Letter

Play safe with forests

Finally, community forest rights

THE Soligas’ long struggle ends in victory. After bearing the brunt of wildlife protection measures for years, the inhabitants of the Biligiri Rangaswami Temple Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka can now access and manage the forest resources. On October 2, 25 gram sabhas of Soligas got community forest rights (CFR) recognised under the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006. The tribals can now collect, own and dispose of minor forest produce (MFP) from the reserve. Besides protecting and regenerating forest resources for sustainable use, they can also hold customary practices like worshipping sacred places.

Bamboo still a distant dream

THE success story of Mendha Lekha achieving record earnings on the sale of bamboo ends just there.

Is JFM relevant?

The JFM programme faces existential crisis. On the one hand, pieces of legislation like the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, and the Panchayat Extension to Scheduled Areas (PESA) Act, 1996, have come into existence, giving rights to tribals and forest dwellers over forest resources and their management. On the other hand, communities demand the huge sums forest departments owe them under the programme. Questions are being raised whether the programme should be scrapped.  

Among the non-believers

Recently, on discovering that I work in the forest department, a lady co-passenger in a flight asked, “Are you people really doing anything for the forests?” The unconcealed taunt set me and my friends discussing with the sceptic the scenario of green governance in India. How are we managing our forests? Is it time to hand over the forest resources to panchayats with the hope that they can manage better? Is the forest department guilty of propagating a management model that excludes people? Should we continue with the Indian Forest Service at all?

Let the wind chase fire

Forest department’s snub

On NFRAC’s report that community claims are not recognised by forest officials, DGF P J Dilip Kumar’s note stated many community rights are already recognised. So, fewer communities apply for such rights

Middle path of conservation

Wildlife conservation in India is facing monumental challenges.

Tree is not timber

Madhya Pradesh's Baiga tribals fight forest officials to save jungles

Songs of leaves and rain