Reorienting Taxation Policies to Conserve Biodiversity & Promote Sustainability of Non-Timber Forest Produce
Project Sponsored by: Global Opportunities Fund, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Govt. of UK
Project Team: Manoj Dabas, Seema Purushothaman, Yogesh Ghore and Neha Ambastha
Project Period: August 2005 to December 2006
Project Objective: To determine the feasibility and viability of re-orienting
taxation policies and procedures applicable to forest products (specifically NTFPs) at various
levels in order to channelise much needed additional financial resources for the overall
development of the NTFP sector in India.
Key Issues: This project shall focus on the following key issues in order to
achieve the overall objective of sustainability, conservation and enhancement of livelihoods
through NTFPs in the states of Karnataka, Orissa and Uttaranchal -
- Analysis of the levels of tax incidence on focal NTFPs, both by direct and indirect taxation on NTFPs as raw materials and as processed goods.
- Analysis of the efficiency of institutional mechanisms/governance structures in place to determine/administer taxation policies as well utilisation of the resultant resources.
- Determination of administrative feasibility and economic viability of an R&D cess on NTFPs at any level of the value-chain.
- Examination of alternative institutional mechanisms to manage redistribution of funds resulting as cess towards enhancing productivity and sustainability of the NTFP sector.
Project Outputs:
- A National Expert Consultation Workshop to deliberate upon the project outcomes and finalise the main recommendations. This workshop will have as participants representatives from all sectors and stakeholders involved in the project.
- A White Paper outlining issues and facts related to taxation on NTFPs and the impact it has/can have on the trajectory and pace of development of forest resources, specifically NTFPs.
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