Role of Community Based Organization in Forest Management in the Tribal Areas: A Case Study of Koraput District

Abstract

Forest is the life line of human civilization. Global warming is now working as a challenge to humanity. Development in the sense leads to destruction. tribal people are really the caretaker of forest resources. Tribals and forest are closely linked with other. They can't be separated with each other. Forest provides livelihood to the tribals and in exchange of it tribals protected forests. This is a common phenomena, generally in Indian context and particularly in the context of Odisha state.   Koraput Forest Division of Odisha is thickly populated with the tribal people. These people mostly depend on forest for their livelihood. Forest provides them food, fodder, fuel, timber, shelter, medicinal drugs, agricultural implements. Here in Koraput tribal economy, custom, social fabric and folklore are also neatly interwoven with forest. The focus of this article will include the role of community based organization in forest management in the tribal areas of Koraput district of Odisha.

Keywords: Self Help Groups, Farmers Associations, Forest Protection Committee, Youth Club, Panchyats