The Crucial Role of Van Gujjars in Forest Conservation and the Need for Recognizing Their Rights
The Van Gujjars, a pastoralist community in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, play a crucial role in forest management and combating climate change. However, their rights are limited, hindering their ability to fully contribute. Removing the Van Gujjars from the forests would have devastating consequences, as they provide essential water sources through creating small ponds from natural springs. Community leader Mohammad Safi emphasizes the importance of the Van Gujjars in sustaining both their cattle and wild animals during the summer months.
Safi, aged 55, emphasizes the significant role that the traditional pastoralist community plays in shaping the land they occupy. The Van Gujjars, known for their seasonal migrations to neighboring states and across the Kumaon and Garhwal regions of Uttarakhand with their cattle, exemplify the interdependence they have with the fragile ecosystem surrounding them.
Van Gujjars Face Mounting Challenges in Protecting Ecosystems Amidst Climate Crisis.
The Van Gujjars, nomadic herders inhabiting the Himalayas, play a vital role in ecosystem management. However, as climate impacts intensify, their efforts become increasingly crucial yet more challenging.
Uttarakhand, a state in the Indian Himalayas, bears the brunt of climate disasters. Despite a government action plan implemented over a decade ago, such events have only increased. Reliant on the region’s bountiful forests and grasslands for their milk production, the Van Gujjars find themselves on the frontlines of these crises.
The devastating floods of 2023 inflicted a severe blow, wiping out cattle and livelihoods. Landslides across the state claimed 100 lives, further highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by both communities and ecosystems.
Uttarakhand faces an alarming increase in forest fires, with incidents skyrocketing from 922 in 2002 to a staggering 41,600 by 2019. This stark escalation, according to Ameer Hamza, president of the Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan (VGTYS), has profoundly impacted local communities. These fires devastate vast swathes of grasslands, vital grazing grounds for the Van Gujjars’ cattle.
Beyond immediate community concerns, the ecological consequences are significant. Habitat loss due to fires disrupts the critical role birds play in seed dispersal, hampering the region’s grass regeneration. This domino effect undermines the delicate balance of the ecosystem.
Climate change compounds these challenges by causing springs throughout the state to dry up, depriving communities of crucial water sources during the scorching summer months. These springs, once vibrant with biodiversity and offering verdant grazing areas, are now under threat from the changing climate.
Recognition and rights
While climate-related disasters exact a significant toll on the community, the failure of the state to acknowledge and address the interconnectedness of floods, forest fires, and diminishing water sources, coupled with inadequate compensation, has exacerbated the issue.
Aniruddh Sheth from the Centre for Pastoralism highlights the deficiency in census categorization, stating that census data does not properly classify pastoralists. Instead, it typically mentions animal husbandry without distinguishing between mobile or settled communities. Even the livestock census fails to categorize cattle as mobile.
In contrast to Himachal Pradesh, where Van Gujjars are recognized as Scheduled Tribes, in Uttarakhand, they are classified as Other Backward Castes (OBCs). The last census to enumerate caste populations, excluding Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, was conducted in 1931, making it difficult to obtain accurate figures for OBCs. Ameer Hamza estimates the Van Gujjar population in Uttarakhand to be between 60,000 and 70,000, significantly lower than in Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, where estimates range from 92,000 to 980,000, respectively.
Gujjar homes, known as khattas, often face classification as ‘encroachments’, indicating a lack of recognition of their land rights. Poonam Kainthola, sub-divisional officer of Ramnagar Division, mentions actions taken for their eviction due to alleged encroachment on permitted land surrounding their demarcated area.
However, a multitude of accounts and records reveal the complexity of the issue. Despite their longstanding presence in Uttarakhand, Van Gujjars continually face threats, often masked under specific conservation policies or in the pursuit of plantation and infrastructure projects.
Manoj Chandran, chief conservator of forests from Uttarakhand’s forest department, highlights that if people are permanently settled, forest areas can be converted into revenue villages, enabling them to benefit from government schemes. Munish Kumar, coordinator of the civil society organization Samajwadi Lok Manch, notes that in Ramnagar Division alone, there are over two dozen forest settlements lacking basic amenities such as water and electricity. This lack of recognition directly impacts compensation since ownership proof is essential for eligibility.
Limited access to education, especially for women, poses an additional challenge. Many community members, particularly women, lack formal education due to the scarcity of government schools near their settlements, resulting in minimal representation in governmental positions. Mohammad Ishaak, a leader with the VGTYS, remarks on the scarcity of Van Gujjars employed in government roles, while Nagma Bhadana, a 20-year-old teacher from Kathiyari village, laments the lack of educational opportunities for girls in her community, hindering their ability to assume leadership roles, despite the urgent need.
Women’s health, especially that of pregnant women, is significantly impacted as the nearest hospitals are often 15-20 kilometers away, inaccessible due to the absence of proper roads. Ambulances refuse to reach their villages, leaving women to give birth at home or in open fields during their journey to the hospital. Consequently, many women have never undergone necessary medical tests or ultrasounds.
Despite these challenges, collective efforts within the community over the past five years have shown signs of improvement. Nagma Bhadana emphasizes the community’s newfound focus on encouraging children, especially girls, to pursue education, celebrating those who complete their schooling.
Lost in the woods: exclusion and the state
The 2006 Forest Rights Act was envisioned as a potential remedy. Designed to confer rights to forest dwellers over their ancestral lands, it held promise for empowering the community. However, Uttarakhand’s inadequate implementation has resulted in the marginalization of the Van Gujjars. According to government data presented to the Rajya Sabha, the state had overwhelmingly rejected the majority of claims. By November 30, 2022, only 184 individual claims and 1 community rights claim were approved out of 3,587 and 3,091, respectively, leading to zero settlement of forest land under the Act. While individual claims recognize the rights of specific individuals, community claims extend to communal land rights, encompassing aspects like burial rights, worship, access to drinking water sources, and more.
The absence of such recognition effectively excludes the Van Gujjars from participating in consultations on forest matters, despite their extensive experience in forest management.
Ameer Hamza, speaking about their annual traditional Sela (green) festival, where community members plant traditional trees and bring seeds of various plants, highlights that invitations are extended to forest officials. However, no District Forest Office-level officer has ever attended.
Mustafa Lodha, who owns the largest herd of buffaloes in Shyampur, explains how seeds trapped in their herd’s hooves aid in forest regeneration. Community leaders also emphasize the importance of lopping, a traditional practice crucial for forest and biodiversity conservation, as it provides fodder for livestock and attracts other forest animals like deer. Yet, without a formal means of engagement with forest officials, their valuable insights go unheeded.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Van Gujjars, a pastoralist community in Uttarakhand, are indispensable stewards of the region’s forests and vital allies in the fight against climate change. Despite their invaluable contributions, their rights and recognition remain limited, impeding their ability to fully engage and contribute to sustainable forest management.
The consequences of excluding the Van Gujjars from the forests would be dire, as they not only provide essential water sources through their traditional practices but also play a critical role in maintaining the delicate balance of the ecosystem. Mohammad Safi, a community leader, underscores the significant role of the Van Gujjars in shaping the land they inhabit, reflecting their deep interdependence with the surrounding environment.
However, mounting challenges, exacerbated by climate change, threaten the Van Gujjars’ way of life. From escalating forest fires to diminishing water sources, the community faces an array of obstacles that jeopardise both their livelihoods and the ecosystems they rely on.
Furthermore, the failure of the state to recognize and address these challenges, coupled with inadequate compensation and limited access to education and healthcare, further marginalizes the Van Gujjars. Despite their longstanding presence and extensive knowledge of forest management, they are often excluded from decision-making processes and consultations on forest matters.
The 2006 Forest Rights Act was intended to empower forest dwellers like the Van Gujjars, yet its inadequate implementation in Uttarakhand has left them marginalised. The rejection of the majority of claims under the Act underscores the ongoing struggle for recognition and rights.
In light of these challenges, collective efforts within the Van Gujjar community have shown signs of progress, particularly in promoting education and advocating for their rights. However, without meaningful recognition and engagement from the state and forest officials, their invaluable contributions to forest conservation and biodiversity preservation will continue to go unnoticed and unappreciated. It is imperative that their voices be heard and their rights respected, ensuring a more equitable and sustainable future for both the Van Gujjars and the forests they call home.
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