Poverty and Environmental Resource Degradation-An Alternative Explanation and Possible Solutions

Degradation An Alternative Explanation and Possible Solutions N S Jodha This essay tries to identify some key factors and circumstances responsible for natural resource base protection in the past and their disregard and decline leading to resource degradation in the changed context of today. In view of the recurrent failure and ineffectiveness of interventions directed to stop human-induced degradation of the natural resource base, one may be tempted to look for some lead from the traditional arrangements. The author's plea, however, is not for revival of traditional arrangements as they were. His focus is instead on a search for functional substitutes for the traditional arrangements which can fit in with present day circumstances.