Context: 

Recently Rajasthan State governments issued a notification declaring ‘orans’ as deemed forests raised fear in community dwellers about losing access to forest produce and livelihood.

Supreme Court Directives on Deemed Forests

• Status of Deemed Forests: A notification is given as per the directives of the Supreme Court, Oran, Dev-vans and Rundhs, as forest lands will be deemed a forest.
• TN Godavarman case 1996: The SC in TN Godavarman case 1996, directed the state governments to identify such lands and stated that all ‘forest’, including deemed forests, will be covered under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
• Prohibition of Non-Forestry Activities: The provisions under Section 2 prohibit non-forestry activity such as mining, deforestation, quarrying or building infrastructure projects on such forest land without permission from the central government.

About Orans

• Community Conserved Sacred Spaces: Orans are community-conserved sacred spaces rich in biodiversity and usually include a water body.
• The locals consider Orans as sacred groves, i.e., a piece of natural vegetation protected by a certain community for religious reasons. 
  • They are barred from cutting and felling trees due to spiritual and religious connections to the Orans.
• Livestock Grazing: Orans use their livestock for grazing and are also places for communal congregations, festivals, and other social events, 
• Habitat: They are among the last natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard.
• Concerns Regarding Orans: The current categorisation of Orans as wastelands is causing a loss of biodiversity and is affecting the livelihood of the locals in the area, as huge chunks of land are allotted for setting up solar plants.
  • The open stretch of land, which receives long hours of sunlight and brisk winds, has become a hub of green energy with windmills and solar photovoltaic dotting it.

What Will Be the Challenges if Orans are Declared as Deemed Forest?

• Deprived of Forest Produce: Communities believe that once the organ is declared as deemed forest, they will be deprived of forest produce and access for herds and sheep in the forest area.
  • The villagers use gum, timber, forest produce and wild vegetables from orans for their livelihood and daily use. 
• Vacating Lands: 
  • Even the places of worship, last rites and religious events take place inside the oran and are related to the trees, water bodies and other entities of the sacred groves
• Restrict the Movement of People: Oran land and neighbouring villages are interconnected and used for moving around, so restrictions in forests will affect the movement.
• Non-Forest Areas: Oran land mainly falls in desert areas, so the dictionary meaning of forest is not applicable. Hence, the use of land contradicts the definition of forest if the 1996 Godavarman judgment is to be applied.
• No consultation with the Local Community: No representative from the government approached the community members for consultation or hearing.

What Are Sacred Groves? 

• Sacred Groves are small patches of trees traditionally protected by the local community for religious and cultural significance.

Significance of Sacred Groves

• Protection of Nature: It plays a crucial role in soil conservation and preventing soil erosion, which maintains soil fertility
• Mitigating Natural Disasters: Sacred groves act as natural windbreaks, shielding nearby settlements and agricultural lands from solid winds and reducing damage, hurricanes, or storms.

• Biodiversity Conservation: They contain a high level of biodiversity because they are protected from human interference. This makes them important for rare and endangered species seeking habitats.
• Religious Significance: They are dedicated to a particular deity or spirit. They are seen as the dwelling place of such beings, and also as a place where humans can connect with the divine.
• Cultural Significance: Integral to local traditions and beliefs, sacred groves enrich cultural heritage through rituals, stories, and connections to ancestral wisdom, fostering community identity and pride.

News Source: Down to Earth