Protected Forest vs. Village Forest
Protected Forest
- Protected forests are areas where human activities like hunting, grazing, and timber extraction are restricted or prohibited to conserve biodiversity and wildlife.
- These forests are managed and protected by the government to ensure the sustainability of natural resources and protect the ecosystem.
- The primary focus of protected forests is to preserve the flora and fauna, maintain ecological balance, and prevent deforestation.
- Access to protected forests is limited, and special permissions are required for any kind of activity within these areas.
- Examples of protected forests include national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves.
Village Forest
- Village forests are areas designated for the use of local communities for their livelihood needs such as firewood, fodder, and timber.
- These forests are managed collectively by the villagers who have traditional rights and responsibilities over the resources.
- The main objective of village forests is to provide sustainable livelihoods to the local communities while ensuring the conservation of natural resources.
- Villagers are allowed to collect non-timber forest products and carry out activities like grazing and minor forest produce extraction in village forests.
- Village forests promote community-based conservation and sustainable resource management practices.

Key Differences
- Protected forests are managed by the government for conservation purposes, while village forests are managed by local communities for their livelihood needs.
- Access to protected forests is restricted, whereas villagers have rights to use resources in village forests.
- The primary focus of protected forests is conservation, while village forests serve as a source of livelihood for local communities.
- Protected forests are larger and more ecologically sensitive, while village forests are smaller and managed at a local level.