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.
Community Forest Resources (CFR): defined in section 2 (a) of the FRA Act, means customary common forest, (including reserved forests, protected forests and protected areas).
- land within the customary or traditional boundary of the village or
- seasonal use of landscape in the case of pastoral communities.
Community Forest Resource rights
- The Community Forest Resource rights are provided under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act.
- It provides for recognition of the right to “protect, regenerate or conserve or manage” the community forest resource.
- It allows the community to formulate rules for forest use by itself and others and thereby discharge its responsibilities.
- CFR rights, along with Community Rights which include nistar rights and rights over non-timber forest products ensure sustainable livelihoods of the community.
- These rights give the authority to the Gram Sabha to adopt local traditional practices of forest conservation and management.
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- 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
14 Sep 2023
