Forest Rights Act 2006

Forest landscapes cover over 23% of the country.

Source : Citizens’ report 2013 on Community Forest Rights under Forest Rights Act

Around 200 Million i.e. 20% of population live in and near India's forest lands.

Source : Citizens’ report 2013 on Community Forest Rights under Forest Rights Act

BUT

They had no legal right to their homes, lands or livelihoods.

Result?

Both forests and people were suffering.

In 2006, “Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was passed which granted legal recognition to the rights of traditional forest dwelling communities.

It entitles :• Individuals & Families or communities to

a right over their own land, and importantly,

• Empowers the Gram-sabha, or village assembly, with initiating the process of recognition.

• Land rights• Use rights• Right to Protect and Conserve

What Kind of Rights ?

Till Sept 2013, the government had received around 3.3 million claims, but only 40 % had

resulted in land titles.

Source : Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2013), Status report on implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

Community forest rights (CFR) constituted just two per cent (approx.) of all claims, and

only 29 % of such claims had resulted in land titles.

Source : Ministry of Tribal Affairs (2013), Status report on implementation of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006

• Less awareness among government bureaucrats about the FRA has

resulted in poor implementation of its provisions.

• Participation at Gram Sabha level is poor.

• Recognition of rights of Other Traditional Forest Dwellers has been

grossly neglected in terms of their eligibility.

• Poor recognition of CFR rights and community rights

• There is no clear boundary of community rights area, where multiple

villages are dependent on the same forest.

Issues in the Implementation

Source : Report on REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENATTION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT: 'Issues in implementation of community rights with focus on management and governance of CFR‘ 23rd_24th September 2013, BHUBANESW AR, ODISHA

• Right holders and the Gram Sabhas are not empowered enough to

protect wildlife, forest and biodiversity, and to regulate access to their

forest areas.

• Large scale intereference by the Forest Department in the rights

recognition process.

• Issues relating to preparation of conservation and management plans.

Issues in the Implementation

Source : Report on REGIONAL CONSULTATION ON IMPLEMENATTION OF FOREST RIGHTS ACT: 'Issues in implementation of community rights with focus on management and governance of CFR‘ 23rd_24th September 2013, BHUBANESW AR, ODISHA

Our Work

Our Work

Land resource mapping Workshop for leaders of Gram sabhas and FWC* committees on NREGA!, FRA#, PESA$, Biodiversity the different government

programmes, gender concepts and institution

building

Capacity building of all eligible communities and helping them in claiming

for their rights.

Advocacy on FRA through participation in State and National level networks,

meetings with government officials, consultation

Promoting meetings of FMC& and NTFP@ cultivator

groups

Facilitating public Hearing on NREGS, FRA and other

issues.

Enabling inclusion of women in decision making

processes for management of forests

and other natural resources.

& Forest Management Committee# Forest Rights Act*Forest Wild Life Management Committee! National Rural Employment@ Non Timber Forest Produce$ Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas

2013 Highlights

18725 tribal people benefitted from our work.

1,430 tribal men and women from across three states

have received individual land titles under FRA.

The gram sabha of Panchgaon village earned Rs. 148000/- by

selling Bamboo from the village forest for which the CFR has

been granted.

13,400 hectares has been awarded as management rights

1,700 hectares has been restricted to nistar* and maintenance.

23 CFR claims have been awarded in Madhya Pradesh covering 15,100 hectares

* ‘Nistar’ means the concession granted for removal from forest coupes on payment at stipulated rates, specified forest produce for bonafide domestic use, but not for barter or sale

42 CFR titles covering 13475 hectares have been awarded

34 communities from Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh who have received management rights have formed committees and are enforcing rules agreed in the community meetings to stop illegal felling, prevent forest fires, conserve biodiversity etc.

THANK YOU!