This book addresses quantitative assessment of forest governance and how local-level institutions work in governing efficient ways of forest resource management so that sustainable development of forest is ensured. The research is done at the micro-level as well as macro-level in India. The research presented here focuses on forest governance and institutions in the two forest divisions of West Bengal say South Bengal and North Bengal. The research covers 36 villages, 844 households, 10 Gram panchayat, 12 Beat offices, and 36 Forest protection Committees in West Bengal and also studies different local-level institutions like local communities/households; Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMC)/Forest Protection Committees (FPCs); Community Forest Management groups; Van Panchayats; Village Councils (schedule VI area) and Biodiversity Management Committees; Eco-development committees, NGOs and Self-Help Groups, and Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Chapters also address various issues like monitoring, enforcement, rule of law, transparency, accountability, participation, control of corruption, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, and sustainable livelihood in connection with the study of forest governance. This research is associated with different sectors like agricultural sector, forestry sector, informal sectors and rural development, etc., and involved multi-stakeholders. Particular attention is given on the policy-oriented research which is the cornerstone of SDG of 16. Developmental practitioners, government implementation agencies, researchers in environmental science and social science, and policymakers find this book appealing.   

This book addresses the quantitative measurement of climate change vulnerability at the macro and micro-level and identifies household adaptation strategies to cope with the adverse effects of climate change. Focusing on five different agro-climatic regions of West Bengal: the hill region, foothill region, drought region, and coastal regions of Sunderban and Purba Midnapore, it presents research related to various sectors, including the agricultural, forestry and informal sectors. The book also offers insights into the impact of climate change on smallholdings, forest-dependent communities, fishing and crab collecting communities, casual labourers and workers in the informal sectors, and identifies the key vulnerabilities associated with climate change, as well as the causes of such vulnerability the extent to which remedial measures have been taken. The book particularly highlights the role of Indian governmental policies like Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the housing scheme, Indira Awas Yojana, the Food for Work Programme, and the rural road building scheme, Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, which are important for rural development and in reducing vulnerability. Showcasing vulnerability measurement in the socio-ecological system, the book will appeal to developmental practitioners, government implementation agencies, policymakers and researchers in the field of environmental science and policymakers will find this book appealing.

This book addresses the livelihood impacts of climate change, vulnerability and adaptation measures on the forest dependent communities of India. Research presented here focuses on three different agro-climatic areas of West Bengal, namely the coastal Sundarban, the drought-prone region and the mountainous region. Readers will discover the main climate induced vulnerabilities that affect livelihoods of forest communities, understand how to evaluate the expected impacts of climate change at different levels under different climate change scenarios, and be able to assess and measure the implied major social, environmental and economic impacts. Particular attention is also given to the role of the Indian governmental policy (including national forest policy of 1988) to reduce climate-related vulnerabilities. Chapters also highlight two main approaches to vulnerability assessment in socio-ecological systems. The first is the impact-based approach, which assesses the potential impacts of climate change on forest dependent people. The second is the vulnerability-based approach, which assesses social sensitivity and adaptive capacity to respond to stresses. Development practitioners, government implementing agencies, and researchers in environmental science and policy will find this book appealing.

This book addresses the quantitative measurement of climate change vulnerability at the macro and micro-level and identifies household adaptation strategies to cope with the adverse effects of climate change. Focusing on five different agro-climatic regions of West Bengal: the hill region, foothill region, drought region, and coastal regions of Sunderban and Purba Midnapore, it presents research related to various sectors, including the agricultural, forestry and informal sectors. The book also offers insights into the impact of climate change on smallholdings, forest-dependent communities, fishing and crab collecting communities, casual labourers and workers in the informal sectors, and identifies the key vulnerabilities associated with climate change, as well as the causes of such vulnerability the extent to which remedial measures have been taken. The book particularly highlights the role of Indian governmental policies like Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), the housing scheme, Indira Awas Yojana, the Food for Work Programme, and the rural road building scheme, Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, which are important for rural development and in reducing vulnerability. Showcasing vulnerability measurement in the socio-ecological system, the book will appeal to developmental practitioners, government implementation agencies, policymakers and researchers in the field of environmental science and policymakers will find this book appealing.