Forest Resources in Himalayan Foothills and Their Appraisal: A Case Study in Kurmai Forest Village

The eastern Himalayan foothill region, located to the east of river Tista, is known as 'Dooars' and it bears unique physiography, vegetation and human cultural traits. The vast tropical moist deciduous forest found here, nurtures ample floral and faunal diversity and sustains livelihood of different human tribes. Their culture, economy as well as day to day living have been based on the surrounding forest since ages. With introduction of bureaucratic forest resource management process in the region, modifications have occurred in the life of these forest dwellers. The present study looks into the state of forest resource appraisal by forest dwellers of Dooars region in general and of Chilapata forest reserve and Kurmai village in particular. Along with this, efforts have been made to analyse their level of socio-economic development and hindrances to it.