Climate Action and Forest Governance

Pithoragarh being a high-altitude district of Uttarakhand, is highly exposed to extreme climate events. Due to climate change, the region is now regularly facing fewer but more intense rainfall days, frequent droughts, and an alarming increase in forest fires. In 2024, wildfires caused significant loss of human and wildlife, along with the destruction of large forest areas. The measures to mitigate and prepare the local population for climate change are scarce.

Van Panchayats, established under the Indian Forest Act of 1927, play a crucial role in the conservation and community management of forests. These forests, when sustainably managed, serve as natural shields for water conservation and protection from landslides. Local community participation in the governance of Van Panchayats is essential, especially women, who depend heavily on forests for resources like firewood, grass, and grazing land. Van Panchayats offer a valuable platform for community-driven climate action to mitigate the impacts of global warming.

We work towards protecting the commons and strengthening the community participation in the governance of forest and its resources. The work includes:

• Mobilising primary stakeholders – youth, Van Panchayat leaders, elected women representatives, and women’s groups – to address forest fire prevention
• Demanding utilisation of MGNREGA funds to construct infrastructure such as fire lines and water ponds to control and prevent the spread of forest fires
• Raising awareness in schools and colleges about the adverse effects of forest fires on local ecology and climate
• Promoting climate-resilient and sustainable millet agriculture
• Engaging civil society and government stakeholders to develop strategies for addressing forest fires and increasing green cover