ADDRESSING DEFORESTATION CHALLENGES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FOREST RIGHTS LEGISLATION IN BRAZIL, INDONESIA, AND INDIA

Abstract

Deforestation has become one of the most important environmental topics across the world. Apparently, combating deforestation and forest degradation has become a huge challenge for the globe. The paper will address the issue of deforestation in Brazil, Indonesia and India. The solution will be from the Indian Government Act of Schedule Tribe and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 in India. The act came to address the situation of deforestation and to recognize the rights of forest communities who are dependent on forests for a variety of necessities, including livelihood, habitation and other socio-cultural needs. The paper will provide recommendations to Indonesia and Brazil that can help in protecting their forests. The focus here will be to find out the ways a state can manage to include the forest dwellers for accomplishing the motives of the act with a positive outcome appreciating bottom-up approach. Although, the policy might not work in the exact manner for all but it surely can provide some pointers which can be very helpful for all in some way or the other. Countries might differ based on unequal distribution of natural resources but the survival instinct is present in all sync with others. Therefore, understanding the issue of deforestation at international and national level is important.