Answer

Introduction

India’s revised Green India Mission aims to restore 25 million hectares by 2030 and create a 3.39 billion-tonne CO₂ sink. Yet, declining forest quality shows restoration must go beyond planting trees. The Forest Rights Act (2006) and community-led governance provide inclusive and sustainable pathways for revival.

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Role of the Forest Rights Act (2006) in Sustainable Forest Restoration

• Empowers Local Stewardship: The Act recognises community and individual rights over forest land, making forest dwellers legitimate stakeholders in managing and restoring ecosystems.
• Legalises Participatory Management: FRA’s provisions for Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights allow local governance institutions to manage biodiversity and prevent exploitative plantations.
• Aligns Livelihoods with Conservation: By protecting access to forest produce, FRA promotes livelihood-linked restoration rather than exclusionary afforestation.
  Eg: In Chhattisgarh, mahua-based restoration supports tribal incomes while enhancing biodiversity.
• Ensures Social Legitimacy of Projects: FRA mandates community consent before plantation or diversion, reducing conflicts and improving compliance.
• Facilitates Decentralised Decision-Making: Empowering Gram Sabhas under FRA enables locally tailored restoration aligned with ecological and cultural needs.

Role of Community Participation in Sustainable Forest Restoration

• Enhances Local Ownership and Accountability: When communities co-manage forests, they protect resources against illegal logging and over-extraction, ensuring long-term survival.
  Eg: Odisha’s participatory model has improved forest survival rates and trust in governance.
• Encourages Native and Climate-Resilient Species: Community input helps select site-specific native plants that restore biodiversity instead of monoculture plantations.
• Integrates Traditional Knowledge: Indigenous practices of water conservation, soil restoration, and seed preservation strengthen ecological outcomes.
• Supports Inclusive Monitoring and Transparency: Community-led tracking of plantation survival and fund use ensures effective utilisation of schemes like CAMPA.
• Builds Climate and Social Resilience: Engaged communities combine restoration with livelihood diversification from non-timber forest products to eco-tourism strengthening both ecology and economy.

Conclusion

Sustainable forest restoration in India rests on both legal empowerment and local participation. The Forest Rights Act provides the base, while community stewardship ensures lasting impact. Together, they can turn forests into drivers of inclusive and climate-resilient growth.

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