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Reconciling Tiger Conservation and Tribal Rights in India

Reconciling Tiger Conservation and Tribal Rights in India

Syllabus:

GS-2 Government Policies & Interventions, Issues Relating to Development, Issues Related to SCs & STs

GS-3 Conservation Environmental Pollution & Degradation Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)GS

Why in the News?

The Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs has released a new policy framework titled “Reconciling Conservation and Community Rights”, outlining procedures for relocating forest-dwelling communities from tiger reserves. The move follows protests against the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) directive prioritising relocations, and seeks to balance wildlife protection with constitutional and community rights while addressing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable forest management.

Context and Background of the Issue

• Long-standing conflict: Since the launch of Project Tiger in 1973, India has witnessed tension between wildlife conservation goals and tribal habitation rights, with increasing awareness of the role forests play in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
• Policy evolution: The Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972 empowers forest departments to demarcate and manage core tiger habitats, while the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 legally recognises the rights of Scheduled Tribes (STs) to their forest lands. Recent discussions have also explored the potential of carbon offset projects in these areas.
• Legal paradox: These two frameworks often overlap — while one prioritises ecological preservation, the other ensures livelihood and cultural rights, creating challenges for implementing sustainable forest management practices.
• Relocation concerns: Over decades, village relocations from tiger reserves have faced allegations of being forced or inadequately compensated, with limited consideration for clean energy transitions in resettlement areas.
• Current flashpoint: The NTCA’s 2024 directive urging States to prioritise relocations triggered Gram Sabha protests and led to judicial interventions, as seen in Karnataka’s Nagarhole case involving the Jenu Kuruba tribe. This has sparked debates on integrating conservation efforts with the voluntary carbon market to benefit local communities.

The New Policy Framework Explained:

• Prepared by: The Ministry of Tribal Affairs (MoTA), October 2025.
• Title: “Reconciling Conservation and Community Rights: A Policy Framework for Relocation and Co-existence in India’s Tiger Reserves.”
• Core principle: Relocation should be the last resort and only after settling rights under the FRA, 2006, with consideration for sustainable forest management practices.
• Collaborative approach: Proposes a National Framework for Community-Centred Conservation and Relocation, jointly implemented by the Environment Ministry (MoEFCC) and Tribal Affairs Ministry (MoTA), exploring potential carbon offset mechanisms.
• Institutional mechanisms:

○ A National Database on Conservation-Community Interface (NDCCI) to monitor relocations, compensations, and resettlement status, including data on greenhouse gas emissions and clean energy transitions in affected areas.

○ Annual independent audits of relocation projects to ensure compliance with FRA, WPA, and human rights standards, as well as assessing the potential for carbon offset projects.

○ Consent verification at both Gram Sabha and household levels before any relocation, including discussions on potential participation in the voluntary carbon market.

Rights and Safeguards under the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006 :

• Legal assurance: The FRA recognises individual and community rights of forest dwellers to occupy and use forest land for livelihood, including potential involvement in carbon offset projects.
• Right to stay: The framework affirms that forest communities may continue living in traditional habitats within tiger reserves if they choose to do so, while promoting sustainable forest management practices.
• State obligation: The State has an affirmative constitutional duty to safeguard FRA rights, limiting curtailment only upon “demonstrable ecological necessity” or significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
• Administrative duty: When villagers opt to remain, the administration must ensure basic amenities, such as healthcare, education, and transport, with a focus on clean energy transitions.
• Voluntary relocation: Relocation must be voluntary, scientifically justified, and carried out with dignity — consistent with constitutional guarantees under Article 21 (Right to Life with Dignity) and Article 46 (Protection of weaker sections), while exploring opportunities in the voluntary carbon market.

Why the Policy Was Needed Now :

• Protests and petitions: The NTCA directive (June 2024) calling for prioritised relocations prompted widespread protests and petitions to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), highlighting the need for a balanced approach to conservation and community rights.
• Implementation gaps: Multiple representations flagged “non-implementation of FRA” within tiger reserves, as well as missed opportunities for sustainable forest management and carbon offset projects.
• Jurisdictional overlap: Relocation is governed by MoEFCC’s guidelines, but oversight on tribal rights lies with MoTA — necessitating joint coordination and consideration of carbon market cooperation.
• Scale of relocations: Since January 2022, 5,166 families from 56 villages have been relocated across seven States including Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, raising concerns about the impact on local ecosystems and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Pending settlements: As of June 2024, there were 591 villages and 64,801 families still living inside core tiger reserve areas, presenting both challenges and opportunities for sustainable forest management and clean energy transitions.
• Judicial scrutiny: Courts have emphasised compliance with FRA and WPA during relocations, underlining the need for clear procedural standards that also consider potential carbon offset mechanisms.

Challenges in Balancing Conservation and Community Rights :

• Forced relocation allegations: Despite “voluntary” guidelines, communities often face pressure to relocate due to administrative or infrastructural neglect, without adequate consideration of their role in sustainable forest management.
• Inadequate rehabilitation: Compensation of ₹15 lakh per family often fails to ensure sustainable livelihood, land rights, or access to services post-relocation, highlighting the need for innovative solutions like participation in the voluntary carbon market.
• Coordination deficit: The dual authority between MoEFCC and MoTA leads to policy confusion and delayed implementation, particularly in areas of carbon market cooperation.
• Limited participation: Gram Sabhas are sometimes bypassed or coerced into giving consent, undermining the spirit of decentralised decision-making under PESA (1996) and potential community involvement in carbon offset projects.
• Lack of transparency: Absence of a central database hampers monitoring of relocations and post-relocation welfare outcomes, including tracking of greenhouse gas emissions and clean energy transitions.
• Cultural erosion: Relocation disrupts tribal cultural and spiritual ties with ancestral forests, affecting social cohesion and traditional sustainable forest management practices.
• Biodiversity concerns: Poorly planned relocation sites may lead to deforestation elsewhere, defeating conservation goals and potentially increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Political resistance: State-level forest departments often resist sharing authority with Tribal Ministries or civil society observers, complicating efforts for carbon market linkage and cooperation.
• Ecological misjudgment: Scientific assessments justifying relocation are often inadequate or outdated, failing to consider the latest research on sustainable forest management and carbon offset mechanisms.
• Rights dilution: The non-settlement of FRA claims within tiger reserves undermines the potential for community-led conservation efforts and participation in voluntary carbon market initiatives.

 Way Forward: Harmonising Ecology and Equity :

•     Integrated policy coordination: Establish an inter-ministerial task force between MoEFCC and MoTA to ensure coherent implementation.
   
•     Consent verification: Make Gram Sabha consent legally binding and subject to independent verification.
   
•     Transparent data systems: Operationalise the NDCCI for real-time monitoring of relocations and compensation delivery.
   
•     Community stewardship: Encourage co-management models where forest communities act as eco-guards and biodiversity stewards.
   
•     Livelihood linkages: Pair relocation packages with livelihood support, skill training, and community infrastructure.
   
•     Periodic audits: Mandate third-party social audits for relocation projects to ensure compliance with FRA and WPA.
   
•     Capacity building: Train local forest officials on FRA compliance and human rights norms.
   
•     Judicial oversight: Establish state-level monitoring committees under High Courts for accountability.
   
•     Policy inclusivity: Extend benefits to non-Scheduled Tribe forest dwellers under FRA Section 2(c).
   
• Cultural preservation: Document and preserve tribal heritage practices linked to forest conservation.

 Broader Significance and Future Implications :

•     Shift in conservation approach: The new framework signals a paradigm shift — from exclusionary protection to inclusive conservation.
   
•     Constitutional synergy: Aligns with the Directive Principles (Articles 38 & 48A) — promoting social justice and environmental protection.
   
•     Strengthening trust: By institutionalising community participation, the framework bridges mistrust between forest departments and tribal populations.
   
•     Evidence-based policy: The call for annual audits and data-driven tracking ensures accountability and transparency.
   
• International relevance: Echoes global principles under UNDRIP (UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) and CBD (Convention on Biological Diversity), both ratified by India.

Conclusion :

India’s new relocation framework marks a vital step towards harmonising ecological preservation with human rights. By ensuring voluntary, rights-based, and transparent relocation, the policy seeks to create a balanced model of conservation that upholds both biodiversity integrity and tribal dignity, strengthening India’s global image as a leader in inclusive conservation.

Source : TH

Mains Practice Question :

Discuss how India’s new policy framework on relocation from tiger reserves seeks to balance wildlife conservation with tribal rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. Evaluate the effectiveness of existing relocation practices and suggest measures to make conservation community-centric and rights-compliant.