Managing Harvests of Fuel Wood and Fodder: Major Drivers of Forest Degradation in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan

Priyanka Tiwar; J.V. Sharma

doi:10.36808/if/2018/v144i12/141848

Managing Harvests of Fuel Wood and Fodder: Major Drivers of Forest Degradation in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan

Authors

Priyanka Tiwar TERI School of Advanced Studies, Plot No. 10, Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
J.V. Sharma Forestry and Biodiversity Division, The Energy and Resources Institute, Darbari Seth block, IHC, Lodi Road, New Delhi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2018/v144i12/141848

Keywords:

Drivers of forest degradation, Unsustainable harvest, Sustainable limit, Sariska Tiger Reserve, Livelihood

Abstract

More than 300 million of rural population in India is fully or partially dependent on forests for their livelihood. Forests are gradually degrading over the years due to unsustainable harvest of fuelwood and fodder, which is being considered as the major drivers of deforestation. This paper aims to identify the major drivers of degradation in the dry deciduous forest of Sariska Tiger Reserve of Rajasthan. The study also quantifies the extent of unsustainable harvest of fuelwood and fodder in the study area. The research study further estimates the potential forest biomass projection owing to substitution of unsustainable harvest with alternative sources of livelihood. The result states that among the various forest products harvested from the core area of Sariska Tiger Reserve, the maximum dependence of households is on self consumption of fuelwood followed by fodder and sale of fuelwood. It also includes suggesting policy interventions to overcome the unsustainable harvest of the forest produce.

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