Forests on the Fence

Can Uttarakhand's Van Panchayats Take Root Again?

- Naveen Tariyal and Arvind Bijalwan write.

As forest fires rage and rural communities fade, Uttarakhand's century-old Van Panchayats stand at a crossroads. Designed to embody collective stewardship, they now struggle under financial strain, migration, and institutional neglect. Strengthening these local guardians might just be the key to ensuring that conservation doesn't get lost in translation-from policy to people, Naveen Tariyal and Arvind Bijalwan write.

The Green Lifeline of Uttarakhand

In India, a large number of tribal and rural dwellers are spread in and around forest areas with their existence intricately linked with the forests and their resources. The role of local people as key forest stakeholders in sustainable forest management has been widely recognized as well as documented. Attachment of a local community to nearby forest is practically advantageous due to the active involvement of local communities in the management of forestry activities. Among the natural resources of Uttarakhand, forests are the most important ones, owing to both economic and environmental benefits. Around 12.6% of the cultivated hill area and about 65% forested area in Uttarakhand signify the importance of forests on people's lives and livelihoods. Van panchayats are the vital links between villagers and forests in the state.

Origins of Van Panchayats: A Legacy of Local Stewardship