Popularly known as the Forest Rights Act, the legislation confers three key rights to members of scheduled tribes and others who traditionally live in and off forests:

1. Legal title to land cultivated in forest areas before 13 December 2005.
2. Right to use minor forest produce, grazing grounds and water bodies in forest areas.
3. Power to conserve community forest resources and protect wildlife.

Our aims

We support efforts to claim these rights and entitlements by strengthening local forest rights committees with representation and a voice for socially excluded groups. Efforts of PACS-supported civil society organisations are expected to result in an increase in:

• Disposal of pending land claims.
• Settlement rights for ST members and other forest-dwelling groups, including 'primitive tribes'.
• Area acquired by the above groups for livelihood and village forest land.
• Access to common property resources.
• Land titles held by women.
• Participation of women in forest committees and other decision-making bodies.
• Capacity of ST members and other forest-dwelling groups to manage their natural resources.
• Awareness and capacity to respond to local climate variations and disasters.