Mapping the Potential Habitat Rights of PVTGs under FRA in Odisha

Abstract

Mapping of Potential Habitat Rights of PVTGs under FRA is an attempt to make a preliminary assessment of the potential forest area over which habitat rights can be recognized in Odisha under the Forest Rights Act (FRA). The estimate offers a baseline for informing implementation, planning, and setting targets for habitat rights recognition of PVTGs under the FRA. PVTGs have customary habitats which are eligible for rights recognition under Habitat Rights provisions of FRA. However, it is not possible to estimate the habitat rights areas of the PVTGs without actual mapping of the customary boundaries based on the traditional access and practises of each of the PVTGs. The Habitat Rights Atlas has attempted to make a preliminary assessment of the potential habitat area of PVTGs in Odisha over which habitat rights can be recognised under FRA. The Atlas covers Micro Project wise GIS map plates showing estimate of the Potential Habitat Rights of PVTGs. GIS maps of Potential Habitat Rights for 11 PVTGs covering 17 Micro Projects have been developed and provided in the Atlas. For 2 PVTGs (Lodha and Lanjia Saora), habitat rights maps were not prepared as both the PVTG communities claimed to have no habitat rights to be claimed under FRA. The Habitat Rights Atlas can be used as a monitoring tool by the District and State Authorities to track the progress of habitat rights claim to make. Micro Project wise number of PVTG habitations have been mapped along with an estimation of potential forest area over which Habitat Rights can be recognized under FRA. The Habitat Rights Atlas is a first-of-its kind attempt to assess the Habitat Rights potential of PVTGs in the State which will allow the government, policymakers to assess the extent to which the law has been implemented. The Atlas can be used to devise district and micro project specific appropriate strategies for the completion of the habitat rights determination process in a time bound manner. The Atlas can act as effective monitoring as well as a planning tool for tracking the FRA implementation and planning for the livelihood enhancement and development of the Scheduled Tribes and PVTGs in particular.