This case study presents a forest rehabilitation initiative in the tropical dry forests in north- western India. This project is undertaken by an Indian Non Government Organisation (NGO), the Foundation for Ecological Security (FES), in cooperation with the Forest Department and aims at improving the livelihood of tribal communities. The framework of the project is the Joint Forest Management (JFM) Programme in which forest regeneration and protection is managed jointly by government and people. Various measures are being implemented ranging from actual field work to improving forest stocking and grass vegetation to institutional re- organisation aimed at enhanced access to resources, self-governance and benefit sharing between communities and the government. The study highlights an indirect approach for assessing forest degradation, identification of forest rehabilitation objectives and targets and also illustrates lessons learnt for future forest rehabilitation in dry land forests, particularly with regard to degradation assessment, rehabilitation objectives and investments to bring about social changes required for sustaining the benefits of forest rehabilitation.

Type of Case
Printed publication (book, sourcebook, journal article…)

Publisher
FAO

Region
Asia Pacific

Biome
Tropical

Forest Type
All forest types (natural and planted), Degraded forest

Primary Designated Function
All