Rohini Chaturvedi MPhil, PGDFM

Ph.D Student

My doctoral research is looking at how shifts in power within the federal system in India are influencing policies relating to the diversion of forest lands.

Biography

Qualifications

2007-2008: MPhil in Environment, Society and Development, Department of Geography, University of Cambridge
2001-2003: Post-graduate Diploma in Forestry Management, Indian Institute of Forest Management
1998-2001: B.A. Psychology, University of Pune, India.

Career:

February 07- September 07: Program Officer, Forest Policy, WWF-India Secretariat, New Delhi
August 04-January 07: Independent Researcher and Consultant engaged in assignments from the Indian Institute of Forest Management, Winrock International India, Enviro-legal Defence Firm and University of Cambridge-Harda Project.
July 03-July 04: Consultant, Enviro-Legal Defence Firm, New Delhi and Bhopal

Awards and Scholarship

Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Overseas Research Studentship
Fitzwilliam College Senior Student Scholarship
Fitzwilliam College Environmental Studies Travel Grant

Research

In the last two decades in India, the ascendance of regional political parties in national coalitions and the processes of economic liberalisation have led to a shift in power not only from the centre to the states, but also from the political to the regulatory institutions of governance within the federal system. While there has been much research on this macro-political context, recent scholarship on forest governance in India has focussed primarily on decentralized and participatory forest management, and has neglected the broader federal context and centre-state relations. My research situates forest policy making within the broader macro-political and historical contexts of federalism and forest governance to understand how the shifting balance of power within India's federal system has influenced policy related to diversion of forest land for non-forestry purposes. In the policy context shaped by the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, and the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill of 2008, I am studying the processes of negotiation between the central and the state governments, as well as between the legislature, executive, and the judiciary to understand the politics of forest policy making in India.

Publications

Papers and conference presentations

Chaturvedi, R. (2005) Building inclusiveness in livelihood enhancement initiatives: Lessons from the NRM experience. Challenging Poverty by Enhancing Rural Livelihoods, IFFDC and DFID Livelihood Summit, Udaipur, India, September 27-30.
Chaturvedi, R. (2004). The Need for Creating Policy Spaces in Joint Forest Management: A Case Study from the Punjab-Shiwaliks, India. The Commons in an Age of Global Transition: Challenges, Risks and Opportunities, Tenth Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property, Oaxaca, Mexico, August 9-13.
Chaturvedi, R. (2004). Statutory Environmental Public Hearing in India: Participatory Decision Making or Mere Procedure. Economic and Political Weekly. Vol 39 (42)

Working papers and project reports

Chaturvedi, R. (2006) Land Use and Agricultural Practises in Catchment of the Bhoj Wetland Winrock International India, New Delhi, India and International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK.
Chaturvedi, R. (2006) Land Use and Agricultural Practises in the Oach-Kuhan Catchment, Winrock International India, New Delhi, India and International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK.
Chaturvedi, R. (2006) Land Use and Agricultural Practises in the Bhodi-Suan Catchment, Winrock International India, New Delhi, India and International Institute for Environment and Development, London, UK.
Chaturvedi, R. and Godbole, G. (2005) Perceptions of the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. Project Report, Cambridge – Harda Project.
Chaturvedi, R. (2005) Incorporating Stakeholder Perceptions in Participatory Forest Management in India: Communication Workshop-A Report of Proceedings. Project Report, Cambridge-Harda Project.

External activities

Member, International Association for the Study of Commons
Member, Developing Area Research Group, Royal Geographical Society
Member, Association of American Geographers