News: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs has constituted a committee to examine and recommend Community Forest Resources (CFR Guideline) under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 (FRA)
Facts:
Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006
- It seeks to recognize forest rights of Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers who have been occupying and are dependent on the forest land for generations.
- It envisions the forest rights committee of a village as the central unit in managing forest resources.
- Rights recognised under FRA:
- Community Rights or rights over common property resources of the communities in addition to their individual rights,
- right of ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce,
- Rights in and over disputed land Rights of settlement and conversion of all forest villages, old habitation, un-surveyed villages and other villages in forests into revenue villages,
- right to protect, regenerate or conserve or manage any community forest resource which the communities have been traditionally protecting and conserving for sustainable use,
- right to rehabilitation in case of illegal eviction or displacement from forest land,
- Right to intellectual property and traditional knowledge related to biodiversity and cultural diversity.
