Natural resource governance refers to the norms, institutions andprocesses that determine how power and responsibilities over naturalresources are exercised, how decisions are taken, and how citizens(men, women, indigenous people, local communities) participate inand benefit from the management of natural resources (InternationalUnion for the Conservation of Nature, IUCN).

Resource utilization, management and governance form the coreof contemporary development processes. The use of resources impliestransformation of nature/environment into commodities that havemarket values. Natural resources can bring considerable wealth to acountry, contributing to livelihoods, food security, green economy,generation of trade and enterprise at local, national and internationallevel. In other words, natural resources can potentially contribute todevelopment outcomes. But many resource - rich countries are plaguedwith unsustainability, conflicts, dysfunctional institutions, corruptionand weak economic performance due to their poor management andgovernance (Chêne, 2017, p.1).

In recent times, our mother earth and mother nature inclusiveof humanity are facing a plethora of pathological symptoms in theirdifferent domains like atmosphere, hydrosphere, pedosphere, andbiosphere. Humans are witnessing unprecedented rate of resource drawdown and pollution problems from local to global scales. We havecrossed a number of planetary boundaries and are about to touchsome tipping points too soon leading to environmental and ecologicalcrisis. The interference of humans have affected the relationshipbetween nature and society so much so that social scientists have comeup with a new concept called "Anthropocene" - the current geologicalera during which human activity has been the dominant influence onclimate and the environment - to highlight the existing problem.Therefore, governance and management of natural resources is notan option but an imperative. It is a mechanism for adjustment withan environment.

Drawing together perspectives from researchers and policymakers, this issue of JJDMS explores how governance andmanagement of natural resources will interact with the physical andnatural phenomena, and with human society. Also considered is howthe natural resources can be managed to contribute to the mitigationof environmental short comings and to maximize the full range ofeconomic and non-market benefits.

Jharkhand Journal of Development and Management StudiesXISS, Ranchi, Vol. 17, No. 2, April-June, 2019, pp.iii-vii

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For the current thematic issue, we received many articles andafter a thorough review process, have selected just seven for publication.The articles in this issue are aimed at providing a thought process,discussion and a public debate on the subject, rather than talk aboutit with an air of finality. Some of the important suggestions andstrategies towards this have been spelt out in this issue. Most of thecontributors have attempted to formalize the empirical evidence whichadds to the academic rigour of the issue. The summary of the articlesincluded in this issue is provided below.

Human beings are no longer a species that have to adapt tochanges in their natural environment. Instead, they are driving thesechanges, often in ways that are not beneficial to them and that arecompromising the stability of the entire planetary system. In the firstarticle "the Anthropocene in Jharkhand: Issues related to mining andsanitation" by using ethnographic data, Dr. Radhika Borde hasattempted to show how the anthropogenic activities like mining andsanitary construction occurring in Jharkhand can be understood interms of the globally relevant theorizations of the Anthropocene thatare current. The author has also discussed the concept of 'geographicimagination' and how this relates to attempts to curtail anthropogenicactivities. The article has also discussed how the Anthropocene wouldrequire responses that include emphases on both eco-centric andanthropo-centric rights, and how policy instruments in other parts ofthe world are responding to the challenge of the Anthropocene by placinga new emphasis on eco-centric rights. Finally, the article has arguedfor a dialogue or interface, in the context of Jharkhand, betweenenvironmental policymaking processes and the geographic imaginationof the people who are important stakeholders in the policies. The authorbelieves that the article would stimulate thinking (both academic andapplied) on how the negative impacts of anthropogenic activities inJharkhand may be mitigated.

In the second article titled "Panchayati Raj in Scheduled Areasof Jharkhand and Natural Resource Management", Dipti ParidhiKindo and Dr. Pradip Kumar Bhowmick have critically examined thefunctioning of two important Acts - Panchayat Extension to ScheduledAreas (PESA) 1996 and Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 enacted byGovernment of India for ensuring tribal self-rule in Schedule FiveAreas of India and to protect the ownership of land for tribals or forestdwellers with their right to life and livelihood respectively. By usingprimary as well as secondary data including discussion withgovernment officials and case studies, the authors have found thatboth PESA and FRA are leading towards the achievement of NaturalResource Management through tribal self-rule but only in the papers

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until it is been implemented accurately as per the prescribed guidelinesmaintaining the true spirit of these regulations. The authors believethat there is an imperative need to look into the Panchayati Raj inScheduled Areas of Jharkhand.

Every culture is unique for the management of resources andheritage. In the next paper titled "Community based cultural resourcemanagement: A study of Mawphlang Sacred Forest in Meghalaya",Anindita Nayak has discussed the Khasi and their community-basedcultural resource management by exemplifying a megalithic livingtradition at Mawphlang sacred forest in Meghalaya. Analyzing thefieldwork data collected through primary as well as secondary sources,the author has found that Khasi cultural practices are closely connectedto nature and they restore their cultural resources through dances,flok songs, rituals, folk tales, etc. These cultural practices show thatthey have a strong connection to the natural environment, hill, forest,stone, water, tree, different animals like tiger, snake, bird, etc. Innutshell, the ethnographic study has attempted to draw the communitywell as the institutions' - traditional and Christian-role to preservethe Mawphlang sacred forest. The author believes that a communitycan maintain resources for sustainability only through its customaryrules and regulations.

Natural Resource Management (NRM) is based on scientificprinciples that play a crucial role for an inclusive and sustainablegrowth in India. The next paper titled "A paradigm shift of naturalresource management from state controlled to community basedmanagement" by Dr. Parikshit Sahu has attempted to analyze thebasic concepts of NRM and the significance of community based NRMand the relationship of Community Based NRM with poverty, women,Self-Help Groups, and devolution of NTFP ownership to Panchayats.The paper also explains the various government initiatives with regardto Community Based NRM and how they have benefited them. Theauthor concludes by suggesting that consistent and effective policiesare needed for the protection, conservation and maintenance of soiland water resources.

Renewable energy sources contribute to a nation's sustainablegrowth trajectory, in addition to protecting the environment, promotinginvestment and conserving ecology. There is a large body of literatureaddressing the issues regarding negative environmental externalitiescaused by electricity generation from fossil fuel based energy available,but literature dealing with environmental and social impacts of solarpower plants, especially in developing countries like India is almostabsent. In the fifth article titled "Environmental and social impacts of

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solar energy: A view point with reference to India", Abhishek Gawandeand Pradeep Chaudhry, by using extensive literature review,observations made by visiting solar project sites and by interviewingthe concerned stakeholders, have attempted to highlight theenvironmental and social impacts of solar energy power projects inthe Indian perspective. The authors have found that at present Indialacks the necessary planning framework and the renewable energydevelopment is taking place in an unplanned, project-by-project fashionthat fails to account for landscape-scale implications.

In the sixth article titled "Kaziranga National Park of India:Some wildlife and tourism management related pressing issues", N.K. Dheerendra Patnaik, Kunal Sharma and Dr. Pradeep Chaudhryhave discussed certain challenges and wildlife management relatedissues of the park. Analyzing data and information from various primaryas well as secondary sources, the authors have discussed about a seriesof steps needed for sustainable management of the park.

In the last article "Invisible Hands in Peasantry: AnAnthropological Study to Understand the Interface between Land andGender in Uttarakhand", Richa Joshi has talked about land throughthe lens of gender by illustrating the case studies from Rana Tharu inthe village, Purangarh of Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand.The author has explored the various aspects such as land allocation towomen, the female-headed households, and challenges faced by womenin the access to land. The author concludes that the importance ofwomen's contribution, participation and decision-making in landassociated practices are expanding and enhancing due to the migrationof male members from the village. Therefore, the policy makers shouldstrike a balance on the ground to support women's efforts in the accessto the land and valuations of policies with efficient administration tosecure rights and opportunities to women in the rural economy.

The current issue of the journal also includes a research notetitled "Trolling public-personal spaces: Rising of the selfie monster" byKshipra Sharma. Social media undoubtedly is a platform withunlimited possibilities. On one side, it creates space for greaterexpression, exploration while on the other side, it raises questions onthe blurring boundaries between the private and public. It is no hiddenfact, agencies of social media are constantly permeating areas thatonce remained 'private'. In this digital age, is social media just anindividual obsession for higher visibility/commercial gains or areflection of deep cultural shift? In this backdrop, the author hasattempted to explore and dissect the fluctuating contested phenomenain social media using the context of 'selfie'. The author concludes that

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before sharing one's appearance with the world, one should be fullyaware, because with every selfie one is giving out a part of the self.

We hope that this thematic issue would be read by practitionersand decision-makers, not only for the factual light it sheds upon thevarious social problems, but also for the insight of the personsconcerned on the issues related to governance and management ofnatural resources. We are thankful to the contributors who havegenerously submitted their revised papers within the stipulated timeframe. Our sincere thanks go to the esteemed reviewers of the journalfor their critical eyes, constructive comments, and rich advice thatenhance the academic quality of this journal. We welcome articles ona host of development and management themes as well as reviews ofbooks-preferably of reputable publishing houses.

June, 2019 Dr. Alexius Ekka, S.J.Editor-in-Chief - JJDMS

References

Chêne, M. (2017). Natural resource management transparency and governance:A literature review focusing on extractive industries. Norway: Chr. MichelsenInstitute (CMI). Retrieved from https://www.u4.no/publications/natural-resource-management-transparency-and-governance.pdf

IUCN. (n.d.). Natural resource governance framework. Retrieved from https://www.iucn.org/commissions/commission-environmental-economic-and-social-policy/our-work/knowledge-baskets/natural-resource-governance

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