Challenging the Future of Forest Management

Concerning Forests and Their Management in India

India’s forests serve not only as ecological resources but also as cultural landscapes, sources of livelihood, and buffers against climate change.

Forests play a crucial role in India’s climate objectives, encompassing carbon storage and the safeguarding of biodiversity.

India has 25.17% of its land area covered by forests, along with a rise in tree and mangrove coverage. India's State of Forest Report 2023

The management of these forests has developed through colonial histories and reforms after independence.

Historical Basis and Legal Structures

Colonial Influence: Forest management was initiated during British governance through the Indian Forest Act of 1865, which emphasized timber harvesting and centralized authority (Scientific Forestry).

Post-Independence Reforms: The Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980 and the Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006 represented important changes in conservation efforts and the rights of forest communities.

Recent Changes: The Forest Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2023 has ignited discussions over weakening safeguards and facilitating commercial use of forest areas.

Community Forestry Resource Rights (CFRR) and Localized Governance

CFRR was established by FRA in 2006, giving gram sabhas (village assemblies) the authority to manage forests utilizing traditional knowledge and addressing local requirements.

The FRA, 2006 acknowledges the entitlements of Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers to utilize, oversee, and protect forest resources.

It rectifies injustices from the colonial period that deprived local communities of authority and substituted their traditional institutions with centralized government systems.

More than 10,000 gram sabhas have been granted CFRR titles, yet fewer than 1,000 have created management plans because of institutional opposition.

Path Ahead

Enhance community-driven management with legal and financial assistance.

Discard colonial-era planning frameworks in support of flexible, ecosystem-oriented methods.

Guarantee openness and responsibility in choices related to forest conversion and preservation.

Incorporate climate resilience within the frameworks of forest governance.