STATUS, CONTRIBUTION AND CAUSES OF DEGRADATION OF COMMON PROPERTY RESOURCES: MICRO-LEVEL EVIDENCES FROM CHANGAR AREAS OF KANGRA, HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2020-03
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NAUNI,UHF
Abstract
ABSTRACT
To study the “Status, contribution and causes of degradation of common property
resources in the changar areas of Kangra district”, multistage random sampling was used to select
a sample of 100 respondents from two developmental blocks. The study revealed that 94.96 % of the
selected households were engaged in the collection of fuel wood, 79.03 % in tree fodder & grasses,
75.56 % in leaf litter, 68.60 % in fruit & nuts and 62.74 % in herbal plants. On the basis of farm
category the marginal farmers were found more dependent on CPRs for the collection of green fodder
(38.04%) and dry fodder (27.04%) as compared to small and medium farmers. Tree fodder was
consumed more in winter (2.49 quintals), followed by summer (1.72 quintals) and monsoon (0.72
quintals). Hay fodder requirement was found higher in monsoon (2.64 quintals) followed by winter
(1.88 quintals) and summer (1.18 quintals) per farm. On the basis of farm category marginal farmers
were found more dependent on common pasture as compared to small and medium farmers. On
grazing practice in the study region on an average there were 369 grazing days per year per household
which indicate the higher pressure on the grazing lands. The study revealed that the highest share of
CPR income was reported in Lambagaon block (Rs. 12494) than in Dehra block (Rs. 11331)
respectively. The inequality of income derived from CPRs among medium farmers was found lower
than that of the marginal and small farmers. The Gini coefficient of total income in case of small &
medium farmers was 0.29 and in the case of marginal farmers was 0.36. On an average the
employment generated through CPRs based activities were found 863 hours per year per household
i.e. 108 man days. The main factors responsible for the decline and degradation of CPRs were:
increasing population of stray animals, excessive lopping for firewood, forest fires, deforestation,
construction of buildings and overgrazing. Solution of CPRs problem in the study area lies in
strengthening the village based participatorymanagement.