Well-being and Conservation Implication of Forest Rights Act in the Protected Areas of Odisha, India

Abstract

The implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 has been extended to the protected areas (PAs) with a view to promote livelihoods of socially and economically vulnerable forest dwellers and thereby encouraging their participation in the forest management. In this context, this study examines the relationship between ecosystem services and human well-being, and how the recognition of forest rights under FRA has influenced this relationship by taking a case study of Odisha. By using primary data collected from 221 sample households located inside the Lakhari Valley Wildlife Sanctuary of Odisha, the article explains the levels of household well-being and their attitude towards conservation after provision of land rights under the FRA. The study also constructs multidimensional poverty index (MPI) and ecosystem conservation index (ECI) and tests their relationship by a simultaneous probit model. JEL Classification: Q01, Q15, Q23, Q28