In India, the total forest-covered area is 690,899 km², i.e. 22% of the total territory. While many communities depend on forest resources for their livelihoods, particularly tribal population groups, the intensive development of infrastructure in the country is placing high pressure on the ecosystem. ACCESS is currently implementing 3 forest-based projects and works at reducing the pressure on the forest resources by creating new livelihoods opportunities for the communities to shift to more sustainable income-generating activities.
Madhya Pradesh
NTFP Rural Livelihood Project
In Madhya Pradesh, the local tribal communities have been historically dependent on the forest resources, especially the Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP), for both their consumption and income needs. Although the traditional harvesting methodology of NTFP is considered as a sustainable practice, the primary collectors face severe constraints affecting their capacity to engage in the activity in an effective way. The project essentially addresses the basic issues related to the livelihoods of communities living around the Kanha National Park. These communities, under the current management, have been excluded from their rightful use of forest resources. This project aims to achieve a triple bottom line impact i.e. social, economic as well as ecological by enhancing the revenues from NTFP to reduce the impact on the forest resources. This would be achieved by adding value to the produce, enhancing the productivity and providing a minimum of 500 NTFP producers with more negotiation power in the market through their consolidation in a Producer Company.
Capacity Building for Community Forestry Project
The urgent need for shifting to more sustainable uses of land, water, forest and biodiversity resources is well known. In response to this, ACCESS started this project with support from the Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) in collaboration with the Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs), local NGOs and financial institutions. Targeting the achievement of a triple bottom line impact, the objective of the project is to build the capacity and augment the income of at least 200 households from forest dependant communities. By furthering linkages with key stakeholders and improving the income from Non Timber Forest Produce (NTFP), ACCESS SPARC encourages the beneficiaries to shift to more sustainable activities and reduce the pressure on the ecosystem
Rajasthan
Sustaining Tigers in Ranthambore through Innovative Poverty Eradication Solutions (STRIPES)
The Ranthambore project envisages to be implemented in and around the internationally well known Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Sawai Madhopur, Rajasthan. The goal of the project is to provide sustainable livelihoods for 500 households based on development of dedicated gifts and souvenirs based on the tiger stripes theme as also undertaking agriculture interventions to cater to the high tourist arrivals in Rathambore. The project seeks to impact both the economy of poor households as well as the ecology of the region besides building the social capital.