Ram Govind Hole from the village of Take Harsha in Trimbakeshwar, Nashik district, immediately found a deep place in my heart.
At Raah Foundation, we are currently working on an assignment to assist 160 villages that have been awarded Community Forest Rights (CFR) in preparing their CFR Management Plans (CFRMPs). For generations, India’s tribal and indigenous communities have lived in close harmony with the forests. They possess a profound, intimate knowledge of the ecosystem—every fruit, flower, leaf, and root that can be eaten, and the medicinal value of countless plants.
However, this connection was severely disrupted during British rule, when forest access was denied to these communities. Sadly, this exclusion continued post-Independence. It was only in 2006, with the enactment of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), that justice began to be restored. The FRA recognizes the rights of forest dwellers to access and sustainably use Non-Timber Forest Produce (NTFP) such as honey, mahua flowers, tendu leaves, mangoes, jamun, and medicinal plants—both for personal consumption and as a source of livelihood. While tree felling and hunting remain prohibited, the Act allows local communities to undertake conservation and ecological restoration, particularly in degraded forest areas.
Developing CFR Management Plans involves visiting each village, mapping the resources available on the CFR land, and engaging in deep dialogue with the community. These discussions explore ecological conservation and restoration, NTFP productivity enhancement, watershed and soil-moisture conservation strategies, and livelihood opportunities, including market linkage development. This grassroots-level process offers a rich and nuanced understanding of each village’s unique context, challenges, and priorities, allowing for context-specific and effective implementation of the CFRMPs.
It was on one such visit that I met Ram Govind Hole. What stayed with me was his passion and clarity — he insisted that one of the first steps we must take is to create water holes for wildlife. To him, wildlife conservation wasn’t an afterthought; it was a cornerstone of ecological restoration. He deeply understood that human well-being is inextricably linked with the survival of the forest and its biodiversity.
I was genuinely moved by his wisdom and conviction. I sincerely hope that one day, India will be home to thousands like Ram Govind Hole — individuals who understand that the survival of humanity depends on the survival of our forests.
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