Role of Social Forestry in Revival, Restoration and Regeneration of Forests in Assam

Forests have invariably been the prime origin of livelihood for approximately 26 percent of the population that resides in the forest fringe villages of India. They primarily earn their daily wages by trading bamboo, small timber, fodder for animals, fuelwood, medicinal plants, non-timber products, wild edible food, and for the purpose of rituals and ceremonies. Furthermore, approximately 70 percent of the rural population in India depends on fuel wood for their domestic energy requirements. The present setting of a rising population linked to immigration from neighboring countries and regions, the ever-growing demand for food and cattle grazing, new and fresh incentives to small tea growers in risk-prone agricultural landscapes, extreme heat and mild winters, industrialization, urban development, and expansion of the road system provides grave difficulties in securing forests in Assam. Of the total 35.83 percent of the total geographical area under forests, only 5.52 percent is densely covered forests, while 53.12 percent is open forests. Hence, social forestry is one of the most sustainable and reasonable ways to meet rural society’s multifarious demands, reduce the worst effects of climate change, contribute to sustainable development, and enhance livelihoods. Compared to other Northeastern regions of India, social forestry is still in its nascent stage of development in Assam. This study attempts (i) to examine the dissimilar categories of social forestry that are slowly gaining ground in Assam and (ii) to examine the several government schemes of social forestry that have been successful in restoration, revival and regeneration of social forestry in Assam. This discovery highlights the commonality of dissimilar community forests, agroforestry, and extension forestry, including the plantation of mulberry trees. The achievements of some government schemes, such as the plantation of trees in schools, rural fuel wood generation, and income earned from social forestry, have been discussed.