Call to India's government to protect rights of indigenous forest communities

Decisions are due to be made about the controversial Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Bill 2015 in India.

The Bill would create a Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF), which means centre and state authorities - with little indigenous representation - would decide how to spend most of the compensatory funds rather than sharing them with forest-dependent communities.

Forest Peoples Programme is one of around 100 international organisations to sign a petition urging the Indian government to oppose the bill. 

We believe the bill does not address the legal rights of traditional forest dwellers and would undermine their land rights.

The Bill was initially passed in Lok Sabha - the House of the People - in May but was paused at Rajya Sabha - the Council of States - as amendments were discussed.