Assessment of the contribution of forests to the economy of the northeastern states of India

The economic and environmental benefits of the extensive biodiversity-rich forest areas of Northeast India are immense and are depended upon by the people for their livelihoods. However, for historical, topographical, logistic and complex sociological reasons, quantitative data on most of the economic and environmental components of forests are lacking. Quantification of both tangible and intangible forest benefits remains a neglected research area. The paper provides some available data on the forest contribution and models this based on the current rate of forest revenue generation. Considering the ample opportunities of the forestry sector, the need for strategic planning to enhance the contribution of forests to the overall economy of the region is emphasised. The paper identifies various system components and forcing functions impacting forest benefits and suggests what issues need to be addressed to enhance them.