state for its natural forests ( Tiger state) and indigenous peoples ( Tribal state). The State Forest Department followed the National Guidelines and commenced their activities in 1991 forming the village institution in Harda, which was later transformed in to Joint Forest Management (JFM) model .In this state largest number of JFM committees have been formed on the basis of forest canopy and resource degradation. In their holistic attempts the protected area management has been part and parcel of the JFM programme. There are number of novelties in their planning and implementation. These are micro-planning, participatory silvi-cultural options, respecting people s knowledge, man-power planning , revolving fund, equitable sharing, gender unification and so on. There were establishments of Eco-centres and Extension centres in number of places for awareness development, skill development for livelihoods, capacity building in managing the village organization, attitudinal changes of forest officials and villagers, dissemination of information for progress and development. The M.P.Forestry Project is another land-mark for boosting the efforts for achieving the common property resources situation. The whole process of JFM programme has been thoroughly discussed in sequences in this book by an academician and a forest administrator.