The community forest movement’s strategic use of culture in rights claiming process: Reflections from field research

A letter from the Prime Minister dated 16 January 2008, and cited in the Constitution Court Ruling No 15/2552, in defense of the Community Forest Bill shows how “community rights” are often seen as contingent upon the responsibility of the communities to take care of the forest. Interestingly, the strategic rights claiming process and discourse associated with the community forest movement are also based on a similar argument of responsibility to protect the forest.