Three broad phases

Phase 1: 1980-1994 – Started work in a district – Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh in India – reclaiming the customary rights of forest dependent communities over key forest produce which was a major livelihood source for people but were denied by the
Forest Department. Communities were organized and struggles and resistances won people their rights

Phase 2 : 1995-2007 – Started initiating a process to build a National Platform

The National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW)was formed in 1998

Organization also expanded to different areas – Sonbhadra(UP), Manikpur(UP), Lakhimpur Khiri (UP), West Bengal – Himalayan foothills and Sunderban delta/mangrove forest area in northern and southern parts of the State

Local Resistances and struggles across the country got a National Voice

The idea of an Act to recognize the customary rights of Forest Dependent communities grew in momentum

Participation in Mumbai WSF 2004, where more than 5000 community people participated, gave exposure to international issues and political confidence to communities

15 December, 2006 – Indian Parliament (Lok Sabha) passes the Forest Rights Act [ Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers ( recognition of Forest Rights) Act]

Phase 3
Sub Phase (3A) 2007 – 2013
Organization goes back to its areas of work , starts working on recognition of rights as now legislated by the FRA.

3 Villages inside the core zone of a Tiger Reserve ( Dudhwa) in Lakhimpur Khiri district, UP, won a great victory when the strength of the community led movement made the then State Govt. overturn a High Court decision to evict these villages in 2011

Different struggles emerge – organizing forest villages (Taungya Villages), pastoral Van Gujjar communities, struggles of indigenous and other traditional communities

The organization realizes that a loosely structured National Forum would not suffice and decides in a conference in May 2012 to transform itself to a Union. 

June 2013 – Puri, Odisha – Founding Conference of the Union held. The All India Union of Forest Working People (AIUFWP) is born.

Sub Phase (3B) 2014 – …… Post Unionization Phase – membership Base, regional leadership, work expands

Successful 1st National Conference was held in Nagalmafi Village, Saharanpur District, Uttar Pradesh in 2017

Post corona disarray, 2nd National Conference of the Union was organized in Delhi in 2021.

With the continued commodification and usurpation of Natural resources – land, water, forest from communities, and with a clear understanding that :

Commodification, Land grabs came from three sources:

• Colonial Forest Department – the biggest landlord in India ( 24% of land still under its illegal control)
• Feudal, Upper caste social forces – anti lower caste ( Dalit) and anti Indigenous people
• “Development” – the idea and execution of development government, administration and political parties and corporate interests and nexus

The Union is preparing itself for entering into a decisive phase of the long Battle of Transformation.

Struggle is our only companion ! We will live by struggling !!