SRINAGAR: At least two-hundred square kilometers of Forest Land were declared as ‘Community Forest’ in a collective Gram Sabha organised between Panchayat Halqas of Brenwar, Neego, and Jabbard in central Kashmir’s Budgam district under Community Forest Rights (CFR) of Forest Rights Act – 2006.
“With the resolution designating 200 square units of forest land as a community forest, the local community members felt empowered and elated to have gained ownership and management rights over this precious resource,” said a participant to the Gram Sabha.
This Sabha, he said, reflected the co-existence and belongingness to the forests and a strong sense of duty to protect and nurture the forests.
“The community members understood that this ownership would enable them to make decisions that aligned with their livelihoods, cultural practices, and deep-rooted traditions. The commitment to conserving the forests, rangelands, and mountains, along with the sustainable use of minor forest produce and forest foods, reflected the communities’ understanding of the delicate balance that needed to be maintained between human activities and the natural environment,” he said. (GNS)
