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Forests are by their very nature a complex socio-ecological entity. The forest sector in India is currently going through an unprecedented churning. Every dimension of forest related decision-making has become a subject of intense scrutiny, debate and change. The involvement of multiple actors, from local communities to the Supreme Court, marks a shift in the discourse from forest management to forest governance.
The forestry debate has shifted from `how to conserve forests` or `how to afforest wasteland` to `who are the stakeholders relevant to the forest question`, `who should have the primary say`, `what are the rights of non-local stakeholders` and `what should be the process for converting to non-forest land`. The chapters in this volume highlight this shift in the discourse and analyse the complex issues involved in bringing about democratic governance of forests in India. The themes range from the relevance of the Joint Forest Management programme, the contribution of the Forest Rights Act, the complexities of the Godavarman case and the changes in the Wildlife Protection Act, to challenges posed by shifting cultivation, scientific versus traditional knowledge and the effect of economic growth on forest dependence.
Although it is not at all clear what the next decade holds for the forest sector in India, the fractiousness of the forest discourse within the state over the forest question are signs of a continued ferment that will open up opportunities, albeit in unexpected ways.ISBN - 9780198099123
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Pages : 448
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