Community-based sustainable management of tendu leaves (Diospyros Melanoxylon Roxb.):: A case study of harda district of Madhya Pradesh, India

Tendu leaves, as Diopyros melanoxylon Roxb., are locally known in the Central Indian State of Madhya Pradesh, have assumed tremendous importance over the last four decades. The leaves are important because they are used for hand-rolling of Beedis, a local cigarette. It is not only an extremely important non-timber forest product that serves as a big revenue earner for the state government but is also an important economic resource to the indigenous tribes and local population during the summer months when they have no other form of employment. Tendu leaves are collected during the months of April to June., primarily from pruned shrubby growth since the pruned leaves are higher in quality. The leaves are then sun dried for a week and stored in gunny bags. The trade has tremendous socio-economic value to the local population and is a source of income to them in the economically tight summer months. Due to extreme exploitation of the collectors, who are mostly local indigenous people, the state government had established state control over its collection and trade as early as in 1964. Cooperatives were formed later in 1989, with the establishment of a three tier cooperative structure. The state and the central governments have continuously sought to empower the local populations, and several steps have been taken to establish ownership rights of the collectors over non-timber forest products. This has culminated in the 73(rd) constitutional amendment in 1996 that has given the ownership right over non-timber forest products to the gram sabhas (local groups or entities). There is an established network of selling agents composed of wholesalers and retailers. Some big companies also export some beedis (local cigarettes) to neighboring countries like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal and to distant countries such as the United States, France, African and West Asian countries. The quality and sustainable harvesting of the leaves has received a boost due to the new Joint Forest Management Strategy initiated by the state government.