NEWS – Rajasthan has initiated the process for classifying the community-protected ‘Oran’ lands as forests in compliance with the Supreme Court’s direction.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Traditional Sacred Groves found in Rajasthan.
• Dedicated by villagers to deities as part of a socio-religious tradition.
• Managed and protected by local rural communities.
• Serve as centers for community festivals and fairs, held on specific dates annually.

Ecological and Livelihood Importance

• Rajasthan has approximately 25,000 Orans covering around 6 lakh hectares.
• Used by communities for:
  • Grazing livestock
  • Collection of forest products
  • Natural water filtration
  • Livelihood support, especially linked to the livestock economy.
• Contain vital water bodies:
  • Talab (ponds)
  • Nadi (small ponds)
  • Open wells
  • Streams
• In arid areas like the Thar Desert, Orans also feature:
  • Ancient goverdhan/shilalekh (petrographs) near water sources.

Biodiversity Significance

• Serve as a habitat for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB):
  • One of India’s most critically endangered birds.
  • Protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.
  • Also the State Bird of Rajasthan.

Size & Examples

• Area ranges from a few hectares to several hundred hectares.
• Example: Bhadariya Mata Oran in Jaisalmer spans 17,821 hectares.

Conservation & Legal Status

• 2023 Forest Policy of Rajasthan designated Orans as general community land — considered inadequate for protection.
• Supreme Court Ruling (Dec 18, 2024):
  • Recognized Orans as forests under the Forest Conservation Act, 1980.
  • Mandated states like Rajasthan to classify them accordingly to prevent encroachment and degradation.