Livelihood Diversification of Forest Dwellers - A Necessity or Choice?

The forest as an ecosystem plays a vital role in protecting the environment and meeting indispensable human needs. Restrictions on forestry activities for safeguarding the environment and seasonality in collection often count for vulnerable livelihood of the forest-fringe dwellers. This paper is an attempt to assess the existing opportunities for livelihood diversification of the forest dwellers residing at the Simlipal National Park region, India, through the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index; and to determine the key factors responsible for the scopes and realization of livelihood diversification through econometric modeling. The analysis is done across blocks with having different forest-zonal geographies and human characteristics to comprehend and ensure sustainable livelihood for a better future. JEL Classification: C80, Q23, Q56, C50, Q01, Q2