Chhattisgarh Forest Department’s Resolution: Sustainable Forest Management by Coordinating Traditional Knowledge and Legal Rights
Raipur 3 July 2025: Chhattisgarh Forest Department has played an active, positive and commendable role while being among the leading states of the country in the recognition and distribution of both individual and community forest resource rights under the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. So far, 4,78,641 individual rights and 4,349 Community Forest Resource Rights (CFRR) letters have been distributed in the state, empowering lakhs of forest dweller families by providing legal rights over a total area of 20,06,224 hectares. This achievement is a direct proof of the state’s administrative commitment, transparency and firm commitment towards sustainable development.
During the implementation of CFRR by the Forest Department, in the absence of module management plans and guidelines, only an advisory was issued to the field officers, which aimed to ensure that the community management schemes are scientifically coordinated with the National Working Plan Code, 2023. This consultation was required because without a clear framework, inconsistencies were arising in implementation at the field level, which could lead to future damage to the ecology of forests, conflict with approved action plans and community and departmental disputes. This was seen by some organizations and gram sabhas as an attempt to limit authority, while in reality the department’s objective was only to prepare in advance for transparent, sustainable and legally strong management.
The letter issued from the office on 15.05.2025 was only an interim procedural arrangement, which mentioned that only approved schemes should be implemented till the model plan is released. Due to a typing error in this letter, the Forest Department was written as ‘Nodal Agency’, whereas the actual word was ‘Coordinator’. This error was duly corrected by the circular dated 23.06.2025. In view of the confusion caused by the said letter and clarification, both the letters have been withdrawn on 03.07.2025 as per the instructions of Forest and Climate Change Minister Kedar Kashyap. To further strengthen the CFRR implementation, Chhattisgarh Forest Department has sent formal requests to the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, requesting that model community management plans and detailed implementation guidelines be issued as soon as possible in accordance with the National Working Plan Code, 2023 and a comprehensive training module / handbook be published for all stakeholders including Gram Sabha representatives. Chhattisgarh Forest Department clarifies that CFRR has been implemented in the state with complete transparency, scientific approach and participation and will continue to work with full commitment to the conservation and management of community forest resources while respecting traditional knowledge.