Livestock- Environment interactions in Watersheds: Policy issue

Abstract

This document is a report on a Round Table policy dialogue aimed to address the policy and institutional issues related to livestock-livelihoods-environment-watersheds interactions in semi-arid areas of Maharashtra. This workshop was aimed at presenting the conclusions of the LEAD study, review of the current livestock and watershed policies of Maharashtra, and to initiate a policy dialogue with stakeholders for actionable policy interventions. The report provides a summary of the workshop presentations. This includes a paper on the ‘Livestock Production Systems in Marginal Areas’ by Ranjitha Puskur from IWMI emphasising on the inter-linkages between livestock production, resource endowment and market conditions in watersheds and the management of resources and the policy environment. Other papers such as ‘Groundwater Policies and Situation in the State of Maharashtra’ by S. P. Bagade Additional Director, GSDA and a paper on ‘Livestock – Environment interactions in watershed: Sust ainability issues- some inputs from forestry sector’ by Dr. A. K. Jha, the Joint Director, Social Forestry are included.