Assessing the impact of rehabilitation and relocation initiatives on the socio-economic livelihoods of forest dwellers
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Rehabilitation and relocation of forest-dwelling communities from protected areas are important conservation strategies aimed at reducing human pressure on critical wildlife habitats while improving the socio-economic well-being of affected households. The present study assessed the impact of rehabilitation and relocation initiatives on the income, employment and livelihood activities of forest dwellers in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (NTR) and Kali Tiger Reserve (KTR) of Karnataka. Primary data were collected from 120 rehabilitated households through a structured and pre-tested interview schedule, and a paired t-test was employed to compare the socio-economic conditions before and after rehabilitation. The findings revealed that rehabilitation and relocation significantly influenced household livelihoods, although the extent of impact varied across the two reserves. In NTR, average annual household income increased from ₹1,53,570 to ₹3,21,875, representing a 95.94 per cent increase, mainly due to the emergence of agriculture-based livelihoods following land allocation. Employment shifted from forest-dependent activities towards agriculture, wage labour and private sector jobs, while access to land, livestock, credit and extension services improved considerably. In KTR, average annual household income increased by 21.80 per cent, primarily driven by enhanced wage labour opportunities. However, agricultural income, land ownership and livestock assets declined significantly after relocation because agricultural land was not allocated to most households. Although access to credit and extension services improved, livelihood outcomes were comparatively less favourable than those observed in NTR. The study concludes that rehabilitation programmes incorporating land-based support, livelihood diversification and institutional assistance are more effective in ensuring sustainable socio-economic development among relocated households while simultaneously contributing to long-term wildlife conservation goals.
Institution: University of Agricultural Sciences Raichur
Language: English
Subfield: Global and Planetary Change
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W7166700918