Canopies and Corridors - International Fund for Animal Welfare

Introduction
In 1996, the Supreme Court of India suspended the
felling of all trees from all forests across the
country and specifically in the North East. The
Supreme Court clarified that the order would be
applicable to all forests irrespective of ownership and
classification and that it would also apply to forests
under the Control and management of Garo
Autonomous Council and other Autonomous
Councils. The Supreme Court’s order had far reaching
implications on the management of forests by the
Garo Autonomous Council and District Councils and
perhaps for the first time, attention was focused on
the role played by the District Councils in the
management of forests. For many observers and even
ecologists, it was a surprise that vast areas of forests
were not under the control of the forest department of
the State Governments but rather vested with tribal
bodies, communities as well as individuals.
The Supreme Courts’s order met with mixed
reaction. It did, however, raise fundamental questions
about the nature in which the forests were being
managed by District Councils. An offshoot of this order
was that if there was lack of management of forests,
what was the condition of ‘wildlife’ since even the
Supreme Court order did not cover the crucial aspect of
wildlife conservation, though one can argue that if
forests are adequately protected, the wildlife will also be
protected.
It is ironic, that despite large areas of forests being
under the control of District Councils, the
Constitutional and Legal framework does not provide
any role for the District Councils in the protection and
conservation of wildlife.
CHAPTER III
Forest and wildlife conservation in Garo Hills autonomous
district council- a policy analysis
Ritwick Dutta
However, despite this Constitutional reality, legal
and administrative policies have failed to focus on
this crucial role of District Councils and seem to
proceed with the assumption that all lands are
managed by the State Governments. Different policies
and action plans such as the National Wildlife Action
Plan, 2002 also makes no mention of the role of the
Councils despite the fact that some of the most
important wildlife sanctuaries, national parks as well
as tiger reserves are under the control of these
councils. Recent amendments in the Wildlife Act have
provided greater space for NGOs, Communities and
Members of legislature but unfortunately provide no
direct role for these councils.
The aim of the present work is to identify gaps in
the existing conservation laws and policies in order to
ensure a meaningful and effective role of Garo
Autonomous Council. The aim is to provide specific
areas of concern which need to be addressed through
policy, legal and administrative changes.
The present study aims at the following:
Outline the gaps in existing laws with respect
to the role and responsibility of the Garo
Autonomous Council in conservation of
wildlife and forests
Share the experiences of the Garo
Autonomous Council in managing forests
and wildlife.
To identify as to whether there is any ‘role’
envisaged in law and policy for Garo
Autonomous Councils and especially in the
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Forest
(Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Biological
Diversity Act, 2002.