Put communities in charge of conserving sacred groves
Hindustan TimesThe Supreme Court’s recent judgment directing the government to adopt measures for the protection of sacred groves brings into focus the fundamental tension between the State and communities in environmental governance. The Court’s seeming endorsement of community management is most aligned with the community forest resource rights under the Forest Rights Act, which empower tribal and traditional forest-dwelling communities to manage their customary forests. The Court’s suggestion to the environment ministry to create a national policy for the management of sacred groves broadens State control, contradicting even the WLPA which requires local committees to prepare and implement CR management plans. For sacred groves and other ecosystems to thrive, a paradigm shift is needed — one that empowers local communities and embraces diversity in management practices.
History of this topic
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