Socio-economic and Eco-biological Dimensions in Resource …
549
also increase the supply of reserves (Roy 1998). In the chapter by Das et al.
(Chapter “Wildlife Conservation Perspective of Fringe Villagers and Their Socio-economic Dependency: A Case Study from Borail Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India”)
authors have analyzed the wildlife conservation perspective of local communities and
their socio-economic dependency on natural resources in conservation areas of north
eastern India. Based on the findings of the dominance of utilitarian value among
the local communities and their social and economic dependency on the sanctuary, particularly for collecting firewood, constructing huts (kutcha houses), shifting
cultivation of beetle vine (pan jhum) they advocated for strengthening the sanctuarycommunity relationship. This may help in persuading the rural population to give up
unsustainable forms of livelihood in order to protect the sanctuary which might hold
the key to participatory wildlife and biodiversity conservation programmes. Dutta
and Hazarika (Chapter “Assessment of Different Aspects of Elephant Depredation
at a Rural Society-Protected Area Interface in Northeast India Based on Public Estimation") focused on human–elephant conflict in a reserve forest of north eastern
India thereby revealing severe financial consequences on the rural population due to
attacks by elephants which resulted in widespread agricultural loss, property damage
and human injury. Researchers often relate the social consequences of resource use
to social issues ranging from equitable distribution of raw materials, ready access to
clean water, and global food security, among others (TU 2014a).
The nation states strive to improve economic welfare largely at the costs of nature
and future generations (UNEP 2015). Resource conservation aims at securing sufficient natural resources for future generations, and minimizing the impact of their
use on environment (TU 2014b). With only 2.4% of the world’s land area, India is
home to 16% of the world human population. India contributes greatly to the global
biodiversity with about 8% of total number of species (Khoshoo 1996). It is a megadiverse country in terms of both people and biodiversity. India ranks 10th among the
countries with the largest forest cover in spite of highly variable forest distribution
across its various regions (FAO 2010). In the chapter (Chapter "Biodiversity and
Conservation: India’s Panoramic View"), Kapoor and Usha presented a panoramic
overview of India’s biodiversity and its conservation issues. In a case study from the
Eastern Ghats region of India, Gandhi and Sundarapandian (Chapter "Plant Diversity and Distribution Pattern in Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest of Eastern Ghats,
India") analyzed vegetation of a tropical dry deciduous forest and further observed
significant spatial variations in species richness and density among the plots having
anthropogenic perturbation, and edaphic characteristics. The challenge for biologists in conservation of wildlife and biodiversity for maintaining ecological balance
has been widely recognized. In their chapter, Purkayastha et al. (Chapter “A Preliminary Checklist of Herpetofauna Occurring in Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura,
India”) reported illegal turtle trade by local communities while preparing a checklist of herpetofaunal diversity in Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura state of north
east India. In another chapter (Chapter “Herpetofaunal Diversity and Conservation
Status in Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam, India”), Purkayastha et al. not
only prepared an inventory of herpetofaunal diversity in Assam’s Amchang Wildlife
Sanctuary but also identified the perceived threats and conservation concerns based
549
also increase the supply of reserves (Roy 1998). In the chapter by Das et al.
(Chapter “Wildlife Conservation Perspective of Fringe Villagers and Their Socio-economic Dependency: A Case Study from Borail Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, India”)
authors have analyzed the wildlife conservation perspective of local communities and
their socio-economic dependency on natural resources in conservation areas of north
eastern India. Based on the findings of the dominance of utilitarian value among
the local communities and their social and economic dependency on the sanctuary, particularly for collecting firewood, constructing huts (kutcha houses), shifting
cultivation of beetle vine (pan jhum) they advocated for strengthening the sanctuarycommunity relationship. This may help in persuading the rural population to give up
unsustainable forms of livelihood in order to protect the sanctuary which might hold
the key to participatory wildlife and biodiversity conservation programmes. Dutta
and Hazarika (Chapter “Assessment of Different Aspects of Elephant Depredation
at a Rural Society-Protected Area Interface in Northeast India Based on Public Estimation") focused on human–elephant conflict in a reserve forest of north eastern
India thereby revealing severe financial consequences on the rural population due to
attacks by elephants which resulted in widespread agricultural loss, property damage
and human injury. Researchers often relate the social consequences of resource use
to social issues ranging from equitable distribution of raw materials, ready access to
clean water, and global food security, among others (TU 2014a).
The nation states strive to improve economic welfare largely at the costs of nature
and future generations (UNEP 2015). Resource conservation aims at securing sufficient natural resources for future generations, and minimizing the impact of their
use on environment (TU 2014b). With only 2.4% of the world’s land area, India is
home to 16% of the world human population. India contributes greatly to the global
biodiversity with about 8% of total number of species (Khoshoo 1996). It is a megadiverse country in terms of both people and biodiversity. India ranks 10th among the
countries with the largest forest cover in spite of highly variable forest distribution
across its various regions (FAO 2010). In the chapter (Chapter "Biodiversity and
Conservation: India’s Panoramic View"), Kapoor and Usha presented a panoramic
overview of India’s biodiversity and its conservation issues. In a case study from the
Eastern Ghats region of India, Gandhi and Sundarapandian (Chapter "Plant Diversity and Distribution Pattern in Tropical Dry Deciduous Forest of Eastern Ghats,
India") analyzed vegetation of a tropical dry deciduous forest and further observed
significant spatial variations in species richness and density among the plots having
anthropogenic perturbation, and edaphic characteristics. The challenge for biologists in conservation of wildlife and biodiversity for maintaining ecological balance
has been widely recognized. In their chapter, Purkayastha et al. (Chapter “A Preliminary Checklist of Herpetofauna Occurring in Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Tripura,
India”) reported illegal turtle trade by local communities while preparing a checklist of herpetofaunal diversity in Rowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Tripura state of north
east India. In another chapter (Chapter “Herpetofaunal Diversity and Conservation
Status in Amchang Wildlife Sanctuary of Assam, India”), Purkayastha et al. not
only prepared an inventory of herpetofaunal diversity in Assam’s Amchang Wildlife
Sanctuary but also identified the perceived threats and conservation concerns based