Households’ attitude about ecosystem conservation after implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, in Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Abstract

This paper explains households’ attitude towards ecosystem conservation after the implementation of Forest Rights Act (FRA) in the Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. It also analyses the factors motivating them for ecosystem conservation. It is found that those households which benefited under the FRA had comparatively better perception about the conservation status of the sanctuary and were willing to cooperate with the authorities implementing the conservation programmes. A higher income from forest-based livelihood activities mainly motivated the households to follow better conservation practices. The households’ participation level in the conservation programmes can be further stepped up if their rights to forest resources are better recognised by the authorities implementing forest resources.