​Out of the fortress, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• The Union Tribal Affairs Ministry introduced a new policy framework emphasizing community-centered conservation.
• The policy reinforces that communities near forests are stakeholders and cannot be relocated until the Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006 process is complete.
• Relocation is deemed an "exceptional" measure, reversing the National Tiger Conservation Authority's 2024 directive for mass village removals from tiger reserves.
• The framework advocates for research and pilot projects promoting sustainable co-habitation between humans and tigers.

Detailed Insights:

• The policy aims to redefine tiger conservation through a socially legitimate and resilient model, moving away from the "fortress conservation model".
• It invokes the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for unlawful evictions and establishes a three-tier redress system for affected communities.
• Forest-dependent communities have diverse needs, ranging from modern amenities to preserving traditional lifestyles, requiring tailored solutions.
• Conservationists emphasize the need for human-free core zones to protect tigers, highlighting the complexity of balancing conservation and community rights.
• Effective coexistence requires fine-grained mechanisms sensitive to local conditions, which are challenging for top-level ministries to implement.
• The conservation establishment may resist the policy due to concerns about slowing habitat consolidation and increasing implementation burdens.
• States have significant autonomy in implementing the FRA, potentially leading to inconsistencies in enforcing the new framework.
• While existing policies define compensation and inviolate areas, their implementation often deviates from established principles.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Forest Rights Act (FRA) 2006: Legislation recognizing the rights of forest-dwelling communities to forest resources.
• Fortress Conservation: A conservation model that excludes local communities from protected areas.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority: A statutory body responsible for tiger conservation in India.