The Livelihoods and Landscape Strategy (LLS) initiative represents a new way of thinking – from seeing nature as needing to be protected from threats, to promoting negotiated plans and actions for productive landscapes. The development and application of LLS goes beyond forest management and includes positive links with other sectors such as agriculture, water, energy, health and the private sector. LLS ultimately helps in planning, negotiation and implementation of activities across a whole landscape that provides benefits to local people and other stakeholders whilst minimizing degradation of environmental assets. Winrock International India is demonstrating this concept in the buffer zone of the Simlipal Biosphere Reserve in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa. Winrock India has been working in the area with civil society organisations to strengthen and federate local forest management committees for several years now, and under this project it builds on these earlier joint efforts. Focusing on 6 villages but targeting the landscape, it is facilitating the establishment of a non-timber forest product based enterprise in the area. Winrock India has helped establish and is supporting a Cooperative of ‘primary collectors’ to provide a direct market linkage to the local, predominantly tribal communities. Further, in an effort to facilitate convergence, innovative village level integrated plans are being developed and the emerging needs of the people are being linked to available, ongoing government schemes.