Case Studies

WII-Ford Forestry Case Studies

Recognising that there exists a wide gap between what is reported and the ground reality in the implementation of JFM, RUPFOR commissioned 22 case studies with the objective of bringing in actual experiences from the field and the policy gaps which exist. The case studies were based on actual experience (past or present) of the authors. This process was initiated by developing a conceptual framework for writing the case studies and wide scale advertisements in journals and websites. Over 80 proposals were received out of which 22 were selected according to the evaluation criteria developed by RUPFOR staff. The case studies pertained to a particular community and/or a local organization (village, Forest Protection Committee, panchayat, van panchayat, cooperative, NGO, etc.), individual (tree farmer, NTFP collector, forest worker, etc.) or pertained to a specific area (forest beat, wildlife sanctuary, etc.). Some of the issues covered by the selected case studies relate to the role of the state, silviculture practices, plantation management, farm and agro forestry, NTFP management, forest produce value addition and marketing, forest produce trade, field implementation of JFM/ecodevelopment programmes, functioning of JFM committees/van panchayats/cooperatives, role of panchayats, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, medicinal plants, forest-based enterprises, ecotourism, community protection and management, conflict and conflict management, etc. The final dissemination and policy consultations of the case studies are planned in the future.