Resource information
The purpose of this Act is to recognize forest rights to tribal communities who have been occupying the land before the forest laws were put into force.Scheduled Tribes residing in forests shall be entitled to the land currently occupied which may be allocated in all forests including National Parks and Sanctuaries.The Act grants forest rights to Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers including: right to live in the forest land for habitation or for self-cultivation for livelihood; right of ownership, access to collect, use, and dispose of minor forest produce; right to use grazing areas, pastoralist routes, etc.; and right to protect, regenerate or conserve forests and wildlife. Activities such as hunting and trapping shall be prohibited.The Gram Sabha shall be the authority empowered to initiate the process of determining the nature and extent of forest rights that may be given to forest dwelling Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers.The Act further contains penal provisions and provisions of miscellaneous nature.
