Restore the Forest:
Ankarabolava Agnakatrika

One of the risks associated with this project is that when people living around the Forest hear that a land exchange project is being launched to enable forest occupants to leave their fields within the forest then some may be tempted to create new fields in the forest in the hope of being eligible for the scheme.  In order to prevent such speculation, and to avoid the circulation of unhelpful and untrue rumours, our first activity in this project was to explain our objectives and approach clearly to the full diversity of local stakeholders.  To do this we met with the local authorities, made broadcasts from local radio stations, and organised a village meeting to which all forest occupants were invited. Initially the forest occupants attending the meeting were concerned that we had called the meeting to announce to them that they had to leave the forest but on learning the truth they were relieved (although perhaps slightly unbelieving).