Efficacy of incentives in eliciting the people's participation in conservation of common property resources in different forest divisions of Himachal Pradesh, India Brahmi Mk#, Thakur Ks* Department of Environmental Science, Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, 173230, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India *ICAR-Krishi Vigyan Kendra (YSPUHF), Chamba, 176314, Himachal Pradesh, India #Email for correspondence: mkbrahmi@gmail.com
Online published on 27 April, 2018. Abstract Common property resources (CPRs) in Himachal Pradesh include forests, village common lands, ponds, Bawaries, threshing grounds, irrigation water channels, river banks, temples, paths etc. The people's participation in conservation and maintenance of these resources was achieved through the formation of JFMCs/VFCs under National Afforestation Programme (NAP). In lieu of the participation various incentives were given to different JFMCs in the state for the protection and conservation of these resources. Due to these incentives the maximum participation level was found in between 20–30, 30–40, 20–30 and 30–40 per cent in JFMCs of Nalagarh, Dharamshala, Dalhousie and Jogindernagar forest divisions respectively. Overall maximum level of participation in all the forest divisions was found in between 20–30 per cent followed by 30–40 per cent. None of JFMCs in different Forest divisions observed 50 per cent or more level of participation. For future planning and replication of such projects more and more group discussions, meetings, awareness camps etc should be conducted. Proper usufruct sharing mechanism and conflict resolution must be addressed properly. Some more incentives in consultation with the stakeholders must be given so that they can participate without any hesitation. Top Keywords Conservation, efficacy, people's participation. Top |