Management of Social Forestry in India (With Special Reference to Himachal Pradesh, Agricole Publishing Academy, New Delhi, 1987, R. Swarup and K. P. Chand.
The worldwide concern has been expressed on dwindling forest resources and its resultant ecological hazards. People’s awareness in the form of Chipko Andolan in India demonstrates the common man’s concern over the problem. The governments have also framed legislations and launched programmes like Social Forestry to conserve and augment the forest wealth. This book presents the working environment of this programme in India and its performance in Himachal Pradesh. The volume is based on field conditions prevailing in the state. It focuses on aspects like fuelwood demand, forest exploitation, potential for raising fuelwood plantation on forestland as well as on private wastelands and the extent to which it has been tapped. The plantation programmes like this are primarily for the people to meet their needs, reducing pressure on natural forests and utilize the otherwise unproductive lands. It calls for involvement of locals in planning, execution, monitoring and follow-up. This study covers all these aspects and highlights the fundamental issues emerging from the experiences gained so far. Based on these, valuable suggestions have been put-forth to make social forestry acceptable to people for their better and active participation. Programme planners, executors, administrators and enlightened citizens will find this book interesting and useful.
