Threat to Forest Commons: Mapping the Livelihoods of Mining induced Communities in the Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh

Abstract

"India’s rich mineral reserves lie in the same regions that hold its greenest forests and tribal people. Mining is not only a direct, but also an underlying cause of forest loss and degradation. It also has a negative impact on wildlife, river systems, tribal livelihoods, tourism and climate. This paper tries to map the existing livelihoods pattern of the affected communities in the upcoming bauxite mining and alumina refinery areas of Andhra Pradesh. The study covered 355 households in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Using the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Framework, the study shows that all project-affected people do not have a sustainable livelihood. Though they are rich in some capital, they are lagging behind in other forms of capital. Land acquisition process has not completed in these areas. However, once it completes where will these people go? They will lose their agricultural land and the forest will be destroyed. What will be their new source of livelihoods? These are some of the unanswered questions, which the study has tried to answer."