| Abstrakt: |
Forest resources play a vital role in the livelihoods of rural communities living in forest fringe areas, serving as an integral part of their economic framework. India, being one of the world’s most forest-rich countries, heavily relies on non-wood forest products, with approximately 60% consumed locally (FAO., 2012). The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant adverse impact on over 200 countries, including India, affecting various sectors such as agriculture, forestry, and trade. This study focuses on three forest ranges in Midnapore forest division of Paschim Midnapore district, West Bengal in India, to understand the local economy and the effects of the pandemic on forest range inhabitants. Through twelve focused group discussions and 540 household surveys, we collected data on local economic sources, forest dependency, and the socioeconomic impact of COVID-19. Statistical analyses, including ANOVA post hoc and multivariate analysis, were conducted to assess the variance of forest dependence across different forest ranges during two consecutive periods. During the pre- and post-lockdown periods, there were significant differences observed among various sources of income, viz. the income from the forest, wages, livestock, and agriculture and between the forest regions depicted through the analysis of relative forest income (RFI). The analysis also revealed highlighting changes in income patterns, forest product collection, and forest dependency for different forest ranges. The results showed that forest dwellers faced economic challenges, with a shift from higher-income classes to lower-income classes during the lockdown. Collection and earnings from non-timber forest products were significantly affected, leading to economic distress for marginalized forest dwellers. Forest income remained an essential component of their livelihoods, but the pandemic caused fluctuations in forest dependency. The study underscores the importance of sustainable forest management and the need for targeted interventions to support forest-dependent communities during such crises. |
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