::Welcome to CCS::


Jacaranda Hall I, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi To discuss livelihood and ecological concerns related to our forests, the Centre, a public policy research and advocacy group, organised Keepers of Forests: Judiciary, Ministry, or Community? at India Habitat Centre on March 28 and 29. The six sessions of the conference were: Supreme Court’s Forest Management: Degradation & Encroachment; Recent Efforts to Improve Forestry: JFM, CFM, & Private Forestry; A Critical Appraisal of the Participatory Experiments; Community Ownership of Natural Resources; Forests to Forest Dwellers: Policy & Legal Strategies, Research, Advocacy; and Action Agenda. (See the Program for details.) The participants resolved that the Supreme Court has issued 729 orders in the Godavarman case, "the forest case," though it is yet to hear the main petition. The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), appointed by the Court, condemns all encroachment and treats it as a law and order problem. It recommends strong contingent of police force and presence of a magistrate (in case of firing). It asks for immunity to the forest staff under section 197 of Criminal Procedure Code.
CCS Briefing Paper: *Keepers of Forests: Foresters or Forest Dwellers? (PDF version)* Press Release Program

		Friday: March 28
9:00		Registration

9:30		Session I: Supreme Court’s Forest Management: Degradation & Encroachment Pradip Prabhu, Kashtakari Sanghatana Ritwik Datta, Environment Lawyer S R Hiremath, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya Chair: M K Ramesh, National Law School of India
11:30		Tea Break
11:45		Session II: Recent Efforts to Improve Forestry: JFM, CFM, & Private Forestry P K Biswas, Indian Institute of Forest Management Trupti Parekh, ARCH Sushil Saigal, Winrock India Chair: Sharad Kulkarni, Centre for Tribal Conscientization
1:30		Lunch
2:15		Session III: A Critical Appraisal of the Participatory Experiments S R Hiremath, Samaj Parivartana Samudaya Madhu Sarin Sharad Kulkarni, Centre for Tribal Conscientization Chair: B D Sharma, Jan Andolan
4:00		Tea Break
4:15		Session IV: Commmunity Ownership of natural Resources Pradip Prabhu, Kashtakari Sanghatana M K Ramesh, National Law School of India Richard Mahapatra, Centre for Science & Environment Parth J Shah, Centre for Civil Society

		Saturday, March 29
9:30		Session V: Roundtable: Forests to Forest Dwellers: Policy & Legal Strategies, Research, Advocacy Chair: V K Bahuguna, Inspector General of Forests
11:15		Tea Break
11:30		Session VI: Action Plan & the Press Meet
1:30		Lunch