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Forest Laws, for Whom, by Whom?A Concept Mapping Study of the Ecologically Fragile Lands Act, 2003 in Wayanad, Kerala, India


Affiliations
1 Department of Forest Management and Utilization, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India
2 Central Training Institute
3 Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India
 

Kerala enacted the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management o f Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act, 2003 to conserve ‘fragile ecosystems’ lying contiguous to reserve forests. As this Act led to several litigations and conflicts, the current concept of Ecologically Fragile Lands (EFL) was concept mapped among the different stakeholders, including ‘small and marginal’ farmers in the context of Wayanad district, Kerala. Several dimensions o f EFL, viz. ‘Ecological’, ‘Situational’, ‘Socioeconomic’, ‘Framework’ and ‘Better EFL’ were developed and debated to evolve a more acceptable EFL concept. The study also accentuates the relevance of public participation in conceiving socially inclusive forest laws and policies.

Keywords

Concept Mapping, Ecologically Fragile Lands, Participatory Approaches, Wayanad, Western Ghats.
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  • Forest Laws, for Whom, by Whom?A Concept Mapping Study of the Ecologically Fragile Lands Act, 2003 in Wayanad, Kerala, India

Abstract Views: 398  |  PDF Views: 155

Authors

Jiss K. Varkey
Department of Forest Management and Utilization, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India
S. Gopakumar
Department of Forest Management and Utilization, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India
K. Vidyasagaran
Department of Forest Management and Utilization, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India
Joy Mathew
Central Training Institute
A. V. Santhosh Kumar
Department of Tree Physiology and Breeding, College of Forestry, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680 656, India

Abstract


Kerala enacted the Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management o f Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act, 2003 to conserve ‘fragile ecosystems’ lying contiguous to reserve forests. As this Act led to several litigations and conflicts, the current concept of Ecologically Fragile Lands (EFL) was concept mapped among the different stakeholders, including ‘small and marginal’ farmers in the context of Wayanad district, Kerala. Several dimensions o f EFL, viz. ‘Ecological’, ‘Situational’, ‘Socioeconomic’, ‘Framework’ and ‘Better EFL’ were developed and debated to evolve a more acceptable EFL concept. The study also accentuates the relevance of public participation in conceiving socially inclusive forest laws and policies.

Keywords


Concept Mapping, Ecologically Fragile Lands, Participatory Approaches, Wayanad, Western Ghats.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.18520/cs%2Fv115%2Fi8%2F1459-1469