Category:Yakunte

This is a gazetted indigenous forest which is still almost at its pristine state. The forest stands on 26,000 hectares of land. The total human population that is benefiting directly from the forest is 10,000 persons. It is inhabited by a minority tribe called the Yiaaku, already classified as extinct by UNESCO. The community was a hunter gatherer community before they were driven out of the forest and resettled thus adopting a pastoral form of life. The forest depicts a scenario of an oasis in the desert as it is located in a semi arid zone and thus has a micro climate of its own. It’s a vital water catchment area as well as a sacred forest for the community.

Government presence in the forest is negligible with one forester assigned to the whole area. The local community is very firm on protection of the forest despite some interference from land speculators. The community local governance systems have also being strengthened with the authority of elders as key custodians of knowledge for forest protection, being restored and earned a lot of respect among the communities. However the voice of this community needs to be amplified especially from the threats of intrusion by land speculators.