VASUNDHARA

INTRODUCTION

Vasundhara is a research and policy advocacy group that works on environment conservation and sustainable livelihood issues. Vasundhara was initiated to support and strengthen community-based initiatives to protect and conserve forests in the state of Orissa. Several thousands of community forestry groups have emerged and evolved elaborate and diverse institutional arrangements to conserve and manage forests. The founding members of Vasundhara were immensely inspired by these initiatives and their potential to usher in new ways of people-resource interaction and for community based natural resources management.

Over the years, while working and retaining its focus on community forestry, we have transitioned to a more explicit focus on sustainable livelihood of the marginalized sections. Vasundhara is also embarking on a more direct action on different environmental and biodiversity conservation issues. The interface of conservation and livelihoods now forms the core of our interventions.

CORE VALUES

•	Democracy
•	Equity and Social Justice
•	Ethical Development

New Species Limbless Lizard of Sepsophis SP.

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Draft Forest Policy for Orissa

Draft Orissa Forest Policy.Oriya

Discussion forum on draft Orissa policy

People's Response on Draft Orissa Forest Policy

Orissa, an eastern state in India has…

	43% of total landmass as forestland and 17% of total forestland is covered with dense forest.

	More than 10million people critically depend on forest for their livelihood.

	In general forest provides 20-40%of gross annual income to the marginalised section of the state in forestlands and women play greater role in forest based household economy.

	53% of total forest fringe villages are actively involved in community based forest protection and management. And

	Orissa represents the only state in India where self-initiated forest protection activities have taken pioneer work and successful in managing the forest ecologically to greater extent.

	Orissa Flora: Rich in floral diversity. Atleast 27 taxa endemic (like Eria meghasaniensis and Oryza jeyporensis)

	Rare and endangered fauna: Royal Bengal Tiger, Black Buck, Salt water Crocodile, Irawadi Dolphin

	Around 8111.55 sq.km i.e., 4.2% of Geographical area and 11.4% of forest area of Orissa have been declared as Protected Areas.



	Anchalika Janakalyan Samiti Balabhadrapur, Nayagarh has been Awarded with Ashok Babu Parivesh Mitra Puraskar 2006-07


	Late Satrughana Kuntia, Forest Guard, Dhenkanal, has been Awarded with Ashok Babu Smruti Parivesh Saheed Sanman Puraskar - 2005-06. Similiguda Forest Protection Committee, Rayagada has been Awarded with Ashok Babu Parivesh Mitra Puraskar - 2005-06.