Is relocation an answer to conservation? experiences from the Kali Tiger Reserve, Uttara Kannada District, Karnataka

This paper is based on my lecture delivered under the aegis of ISEC Golden Jubilee Lecture series. My long association with the forest regions of the Joida taluka of Uttara Kannada district in Karnataka is the actual inspiration for speaking on this issue of relocation, which has in one sense disrupted the livelihoods of forest-dependent communities, but also seems to be emerging as one of the most viable alternatives for enhancing the quality of life of those living in dense forests, and virtually cut-off from opportunities for social mobility. It is in this background that the present paper tries to address the multiple facets of the relocation exercise that is being attempted in the case of forest dwellers residing in the Kali Tiger Reserve that spreads over Joida and Dandeli regions of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka.