WHAT IS CFR?

 

CFR stands for Community Forest Resource .It is the common forest land that has been traditionally protected and conserved for sustainable use by a particular community. The community uses it to access resources available within the traditional and customary boundary of the village; and for seasonal use of the landscape in case of pastoralist communities. Each CFR area has a customary boundary with identifiable landmarks recognized by the community and it's neighboring villages. 

Categories

It may include forest of any category - revenue forest, classified and un classified forest, deemed forest, district level Committee (DLC) land, reserve forest , protected forest , sanctuary and national parks etc.

CFR Rights

• Under section 3(1)(ⅰ) of the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act ( commonly referred to as Forest Right Act or the FRA), 2006 the CFR  rights provide for recognition of the right to" protect , regenerate , conserve or manage" the CFR.
• These rights allow the community to formulate rules for forest use by itself and others and there by discharge its responsibilities under section 5 of the FRA.
• CFR rights along with Community Rights (CRs) under sections 3(1) (b) and 3(1)(c), which include nistar rights (used erstwhile in princely states or Zamindari etc) and rights over non timber forest products, ensure sustainable livelihoods of the community.
• These rights give the authority to the Gram Sabha to adopt local traditional practices of forest conservation and management with in the CFR boundary.

Benefits of CFR rights

• Giving justice to Forest communities: Aimed at undoing the "Historic Injustice" meted out to forest dependent communities due to curtailment of their customary rights over forests. It is important as it recognizes the community's right to use, manage, and conserve forest resources, and to legally hold forest land that these communities have used for cultivation and residence.
• Under lines the role of forest dwellers in sustainability forests and in conservation of biodiversity. It is of greater significance inside protected forests like National Parks, sanctuaries and  Tiger Reserves as traditional dwellers then become a part of management of the protected forests using their traditional wisdom.
  

Forest Rights Act

• FRA enacted in 2006 recognizes the rights of forest dwelling tribal communities and other traditional dwellers to forest resources on which these communities were dependent for a variety of needs including livelihood habitation and other socio cultural needs.
• It recognizes and vest the forest rights and occupation in Forest land in Forest Dwelling Scheduled Tribes (FTST) and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (OTFD) who have been residing in such forests for generations.
• It strengthens the conservation regime of the forests while ensuring livelihood and food security of the FDST and OTFD.
• The Gram Sabha is the authority to initiate the process for determining the nature and extend of Individual Forest Rights (IFR) or Community Forest Rights (CFR) or both that may be given to FDST and OTFD.