CBSE Class 10 Science 2017 · Paper 31/1/2 · Question 6

Involving local people helps in three ways: (1) They live in and around the forest, depend on it for fuelwood, fodder, fruit and medicines, and know it well, so they have every reason to keep it healthy and can help plan its sustainable use. (2) When they share its benefits (employment, a part of the harvest, fuelwood and fodder), protecting the forest becomes their own interest; being present every day, they guard it against illegal felling, over-grazing and fire far better than a few officials can. (3) Example: at Arabari in West Bengal, from 1972, forest officer A. K. Banerjee involved villagers in protecting 1,272 hectares of badly degraded sal forest in return for employment, 25 per cent of the final harvest, and fuelwood and fodder for a nominal fee; by 1983 the previously worthless forest was valued at Rs 12.5 crore.