Context: 

Recently, the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA) issued guidelines for the conservation, management, and sustainable use of community forest resources (CFR) has raised concerns among experts.

More on News:

• The new guidelines aim to enhance coordination and enforce the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. 

• They emphasize the formation of the District Level Committee (DLC) to determine rights over forest resources, a role traditionally held by Gram Sabhas.

Concerns:

• Concerns Raised by Experts:
  • Experts express concerns about the government’s willingness to embrace tribal diversity and culture.
• Weaken the authority of Gram Sabhas: 
  • New Guidelines Shift Control from Village Assemblies to Government
• Lack of Community Involvement:
  • Experts highlight that the new guidelines do not adequately incorporate community-driven ideas and provisions.
  • This has created confusion and conflicts, as community perspectives are not sufficiently represented.
• Unacknowledged Committees:
  • Previously, committees were formed to draft CFR guidelines in 2019, but the drafts were not accepted and remain undisclosed.
  • Questions are raised about the quality of rights granted and the contribution of forest dwellers to forest management and improvement.
• Call for Comprehensive Evaluation:
  • Experts advocate for a comprehensive evaluation of CFR to understand its effects on forest dwellers and the sustainability of forest resources.
  • The new guidelines are viewed as government-driven rather than community-oriented, potentially undermining cultural diversity among tribal communities.

Way ahead: For effective forest conservation, reforestation and recovery, we must strengthen our local forest governance mechanisms.

Source: DownToEarth