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An attempt has been made to examine the shift in the land use pattern in Bihar, changes in different categories of forests and factors affecting forest land. Besides, people's participation on forest land management through non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Angara block of Ranchi district was carefully reviewed in respect of forest protection, conservation and social benefit. Primary and time-series data were collected from various sources. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to examine the effect of cropped area, irrigated area, density of population and livestock population on forest land. The analysis reveals that the forest area has declined by 20.62 per cent during 1960-94 in Bihar State. During the same period net area under cultivation has also declined by 7.78 per cent. The area under permanent pasture and grazing, current fallow and other than Gairmazarua land had increased considerably by 40.03 per cent, 45.10 per cent and 65.81 per cent respectively...