Statutory recognition without tenure security: a systematic review of the Forest Rights Act, 2006 and the land tenure transition in India
Year: 2026
Type: dataset
Abstract: Forest Rights Act, 2006 was enacted to redress the historical injustice faced by Scheduled Tribes and other traditional forest dwellers in India by formally recognizing their rights over forest land and resources. Nearly two decades after enactment, implementation remains deeply uneven and the gap between statutory recognition and lived tenure security persists. The study conducted a systematic literature review of 58 empirical, legal and policy studies on FRA implementation using Scopus database. It synthesizes evidence across thematic domains: livelihood and socio-economic outcomes; community forest resource rights; Gram Sabha (Village Assembly) governance; bureaucratic barriers; women’s participation; conservation outcomes; legal pluralism; and displacement, food security and cultural change. The findings show that legal titles alone are not enough to produce livelihood improvements and equitable governance; outcomes depend critically on the nature of the right recognized, the capacity and autonomy of the Gram Sabha, the conduct of the forest bureaucracy, community mobilization and post-recognition institutional support. Individual forest rights have received far more administrative attention than community forest resource rights, even though collective titles show the strongest outcomes for livelihoods and governance. FRA has created an important legal foundation for tenure reform, but its potential has not yet been fully achieved in practice.
Source: Figshare
Author: Itishree Panda
Language: English
Topic: Land Rights and Reforms
Subfield: Soil Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7212294304