About Orans
Orans-Deobanis are community-conserved sacred forests in Rajasthan, India. They are ecologically rich and hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for the communities.
Read MoreOrans
Orans-Deobanis are community-conserved sacred forests in Rajasthan, India. These ecologically rich areas support diverse wildlife, function as grazing grounds, and aid in water conservation. But beyond their ecological role, Orans hold deep cultural and spiritual significance for the communities. Strict conservation rules, such as bans on cutting green trees, are upheld by local beliefs in divine punishment.
On December 18th, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment that the Orans in Rajasthan should be notified as ‘deemed forests’ after a mapping exercise is undertaken by the Rajasthan government. The Court ruled that protecting the Orans was “imperative for upholding both ecological sustainability and cultural heritage.” The decision brought to a close a thirty-year-long struggle by the communities to protect the Orans.
Krishi Avam Paristhitiki Vikas Sansthan (KRAPAVIS), based in Alwar, Rajasthan, is established in 1992, dedicated to surveying, studying, and protecting Orans-Deobanis across the Aravalli and Thar Desert regions.
Total number of CCAs documented :
238
Total area (hectares) covered by documented CCAs:
213856.16