Integral economics and the exploration of indigenous knowledge

The ever-increasing pressures on tropical forests due to the increasing population of socio-economically deprived communities dwelling in forest fringe areas are not only a matter of ecological concern, but also affect the sustainable livelihoods of these communities. Alternative sources of income are urgently needed for these communities. Forest is the principal natural resource for the Purulia, Bankura and West Midnapur districts of West Bengal, India. More sustainable harvesting of forest products, particularly Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) and the production of value-added products would therefore be the best possible way to improve the existing economic conditions of deprived forest fringe communities and save native forest biodiversity for the future.