Western Ghats Conference

“Human and Ecological Right of Forest and Forest People in the Western Ghats in the background of Forest Right Act”

18Th& 19thMarch 2016- Kodungallur, Kerala.

Research & PG Dept. of Botany, MES Asmabi College & Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation

Injustice happened to the indigenous people as well as to the Ecology have been the focus of the major discourses of the past few decades. Many international treaties and declarations were focused on Conservation, Climate change adaptation and securing justice to the indigenous people around the world. There has been serious damage to the major and minor ecosystems of the world, also to the resources especially for the developmental projects for the mainstream ‘modern’ human. Most of the discussions centred on the European modernity and post modernity concepts and placed the Nature and the Human always in opposition. The Indian conservation debate is also deep rooted in these Euro centred exclusive framework and has become major reason for injustice to the Indigenous population in India. At the same time the Euro centred ‘Conservation and Management’ of forests and natural resources has left almost all the resources in threat of massive degradation during these decade as a continuation of the ecological disaster happened in the colonial era.

The climate change debate and adoptions as well as some international declarations (UNRIP 2007) for ensuring indigenous people right on land, resource and governance has reflected as some new Indian legislation such as PESA and Forest Right Act 2006 for securing inclusive forest and resource governance and ensuring rights of the Adivasis. Recent advancement in ecology proves the indigenous population as important ‘human’ element in nature for creating a dynamic environment which make the ecosystem diverse and adaptive to the changing environment. But the majority of the effort were to exclude ethnic community from nature, resources and self-determination even though international and national treaties emphasise on that.

Studies and data on ecological injustice and injustice to ‘Adivasis’ indicate production forestry, tourism and the developmental projects as the important reason for both and which place them in the same sides of the coin rather than the euro centered ‘human vs nature’ concept and treating nature as a commodity for economic activity. These have been discussed for the last 2 to 3 decades and reasonably well settled in science and are reflected in the various international and national instruments including FRA. This conference is an attempt for the documentation of various facts and information in the Indian context as a reflection of the injustice to Ecology as well as to Adivasis or Ecosystem people for constructing them harmoniously with the latest laws for effective implementation and action.

1.      Conference themes (Invited talk, Research papers & Posters, Discussion & Consultation)

Forest and Forest Peoples

Geographical limits: Western Ghats region (States that fall within the Western Ghats, Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala & Tamil Nadu)

Participants: Tribal Grama Sabha members representing all districts of Kerala, Tribal & Human Right Activists, CBO & NGO representatives,  Officials from Revenue, Tribal, Forest and Local Self Government departments. Academicians, Researchers, Media persons, Students

1. Themes:(i) Critical Examination of politics, philosophy, application, practices, Issues and challenges of

a)  Conservation & Protected Areas, Species and ecosystem conservation and enhancement, Forest diversion, deforestation, compensatory afforestation, eviction/displacement of forest people, protected areas and conservation: Impact on Forest Peoples and Forests

b) Towards Convergence of International Instruments: From Convention on Biodiversity 1992, UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples 2007, Voluntary Guidelines on The Responsible Guidelines on The Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in The Context of National Food Security 2012 and to Climate Change Paris Agreement 2015

c) Towards Convergence in Forest Governance: Indian Forest Act 1921, Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Forest Conservation Act 1980, Forest Rights Act 2006 and The Scheduled Castes and The Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015.

(ii) Democratising Forest Governance: Social Justice, Livelihood and Conservation through Forest Rights Act 2006 (FRA)

* Implementation of FRA: Prospects, status and impediments

* Approach and strategy of Empowerment of forest peoples for forest governance through FRA

* Strengthening of Forest People’s Initiative on FRA: Role of Gram Sabhas, State governments (Tribal, Revenue, and Forest Departments), Panchayats, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, People’s representatives, People’s organisations, Political parties and the civil society[1]

2.      Release of Report on “Forest Governance, tribal rights and conservation from exclusion to inclusion: (requirements, status, challenges and applicability of CFRs in Kerala)”

3.      Preconference Workshops & Training for Tribal Grama Sabha Members, activists, Researchers, Officials & Students

i.                    Community Forest Resource (CFR) Governance & Forest Right Act 2006

ii.                  Legal weapons for securing Ecological &  Adivasi rights: FCA, WPA, NGT, SC ST Atrocity Act, FRA 2006, PESA & RTI

4.      Post conference Field Visit to Athirapilly – Vazhachal Forests (Habitat of Kadar PVTGs)

i.                    Talks & Paper presentation – Timings

1.      Invited Talk – 20 minutes

2.      Research papers – 15 minutes

3.      Students Papers/ posters- 10 minutes

All sessions will be in a panel discussion mode, more time will be given for discussion and consultation

ii.                  Venue

MES Asmabi College, Campus. Kodungallur, Thrissur District, Kerala-India.

Kodungallur is a historically important coastal township known by Musris ancient port city and estuary of two important rivers of Kerala, The Periyar and Chalakkudy originating from the Southern Western Ghats. The campus is 8 km from Kodungallur town along the coastal NH 17 connecting Cochin, Guruvayoor and Calicut.

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/M.E.S.+Asmabi+College/@10.2668274,76.1404968,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x3b081efa122c5487:0x777364837df3e9b5

40 km from Cochin International Airport, Thrissur, Chalakkudy, Aluva & Ernakulam railway stations. 1 hour journey

iii.                Dates to remember

Registration for Participation & Paper presentation –1st March February 2016

Abstract, paper, ppt, poster submission 1st March February 2016

Post Conference Tour Registration – 1st March  2016

Conference – 18 & 19 March 2016

Post conference visit to Athirapilly – Vazhachal Forests- 19th Evening & 20th march 2016

Registration 

Fee
Participation Rs. 500, Research Students 300, College students 200. Tribal are exempted from registration fee.

Accommodation – Rs. 750 for one day & 500 etc for Second or each additional days (sharing basis), dormitory facilities available for students Rs. 300+200 for two days. For better facilities please contact organisers.

For registration

Interested persons can mail to (infomeshf@gmail.com, directorwghf@gmail.com, organisres with following details

1.      Name, designation and address including mobile and email

2.      Indicate whether  participation or presentation

3.      Conference/post conference visit

4.      Theme, sub theme and title of presentation

Contact at +91 –9656735870, +91- 9995372408

Dr. K.H. Amitha Bachan
Assi. Prof. Research Dept. of Botany
MES Asmabi College, Kodungallur &
RD, Western Ghats Hornbill Foundation
Kerala, India.
www.hornbillfoundation.org
0091-9497627870