The Forest Rights Act 2006, in its true spirit, seeks to secure traditional rights over forest land and community forest resources, and establish democratic community-based forest governance.
It supports local adaptive forest governance. The Act recognises rights over the community forest resources and empowers the gram sabha to prepare conservation and management plan, said speakers at a meeting here while hailing the success of Priedi gram sabha of Kandhamal district which has prepared a very progressive traditional knowledge-based forest management plan for their community forest resources.
With support from Dr Sricharan Behera and Jitendra Kumar Sahoo, the gram sabha prepared their plan in a book format which can show path to many other gram sabhas to prepare their own forest management plan.
To release this book and to share their experience and wisdom the gram sabha organised a book release meeting here yesterday.
ST, SC welfare minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi, MP Mrs Pratyusha Rajeswaree Singh and others were present at the function as villagers from Priedi gram sabha and other prominent personalities discussed different aspects of forest resources management.