As a volunteer for Kalpavriksh, I got a chance to research about Community conserved areas(CCAs) of Karnataka. One such CCA is Kokkere Belur. You can read about my collation of data here - https://communityconservedareas.org/data/show/66
Kalpavriksh has come up with the CCA Portal to publish the rich history of community conservation in India.
So, what are CCAs?
There are several examples across South Asia where deep connections exist between an area and the local community, usually rooted in history, socio-cultural identity, spirituality and/or people’s reliance on the area for their livelihood and wellbeing. Community based conservation practices also exist in non-traditional and urban areas. In India, such areas are referred to as Community Conserved Areas (CCAs). Internationally, they are referred to as “Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (ICCAs)” or “territories of life”. The three definitive characteristics of a CCA are:
· The community is the main decision maker for the area (even if not legally)
· The community makes and enforces rules and regulations for conservation
· The efforts contribute to the conservation of nature
