ABSTRACT
Forest cover in the hill regions is essential to maintain environmental, economic and ecological
balances. North Bengal accounts for 3,086 sq km (26 %) of the 11,876 sq km area of classified forests
in the state, and for nearly 5,000 sq km (40 %) of all land under tree cover. Khumani is a Village
(26.84° N, 88.60° E) in Gorubathan Block in Darjeeling District of West Bengal State, India. The
survey work was done in December, 2014 by visiting the Khumani Forest Village (established in
1949) of upper Kumai and the primary data were gathered through field survey and direct contact with
common people and authorized centers of the region. Surveys on the demography, agriculture,
livestock management, water management, education, culture, health, waste management, disaster
management, transport, biodiversity, human animal conflict were done in this area. Topographic map
of the area was prepared by using the database of National Atlas and Thematic Mapping Organization
(NATMO), Kolkata office. In every phase of the survey work, pictorial documentation was done. In
spite of being positioned in a diverse and sensitive ecological zone, the village is not adequately
managed. There is an urgent need for implementing sustainable management systems in the areas for
the betterment of the socio-environmental structures. Some of the possible management strategies
have been suggested for maintaining the social, environmental, economic and ecological balance of
the region. Proper funds should be raised to conserve and manage these ecologically important zones
of north Bengal, which should be one of the main focuses of future researches
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