Special Forest Privilege and its Role on Forest Development - a Case Study : in Gujarat (India)

Abstract

In Gujarat, privileges have been granted to the people as a matter of favour but not of right. The general privileges like removal of fallen leaves and grasses and special privileges like collection and removal of dead wood as firewood on head loads, sanctioned separately for many districts are for bonafide domestic uses only, not for sale. The present case study indicates that the materials extracted from forests through exercise of privileges on more restricted into bonafide uses. Rural folk sales also the extracted material for livelihood and self employment. About 2 tonnes materials are extracted for each town in which people involved are women (53%), men (26%) aod children (21%' having maximum of 26-40 age group.