Community participation in conservation
Topic: Biodiversity and its Conservation · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 14 "Biodiversity and Conservation"
Meaning
Community participation means local people and local institutions take part in protecting nature. Local institutions are bodies at the village level, such as gram sabhas and forest committees. NCERT (Class 11) says that conservation with sustainable use is possible only with their involvement and cooperation. Many traditional communities live in or near India's forests. They depend on these forests, and they often protect them better than outside rules alone can.
Example
Under Joint Forest Management, which began formally in 1988 when Odisha passed the first resolution, village groups protect degraded forest. In return they get non-timber forest produce and a share of the timber. Other examples are sacred groves such as the Mawphlang grove in Meghalaya and the Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri in Alwar, Rajasthan.
Don't confuse with
- Community reserve vs conservation reserve: both were added to the Wildlife (Protection) Act in 2002. A community reserve is on community or private land and is managed with local people. A conservation reserve is on government land near a protected area.
Related concepts
- Bhairodev Dakav Sonchuri
- Beej Bachao Andolan
- Navdanya
- Bishnoi community
- Sacred grove
- Niyamgiri Hills
- Rights of nature