Paper short abstract:

An inclusive conservation model involving local people is to be adopted as per UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme. Sustainable agriculture practised within the core area of the BRs could prevent depletion of plant and animal biodiversity in the forest and preserves agricultural biodiversity.

Paper long abstract:

Dr Samit Ghosal

The paper presents a biodiversity conservation model with livelihood concerns for the people living inside the Biosphere Reserves (BR) in India. UNESCO conceived Biosphere Reserves as a unique protected area which presents the possibility of bringing together the principles of 'ecological economics' and 'sustainable development' together in human interface management. Principles of human participation in the Biosphere Reserves gives us an an inclusive people centric Landscape Development Approach (LDA) instead of absolute protectionism which has become improbable after the enactment of Forest Right Act (FRA) of 2006 and Panchayat Extension to the Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act of 1996.

The paper shows that adopting an 'Integrated Conservation and Development Plan' (ICDP) sustainable agriculture practised within the core area in the BRs could prevent depletion of plant and animal biodiversity in the forest and safeguards the livelihood of forest dwellers. The agricultural biodiversity present in the core areas of various BRs in India requires preservation in situ as many of the crop species are indigenous to the habitat.

Promotion of integrated community based conservation model is needed by involving local people in decision making and as a stake holder to the developmental processes like agro forestry, forestry, bee keeping, common pool fisheries, eco tourism , selling of artisanal crafts and benefits of profit sharing of forest produces under Intellectual Property Right. The local and indigenous people should be viewed as protector and guardian of forest and marine resources and its biodiversity rather than a mere destroyer of it.