“Forest gives us everything”

The report details the traditional ecological knowledge and resource governance of communities in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, while highlighting systemic challenges regarding land tenure, relocation, and the lack of basic amenities.

• The communities in the Sariska Tiger Reserve, predominantly semi-pastoralist Gujjars, employ a seasonal grazing rotation based on traditional ecological knowledge to ensure resource regeneration. They stay in villages during monsoons, move to hills in temporary sheds called 'Guada' during winter, and migrate to other villages or states like Haryana during summer.
• Traditional land management includes the use of 'Roondhs' for livestock grazing and resource collection, and 'Devbannis' (sacred groves) which are community-conserved areas protected through specific rules and managed by a resident sadhu who often serves as a traditional healer.
• Historical records indicate that the formation of the Sariska Valley forest in 1916 involved the acquisition of ten revenue villages, but determined compensation of 78,094 rupees 13 paisa and 6 anna was not paid because villagers fled due to the vengeful administration of forest laws.
• Forest-dependent communities face significant insecurity regarding land tenure and rights. While the Forest Rights Act, 2006 could address these issues, the report states it is not implemented by authorities in the reserve, leaving villagers subject to fines and the seizure of livestock.
• Relocation efforts under the 2006 amendment to the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972, have left some displaced villagers in Maujpur Roondh without permanent land titles, receiving only temporary 'pattas' valid for 10 years and lacking mandated facilities like schools or community halls.
• Compensation for livestock killed by tigers and crop raiding is described as inadequate and difficult to obtain due to a tedious bureaucratic process requiring multiple certifications and photographs.
• Villagers have observed a decline in native plant species and an increase in invasive species such as 'juliflora prosopis'. Specifically, in Kalikhol village, plants such as Gugal (Commiphora wightii) and Ladokli (Gloriosa superba) have been identified as depleted.

APA

Jojan'}, {. '., Singh'}, {. '., & Balaji'}, {. '. (n.d.). “Forest gives us everything”. Natural Justice. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Narration-Biocultural-Practices-Sariska-Tiger-Reserve.pdf

Chicago

Jojan'}, {'name': 'Alphonsa, {'name': 'Aman Singh'}, and {'name': 'Bhuvana Balaji'}. “Forest gives us everything”. Natural Justice, n.d. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Narration-Biocultural-Practices-Sariska-Tiger-Reserve.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jojan'} |first1={'name': 'Alphonsa |last2=Singh'} |first2={'name': 'Aman |last3=Balaji'} |first3={'name': 'Bhuvana |title=“Forest gives us everything” |publisher=Natural Justice |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Narration-Biocultural-Practices-Sariska-Tiger-Reserve.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jojanndforest, author = {Jojan'\}, \{'name': 'Alphonsa and Singh'\}, \{'name': 'Aman and Balaji'\}, \{'name': 'Bhuvana}, title = {{“Forest gives us everything”}}, institution = {Natural Justice}, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Narration-Biocultural-Practices-Sariska-Tiger-Reserve.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }