Publication

This paper explores the major trends shaping devolution of forest management in democratic India. The authors look at the appropriation of space for forest management by self-initiated community formations and state-driven devolution where government policies define the scope of local authority in forest management. The paper is based on research conducted in the states of Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. It concludes that devolution and democratization in India requires holistic forest sector reform processes with multisectoral and multistakeholder participation.