For many years, tribal communities in India have been marginalised and disenfranchised. They have been forced out of traditional livelihoods based around the forest into irregular and uncertain casual labour. Tribal rights campaigners have been pressing for change for many years. The Indian Government is now gradually beginning to reassess its policy towards indigenous people. It is realising that tribal communities (adivasis), who have lived in harmony with the forest for generations, are the best people to ensure that it is sustainably managed and protected.

The Adivasi Forest Produce Programme is an innovative project which proposes total adivasi control over collection and marketing of forest produce within a large area of protected forest in Tamil Nadu. The project will provide the investment to enable adivasis to bid for the rights to collect forest produce in the foothills of the Nilgiris. All collection and marketing will be controlled by the adivasis, and all profits will be retained by them. The project will provide adivasis living in extreme poverty with the means to increase their income substantially and permanently.

The Adivasi Forest Produce Programme is environmentally sustainable, making no additional demands on land or scarce water resources in the area. It builds on adivasis' specialist skills in sustainable forest management, and gives them a greater stake in the management and protection of the forest. The programme is innovative and highly likely to succeed. State Forest Department officials will be watching with interest; it is the first time Adivasis and the Forest Department - traditional opponents - have worked in co-operation. The project is the finest of its kind in Tamil Nadu, and will serve as a model of best practice for locally managed, environmentally and economically sustainable forest management.

To reduce poverty among the adivadis, specifically creating greater nutrition and improved living conditions.

Improved health.

Empowerment of adivasis.

Conservation of forest environment.

• Admin/storage building and drying yard constructed.
• Adivasi Forest Produce Society registered.
• Society running smoothly and sustainably within 3 years, with contingency fund built up.
• Adivasis fully responsible for running the society within 4 years.
• Society members trained as effective agents of change.