Forest Tenures in India and Sustainable Forest Management - An Analysis

Arun K. Bansal; Pranab R. Choudhury

doi:10.36808/if/2021/v147i8/164959

Forest Tenures in India and Sustainable Forest Management - An Analysis

Authors

Arun K. Bansal Former Addl. DG Forests
Pranab R. Choudhury NRMC Center for Land Governance

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.36808/if/2021/v147i8/164959

Keywords:

Forest Land Tenure, Rights, Forest Conservation Act, Forest Boundary Maps, Forest Rights Act, PESA.

Abstract

Forest land tenures in India has remained diverse, plural with multiple legal and customary regimes and reflects a continuum of rights while manifesting state, community and individual ownership. Forest tenure arrangements and practices have undergone major changes starting from the initiation of notification as Reserve or Protected Forest under the Indian Forest Act 1927, community participation in forest conservation under JFM approach, PESA, and recently settlement of Individual/community rights and community forest resources under the Forest Rights Act.

This paper provides an overview of forest tenure, drawing from global discourses and analyze the historical as well as recent transitions around forest governance, in the context of forest tenures in India. While doing so, it also discusses implications on sustainable forest management and make specific recommendations.

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