India is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world because it harbours almost 8% of all known species. This includes around 40,000 species of plants distributed across 10 biogeographic zones. Overall, around 23% of India’s land area is covered by various types of forests. Next to agriculture, forests are the second most important source of livelihood for about 100 million Indians, most of whom belong to adivasi, tribal and other historically marginalised communities. These communities are not only culturally distinctive but also custodians of different forms of ecological knowledge. Much of this remains to be documented and utilized for better management of forests. Moreover, the increasing commodification of forest-based goods and services raises important questions of justice and equity with respect to such communities. On the whole, this is a sector where matters of history, governance, ecology and rights have a strong bearing on livelihood choices. In the context of the M.A Development programme, this course will enable students to acquire a historically and socially grounded understanding of different livelihoods and acquire practical competencies for development action.