Hallan–Manzgam Gram Sabha Declares 60 Sq Km as Community Forest in Kashmir, Imposes Plastic Ban  | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: In a powerful display of grassroots democracy and ecological commitment, the 33rd Gram Sabha on Community Forest Rights (CFR) under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, convened at Panchayat Halqa Hallan in Manzgam, District Kulgam, marked a historic milestone in community-led forest governance.

Witnessing unprecedented public participation, the Gram Sabha emerged as a vibrant platform of collective will, where local communities asserted both their rights and responsibilities over forest landscapes. In a landmark resolution, the Sabha declared nearly 60 square kilometres of forest land as Community Forest under CFR provisions, a move widely seen as both assertive and transformative. Alongside this, it announced a strict ban on plastic and packaged food within the designated area, placing particular emphasis on safeguarding the fragile alpine ecosystem of Chiranbal Meadow.

The event was facilitated by the Forest Rights Coalition JK (FRC JK) in collaboration with the Rural Development Department (RDD) Block Manzgam and FRC Hallan, drawing a diverse cross-section of participants that included local residents, schoolchildren, teachers, Forest Department officials, climate justice advocates, rural development staff, and Panchayat representatives. The proceedings began with Tilawat-e-Quran, setting a solemn tone, followed by a welcome address from Chowdary Mohd Isaq.

As the discussions unfolded, former Sarpanch Gulzar Ahmad drew attention to the everyday challenges confronting the community, speaking about the closure of pastoral routes, restricted access to traditional grazing pastures, inadequate school infrastructure, and what he described as a continuing disconnect and high-handed approach by sections of the Forest Department.

Delivering the keynote address, Dr Shaikh Ghulam Rasool, Founder of FRC JK, framed the Forest Rights Act as a “historic corrective justice framework” that restores forest-dwelling communities to their rightful place as custodians of these landscapes. He stressed that its implementation in Jammu Kashmir is not merely a policy choice but an irreversible reality, urging authorities to align their approach with the spirit of the law. Emphasising the broader stakes, he noted that communities dependent on forests and mountains embody climate-resilient ways of life and traditional knowledge systems that are essential for ensuring ecological balance, water security, and long-term sustainability.

Legal expert Advocate Naveed Bukhtiyar elaborated on the statutory safeguards enshrined in the Act, underscoring that any intervention in forest areas without prior informed consent of the Gram Sabha is unlawful. He cautioned that denial or obstruction of these rights could invite legal consequences under existing laws, including provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Adding to this, FRC JK Convenor Zahid Parwaz Choudhary reaffirmed the coalition’s continued commitment to assisting and empowering indigenous pastoral and forest-dwelling communities through awareness, advocacy, and close monitoring of the Act’s implementation. He emphasised that the Forest Department must evolve its approach and work in genuine partnership with communities, aligning conservation goals with the welfare and rights of local populations. During the session, he also presented the Gram Sabha resolution, extending institutional support to communities seeking recognition of both Community Forest Rights and Individual Forest Rights.

The resolution itself reflected a sweeping vision of restoration and renewal. Beyond declaring the forest area under community stewardship, it called for the reopening of traditional routes leading to highland pastures and the revival of dozens of dokes, or seasonal shelters, that have long been integral to pastoral life. It also addressed developmental concerns, including the allocation of land for much-needed school infrastructure, while firmly committing the community to conservation, restoration, and sustainable forest management practices. The ban on plastic and packaged food, particularly in ecologically sensitive zones like Chiranbal Meadow and along trekking routes, stood out as a clear statement of intent to protect the region’s fragile environment.

Participants from Hallan–Manzgam expressed deep appreciation for the sustained efforts of FRC JK in strengthening Gram Sabhas through legal awareness, mobilisation, and advocacy. The gathering was widely viewed as a defining moment in advancing participatory forest governance and ecological stewardship in Jammu Kashmir.

In his concluding remarks, Mohd Altaf Poswal, District Coordinator Kulgam (FRC JK), thanked the participants and underscored the urgency of adopting a coexistence-based model, where forest conservation and community rights move forward together rather than in conflict.

With this decisive step, Hallan–Manzgam has set a compelling precedent for community-driven environmental governance, reinforcing the idea that sustainable futures are most secure when local communities are placed at the heart of decision-making.