Community Forest Resource Rights

Recently, the Chhattisgarh government has become only the second state in the country to recognise Community Forest Resource (CFR) rights of a village inside Kanger Ghati National Park in Bastar district. Kanger Ghati National Park is the second national park, after Simlipal in Odisha, wher e CFR rights have been recognised.

Significance: Recognizing Rights: It recognizes the community’s right to use, manage and conserve forest resources.

• Part of Management: It is of greater significance inside protected forests like national parks, sanctuaries and tiger reserves as traditional dwellers then become a part of management of the protected forests using their traditional wisdom.
• Socio-economic Development: The direction is a step towards leaving no one behind and exploring the economic and social rights of the indigenous or tribal people.
• Sensitizing People: This would also sensitize people towards the existence and process of community forests resource rights in urban areas while also ensuring the protection of their culture and traditions with the nature, forest, land and water.