Role of Fuelwood in Sustainable Livelihood Security of Tribal Community of Kinnaur District, Himachal Pradesh, India

Indian Himalayan region has a vast area of forest resources. Different types of forests are available in the lap of the Himalayas which differs with other mountain systems in the world. Kinnaur is one of the most forest-covered districts of Himachal Pradesh in the western Himalayan order. Rich forest area is the source of abundant forest products which leads to sustain the livelihood of tribal community and associated rural economy. This study shows the availability of forest products in the valley of Nichar, Kalpa and Poo and impact of availability of forest resources on the livelihood security of Kinnauras, the main tribal community of Kinnaur. It includes the local traditional knowledge and practices of the tribal people to sustain their livelihood practices. This study has been based on primary as well as secondary data sources. Different statistical techniques have been used in STATA 16.0 software to analyze the data. This study develops a result that rapid developmental activities in the valley have changed the local environment which affects the sustainable livelihood of the local people and role of local governments in the well-being of the study area.