Urbanization and Economic Development in Madhya Pradesh: Policy Implications for Sustainable Forest Management

Abstract

In the present study, an attempt has been made to establish cause and effect relationship in between different land use patterns, total population, urban population and net state domestic products (NSDPs) for entire Madhya Pradesh (MP) from the year 1990-91 to 2000-01and to make an effective policy implications for sustainable forest management. The secondary information has been collected to fulfil the requirement of objectives. The variables, viz., different land use patterns, total population, urban population and NSDP have been considered to fulfil the cause and effect relationship. Urban population is elevated since 1990-91 to 2000-01. In 1990-91 urban population was 106.17 million (16.21%) and total state population was 654.91 million, which increased up to 20.21% (161.05 million) of total population in 2000-01. This shows the rate of urbanization is very high in Madhya Pradesh. Net state domestic product (NSDP) is considered as a major indicator of economic development. NSDP decreased from Rs. 11,107.21 crore in 1990-91 to 11,061.75 crore in 1992-93. In between 1992-93 to 2000-01 NSDP increased 4.03 times. Multiple effects are helpful to know the combined effect of the taken variables. Multiple variables effect is showing the positively significant effect on pasture and grazing land at 1% level of significance. Net state domestic product (NSDP) shows negative impact on dense forest and permanent pasture and grazing land at 1% level of significance. The NSDP is positively affecting the open, total forest and non-agriculture area at 1% level of significance.

Keywords: Forest, economic development, urbanization, sustainable forest management (SFM) policy