Question

How did various Forests acts affect the lives of Indian Pastoralists ?

Answer 1

Hint:
i) Pastoralist is a person who raises livestock and as a nomadic herder they migrate to find pasturage for animals.
ii) The first forest act was enacted by the Britishers in the year 1865, to declare the land covered by trees as a government forest and thereby make several rules to change it.
iii) The 1878 act divided the forest into three categories- reserved, protected and village forests.

Complete answer:
i) In the mid 19th century, various forest acts were being enacted in the different provinces.
ii) Through these acts, many forests that used to produce commercially valuable timber such as Deodar or Sal were declared Reserved.
iii) All their freedom got seized, no pastoralist was allowed access to reserved forests. Although, In protected forests, some customary grazing rights were provided to pastoralists.
iv) In the regions they were allowed entry, their movements were regulated. They required a permit for entry. The timings for their entry and exit were specified and the number of days they could spend in the forest was also limited.
v) Pastoralists could no longer remain in an area even if forage was available as they had to move because the "Forest Department permits" that had been issued as an advisory to them now ruled their lives. The permit specified the time period in which they could be legally allowed within a forest and if they overstayed they were liable to pay fines

Note:
i) Core zone : includes protected areas, to carry out the natural conservation. It is most strictly protected, biodiversity is highest and human economic activity is strictly prohibited.
ii) Buffer zone : it surrounds the core zone so there are still restrictions on economic activity. Hunting, logging, land conversion are still less but people can live and engage in subsistence activities.
iii) Transition zone : also known as the area of cooperation, the large outer area of a reserve where people live and work, using the natural resources of the area in a sustainable manner.