Indian Forest Rights Act

The Indian Forest Rights Act (IFRA), enacted in 2006, aims to recognize and secure the rights of forest-dwelling communities, particularly Indigenous peoples, over land and resources they have traditionally used. It grants them the legal entitlement to manage and conserve forests, ensuring their livelihoods and cultural identities are preserved. The Act seeks to rectify historical injustices by empowering these communities, allowing them to claim individual and community ownership of forest land and promoting sustainable forest management. Through this legislation, the government acknowledges the crucial role these communities play in conserving biodiversity and maintaining ecological balance.