Need for Social Forestry

• Unemployment among Rural poor
• Villagers’ Dependency on forests for basic needs like fuel, fodder, timber, fruits etc.
• Soil erosion, Wasteland development
• Environment degradation
• Low productivity of resources because of lack of awareness and proper training

Impact of Social Forestry

• To raise the standard of living and quality of life of the rural and the urban people
• Improve environment for protecting agriculture from adverse climatic factors
• Increase the supply of wood fuel for domestic use, small timber for rural housing, fodder for livestock, and minor forest produce for local industries
• Provide jobs for unskilled workers

Impact of Social Forestry

• 50,000 wood cum fruit bearing plants per grampanchayat increase forest cover by 8.33%
• 500 families get continuous employment for 5 years
• 125 man-days generated everyday in that GP
• Labor Expenditure of Rs. 0.655 Crores per year

Social Forestry Under MNREGA: Model