Conflict among water users is a part of the history of the American West. They are continuing even today, with modifications in their characteristics, and with more complicated concerns. The conflicts typically involve historical patterns of use by irrigated agriculture on the one hand and increasing needs for urban and environmental uses on the other hand.
Advances in biotechnology and associated areas have increased the value of biodiversity and related knowledge of indigenous communities and lent impetus to global bioprospecting activities. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) put in place a framework for regulation of such activities and replaced the existing regime of free access to bioresources with a framework where indigenous communities would be compensated for use of their knowledge, innovation and practices.
The main emphasis of ancient Indian concepts is on the inherent balance of nature. The five primary elements namely earth, water, fire, air and space together with flora and fauna form a network of interrelations which ultimately culminates in giving rise to a grand harmony among everything. The Mahabharata says that the coexistence of wild beasts and the forests is necessary for the welfare of both.
The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) of the IPCC has given a warning to the global community about the consequences of global warming and climate change resulting from burning of fossil fuels during the last 150 to 200 years. This is also a growing concern in the agenda for trade negotiations, international trade contributes to economic growth and benefits participating countries.
This article concerns itself with two problems in developing countries: human development and biodiversity. Apparently they are conflicting objectives, and more so in the protected areas of the developing countries, where the poor have to depend on forest resources for their survival.
Joint Forest Management (JFM), the partnership between the Government Forest Department and the forest-fringe community (organized through the Forest Protection Committees (FPCs) towards forest protection had its inception in the state of West Bengal and is considered to be the most successful in this state. Bankura (North) Division, being part of the successful JFM zone, has some unique features like diverse topographical configurations and availability of commercially viable minerals beneath the forests in some areas and regions like Barjora.
