India, Jan. 29 -- In a landmark decision, the Himachal Pradesh Forest Department has issued a notification identifying traditional pastoral routes and halting sites across the state, directing forest field officers to avoid tree planting in these areas under any afforestation scheme.

The move, announced on January 24, 2025, marks the first official recognition of pastoralist communities' rights over grazing lands. Afforestation efforts have long disrupted pastoral movement and access to grazing areas, threatening their livelihoods. The notification aims to address these challenges by ensuring that afforestation does not encroach upon crucial migratory corridors.

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