Land use planning issues in management of common property resources in a backward tribal area

Shrinking natural resources and high population growth over last 60 years have been a matter of concern for the Indian planners. The situation is getting especially critical for communities solely dependent on common property resources (CPRs) associated with marginal lands, leading to major problems of impoverishment. The present study was carried out in a cluster of three villages in Deori taluka (administrative unit) of Gondia district of Maharashtra state, India, listed as a backward district by Planning Commission of India. Livelihood in these villages is characterized by their dependence on declining non-timber forest produce (NTFP), shrinking CPRs, low agricultural productivity, lack of soil and water conservation measures, low productivity of livestock, high rate of migration, and lack of infrastructure and credit institutions. Based on information obtained through a baseline survey, participatory land use plan (PLUP) aimed at improved management of available resources for sustainable tribal livelihood and conserve forests was formulated and implemented. Interventions like optimal rainwater management thorough community action, pisciculture, and diversified cropping were introduced. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of NTFP was done. As a result of scientific interventions, significant improvement in land productivity and consequently economic development was noted. Two years of implementation of the plan has indicated that sustainable land use plan could not be implemented effectively without mobilization of a proactive community. The ideal way to ensure a proactive participation is to create an impact by starting with interventions where economic benefits are quickly realized and their potentials could be easily perceptible.