This book is based on my scientific study on a Protected Area. This PA is inhabited by many villages and is situated very close to Tata Steel Township, Jharkhand, India. These forests serve as the socio-economic backbone for thousands of poor villagers living in and around this Sanctuary. Lack of clear policy goals in governance and poor institutional frame work along with inadequate information on ever increasing demand of ecosystem services, has led to many catastrophic irreversible ecosystem damages. Quantitative evidences on economic value needs to be generated because many consequential benefits are not tradable in the markets. In this study, I have valued some of the major tangible ecosystem services such as; carbon, oxygen, fuel wood, fodder, non-timber forest products, supply of quality drinking water and recreation, through scientific methods. The ecosystem service value is not taken in to account in the Nation's GDP and thereby, never influenced the decision making bodies of the Government towards sustainable ecosystem management efforts. This PA is also highly damaged by incessant disturbances to fauna, flora assemblages and their micro-ecological intricacies. This study is an effort to reorient the policy priorities so as to effectively conserve our precious heritage for the future generations.
