FutureGenerations

This article, published in Himalaya, examines the community forestry and private plantation practices of the Apatani people of Arunachal Pradesh, India. It then highlights conservation solutions unique to the Apatani. Learn about new approaches to forestry and ancient traditions of co-planting bamboo with blue pine.

Development, in today's context, should be sustainable, something to which the common man can relate, and lead to a future which they can own.  Arunachal Pradesh in the North East of India has a relative advantage as a late starter in the development arena.  It can still learn from the mistakes of other regions which have fallen prey to to a skewed perception of development.  Under this context, how can sustainable development be brought about in the face of fast depleting natural resources and tendency of the community to depend on somebody high up or powerful to initiate th

Niger was all but given a death sentence in the 1970s when drought-propelled desertification, rapid population growth, and unsustainable farming practices threatened ecological collapse and mass human suffering. Women on average each gave birth to more than seven children, and the population was expected to double in the next two decades. Families who had worked their land for generations could see the tell-tale signs: it was taking longer and longer to get to trees and fresh water, and the Sahara desert was getting closer and closer.

The Future Generations model for community change

• what it is
• how it works
• why it works