Experts underline community participation to protect forests, rivers in India river conference

The Water Initiatives, Gram Swaraj and Vasundhara along with 35 partner organisations launched the 3rd Odisha River Conference with the theme – Promoting the Forest-River-Communities nexus for Conservation of Rivers and Combating Climate Change.

Rivers, an important and integrated part of ecology, cannot exist without healthy forests, and healthy natural forests cannot exist without local indigenous communities, said Ranjan Panda, Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha while addressing the 3rd Odisha River Conference that kick started in Baripada, Mayurbhanj district.

Panda further added, “It is high time we explored the inter-relationship between forest, river and communities. There is an urgent need to discuss more on this subject and to bring the communities to the mainstream discourse of river and forest conservation.”

Even as the government pumps in crores of rupees in the name of protecting river basins by planting on the river banks, we need to ponder over the species which are vital for surface water recharge. It is unfortunate that we are destroying natural forests and planting alien species like eucalyptus and acacia which further deplete our rivers.  

Prof. Ashok Panigrahi, a noted conservationist, said forest-water-communities inter-relationship is an important discourse in view of the recent Supreme Court order on eviction of forest dwellers whose claims over forest land they have been cultivating and inhabiting on were rejected. If the forest dwellers are going to be evicted from the land where they have been staying for generations, neither the forests nor the wildlife is going to be protected and it would sound the death knell of the streams and rivers that originated from forests.

Communities collect minor forest produce from forests and they ensure the forests and water resources are used sustainably. It ensures conservation of rivers and their livelihood, he said.

BV Subba Rao, Centre for Resource Education and Management, Hyderabad said the land-water-forest-human relationship is age-old. However, this relationship has got a metamorphosis. The emotional bond between the three is no more there. Land, water and forests are seen as commodities. He expressed concern over the fact that the policy makers are now focusing on exploring and exploiting the natural resources. He said, “Rivers are not safe in the country. We need to carry out a different review – something like a sustainable water audit – of the entire river system to save our river.”

More than 200 people including those from basin communities, forest dwellers, farmers and fisher folks along with civil society representatives, academicians, senior journalists, river and water experts from across the country participated in the programme that aims at coming up with a set of recommendations on the community perspective of river and forest conservation framework for combating climate change.

Felicitations

The third batch of Odisha Water Honours were given away during the inaugural session.

Jala Joddha Samman 2019: Malati Nayak, a tribal community leader of Khajuripadar village under Boipariguda block of Koraput district, was conferred with this Honour for her lifetime contribution in ensuring community forest protection in 10 gram panchayats of the block.

Ajira Bhagiratha Samman 2019: Dengajhari Mahila Jungle Suraksha O Parichalana Committee, a federation of village women of Dengajhari under Ranpur block of Nayagarh district, was conferred with this award for their contribution in regenerating several thousand acres of denuded forests surrounding the village which resulted in recharge of natural streams, surface water recharge, improved water quality, checking of soil erosion and improved production in agriculture.

Selfie with Budhabalanga Award: College students and community members were conferred with ‘Selfie with Budhabalanga’ awards contest that was organised as part of the Water Initiative’s mission to connect the youth with rivers.

SixDegreesNews is media partner for the conference