CBSE Class 10 Science 2017 · Paper 31(B)/C · Question 6

Example: the sal forests of Arabari in West Bengal. In 1972 the West Bengal Forest Department, having failed to revive the badly degraded sal forests, involved the local villagers in protecting 1,272 hectares of the forest (the initiative of forest officer A.K. Banerjee). In return the villagers were given employment in silviculture and harvesting, 25 per cent of the final harvest, and fuelwood and fodder on payment of a nominal fee. With their active and willing participation the forest recovered remarkably: by 1983 a previously worthless forest was valued at Rs 12.5 crore. This shows that the participation of local people leads to better management of forests.