Resource Dependency and Socio-economic Profile of Local Communities in Sariska Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan

Abstract

This chapter presents a data analysis of the study conducted between February and August 2008 to assess the socioeconomic status and resource dependency of ten villages located in the notified national park, i.e., core zone I of Sariska Tiger Reserve (STR). Data pertaining to the collection of forest products, livestock holding, demographic details, source of income, and education level was collected using a structured questionnaire, achieving a sampling effort of 45–84%, varying in different villages. Literacy-rate reported for the villages is 24% which is quite low and mostly restricted to a primary level of education. Average annual household income reported for the villages is 29,600 INR, of which a major part (89.4%) is contributed by milk sales followed by agriculture, daily wage labor, and goat selling (10.6%). High dependency of local people on forest products is observed, having an annual harvest of 496 tonnes and 2,300 tonnes of fuel wood and fodder, respectively, for all the ten villages. The fuel wood has a high commercial value of 2,609,000 INR and fodder has a value of 3,040,000 INR. The livestock owned by the local communities in the entire national park comprises of 2,643 buffaloes, 896 cattle, 6,160 goats, and 234 sheep. The observed high dependency of the local people in Sariska is attributed to the lack of alternatives and accessibility to essential commodities.It is suggested to make provision for alternative livelihood sources, economic incentives through benefit sharing from tourism, compensation for the loss of livestock killed by the predators and to the local people, and community-based conservation programs. Raising plantations with indigenous tree and shrub species along with palatable grasses in the buffer zone of STR to reduce pressures on core zone I and relocation of the villages from core zone I have been suggested for the availability of more space to wild animals.