Deforestation remains an entrenched and ongoing issue in the Amazon, the world

Examples from Cameroon and other countries highlight the capacity of non-wood forest products to provide employment, income and sustenance in times of crisis

This article analyses the working of Joint Forest Management and Community Forest Management in Orissa with a view to understand the incentive and disincentive mechanisms available in these institutions and how these influence the protection of forests and the livelihood of forest dwellers.

Orissa is one of the most backward states of India with 47 per cent of the population living below poverty line. Forests constitute 37 per cent of the state's geographical area and are the major sources of income for the poor, particularly tribals.

Forests provide a number of goods and services to the people. The dependence is very high especially amongst the tribals who live close to nature and collect food, fuelwood, timber, bamboos, medicinal plants and other non-wood products from the forests.

Life is grim for the tribals living in the reserve forest areas of the country, who face pressure from corrupt officials on one hand, and the environment lobby on the other.

Of the innumerable natural resources in India, people are mostly ignorant about the potential of Minor Forest Products (MFPs)/Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) which have been the chief recipient of poor attention. This study is mainly based on secondary data obtained from export-import trade statistics in India.