FOREST TENURE REGIMES IN THE KARNATAKA WESTERN GHATS: A COMPENDIUM
S. Shrinidhi
Sharachchandra Lele
Abstract
Forest tenure regimes in the Western Ghats region of Karnataka are complex and poorly understood. We present first a framework for understanding such regimes. A detailed description of the regimes prevailing in this region, including the layering of products and actors, operational and constitutional rules, tenurial security, geographical distribution and extent, basis in the law, and administering agency for each distinct regime follows. We also comment on the original role of the regimes, their evolution and the implications for forest policy.