Community Forest Management (A study of Investing in Communities for Sustainable Forests through CFM)

Conservation and development of forest resources has implications not only for the economy but also for the environment worldwide. In many nations, rates of deforestation and forest degradation are high, raising concerns about the loss of ecosystem services. Depletion and degradation of forest resources lead to serious wider environmental consequences. Community can play very vital role in resource management and is an integral part of sustainable resource management. The history of forest conservation in India is the best example of community's participation in resource conservation. In India, forest dwelling tribal communities, villagers used to protect the forest as their survival was dependent on it. Forest resources are intricately related to the livelihoods of local communities in view of their co-existence for centuries. The current study discusses and analyses the Investing in Communities for Sustainable Forests through CFM) in the current scenario, as well as processes related to the existing condition, people's dependence, and circumstances that led to the evolution of community forestry in India.