Ecodevelopment in Practice: Buxa Tiger Reserve and Forest People
Author(s)
Karlsson, B. G.
Abstract
IN May 1997 a man belonging to the Rabha community, one of India’s indigenous or tribal peoples, was shot dead by patrolling forest guards in the Buxa tiger reserve, in northern West Bengal. In protest against this incident the Rabhas stopped collaborating with the forest department and turned their backs on the newly initiated programme of ecodevelopment and joint forest management. They stopped patrolling the forest at night. As a result, illegal fellings reportedly started increasing again in the tiger reserve.
