| Syllabus: GS-III; Subject: Environment, Ecology and Disaster Management ; Topic: Forest Conservation, Issue: Forest Right Act,2006. |
Context: A fact-finding committee found mixed implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) in five states.
Findings:
- Overall, inadequate focus on community rights.
- FRA neglects shifting cultivation (Jhum) in hill areas.
- Confusion over categorizing tribe’s hampers implementation.
- Some traditional forest dwellers left out of FRA recognition process.
- Unclear distinction between individual and community rights.
Prelims Connect (Acts/Bills/Guidelines)
| The Forest Rights Act (FRA) of 2006Aim:Â To rectify historical injustices faced by forest-dwelling communities and ensure their land tenure, livelihood, and food security.
Functions: Empowering forest dwellers, conserving forests, and maintaining ecological balance Under the FRA: ·        Land Rights: Forest dwellers gain ownership rights to cultivated land, up to 4 hectares per family. o   This land cannot be sold or transferred, only inherited. ·        Use Rights: Dwellers have rights to minor forest produce (excluding timber), grazing areas, and pastoralist routes. ·        Right to Protect and Conserve: Forest communities can manage and protect their forests, crucial in safeguarding against threats from industries and land grabbers. |
