Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 | Bare Acts | Universal Lexis Nexis | 2025 Edition

The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, also known as the Forest Rights Act, is a comprehensive legislation enacted by the Government of India to recognize and secure the rights of the tribal communities and other traditional forest dwellers over forest lands and resources.

This act aims to address historical injustices and provide legal recognition to the rights of scheduled tribes and forest dwellers who have been living in and dependent on forests for generations. It recognizes their rights to land, access to forest produce, and other resources necessary for their livelihoods and cultural practices.

?? The Forest Rights Act empowers forest-dependent communities by granting them land titles and the rights to cultivate, inhabit, and use forest land for sustainable livelihoods.

?? It recognizes the right of these communities to protect and conserve their traditional knowledge, biodiversity, and cultural heritage associated with the forests they inhabit.

?? The act also provides mechanisms for grievance redressal and dispute resolution related to forest rights, ensuring a fair and transparent process for the recognition and verification of these rights.

?? By recognizing and safeguarding the rights of scheduled tribes and other traditional forest dwellers, the Forest Rights Act promotes inclusive governance, social justice, and sustainable forest.