PEOPLE'S INVOLVEMENT IN FOREST GOVERNANCE IN TRIPURA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FOREST RIGHTS ACT, 2006

Abstract

According to the UN Factsheet Forests for People–2011, over 1.6 billion people are dependent on forests for livelihoods. The forest policy is likely to affect the livelihood of people. Therefore, people’s involvement in forest governance is sine-qua-non to study its success and failure. Northeast India is home to different forest dwelling tribal communities. More than half of this region is covered with forests and people who live in the forests are mainly from tribal communities. The tribal communities of Tripura, the second smallest state in the region, also mostly depend on forest resources to meet their daily essential requirements such as food, fuel, and medicines for survival.  Many of their social ceremonies, cultural rites and rituals, arts and crafts, literature and music, etc have been developed in connection with forests. The inseparable relationship of the tribal people with forests demands their involvement in forest governance.

Normally, a forest policy refers to a plan formulated and implemented by the government for protecting forest resources and the environment. It defines the laws and regulations for maintaining healthy forest ecosystems. According to the Government of India, “forest policy of a country specifies certain broad principles for the use of a nation’s forest resources.”