DEVELOPMENT OF INDICATORS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT IN BUFFER ZONE OF PROTECTED AREAS: A CASE STUDY OF PACHMARHI BIOSPHERE RESERVE

摘要

Biosphere Reserves (BRs) and buffer zones of Protected Areas (PAs) offer tremendous opportunities for interlinking conservation with development needs to achieve ecologically sound and economically viable development of forests and forest inhabitantsin a sustainable manner. In India, 14 sites have been identified to be designated as BRs. However, 12 BRs have been constituted till 2000, covering an area of 53,849.39 sq km in different representative biogeographic provinces of the country. Pachmarhi BR is the only BR in Madhya Pradesh State, located in central India. PAs / BRs have specific legal status. These areas have two differentiated zones, viz., (i) completely protected core zone and (ii) adjoining buffer zone, which surrounds the core zone. Buffer zone is considered as the utilizable zone of inhabitants residing in the periphery of core zone. Principally, buffer zone is formed not only to reduce pressure on the core zone but also to support livelihood of the dependent local inhabitants. Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) of buffer zone is essential to conserve and protect the biodiversity of the area and also to provide the need - based utilization of forest resources to local inhabitants in sustainable manner. Criteria and Indicators (C &I) are today commonly recognized as appropriate tools for defining, assessing and monitoring progress towards SFM. The need of C & I in manipulative / people inhabited buffer zone of PAs is recognized as a tool to conceptualize, implement and evaluate SFM. In the present study, attempts have been made to develop a set of criteria and indicators for regular monitoring and evaluation for sustainable management of forest ecosystem in the buffer zone of Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. A set of 9 criteria and37 indicators has been developed for regular monitoring and assessment of SFM in Protected Areas. These developed C & I will also provide guidelines for making management plans to managers of Protected Areas (PAs).