'Village forests have been pitted against community rights'

The proposed amendment of IFA is an attempt to keep power in the hands of the forest bureaucracy by playing up village forests against community …

'Sir… if we define forests, it could create many loopholes'

Union forest ministry’s reply to parliamentary committee’s query on absence of a clear definition of forests  

Critical Wildlife Habitat guidelines issued; NTCA order superseded  

Forest rights activists criticise Ministry of Tribal Affairs' decision to accept the guidelines without making any revisions or inviting comments …

Long overdue change made in new draft of Forest Policy

The new draft National Forest Policy takes into account the paradigm shift in present realities due to climate change

Afforestation: money on the trees

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act could redefine forest governance. But will it protect the rights of forest dwellers?

The amendment to the Indian Forest Act, 1927 will create new markets & jobs for poor communities

After amending Section 2(7) of Indian Forest Act, 1927, bamboo is no longer a tree. This enables the livelihoods of forest communities as well as …

Project Lion could displace Maldharis within Gir to create ‘inviolate space’

The proposal seeks to relocate 2,500 families of the community from the Gir protected area within 10 years

Study urges government to grant community rights to local forest dwellers

In tribal-dominated areas of the country, forests have always been traditionally managed by local communities

In a first, Odisha studies potential forest land under FRA

New estimate offers ‘baseline for planning and effective implementation of forest rights Act recognition’ 

Changes to Forest Conservation Rules dilute forest rights, say tribal communities

Consent from forest dwellers not mandatory for changing land use under new amendments; Activists demand withdrawal

Why are Wayanad tribals, farmers wary of poll promises?

It seems that tribal leaders, farmers and environmentalists are not impressed with Rahul Gandhi contesting from their constituency

How can India overcome policy and institutional gaps in forest management

We need to recognise the Gram Sabha as empowered by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment 

Mendha Lekha gets record bamboo rate

Earns 2.5 times more than what the highest rate received by the forest department last year

Kalahandi Gram Sabhas write to NCST, invoke atrocities act against Jharkhand DFO

DFO illegally seized consignment of kendu leaves being transported from Odisha to West Bengal, federation of Gram Sabhas alleges

Forest title claims of over 50% tribals, forest dwellers rejected: report

Where titles have been granted, average size of land holdings much smaller than what the Forest Rights Act provides for, says status report on …

24 Chhattisgarh villages pledge to develop wildlife sanctuary on their own

Community leaders say they will increase forest cover and wildlife numbers by 150 per cent in five years in the proposed Udanti and Sita Nadi …

How FRA helped India’s forest communities during COVID-19

Stories of hope have been reported from across the tribal areas of how communities survived due to FRA even as attempts have been made to dilute it

Chhattisgarh village under demolition for Hindalco mine, villagers claim foul play

At least 50 families have been relocated, claims official. A house was razed on June 2  

As told to Parliament (December 22, 2022): Around 60% of India prone to earthquakes

Around 11% of India falls in Zone V, which is the most seismically active 

Empower communities to restore forests: Study

Crucial forest-restoration areas in low-income countries — home to 12 per cent of their total population — can have an impact on …

Fresh gram sabha meet ordered for Mahan coal block

Move follows close on the heels of high court order to probe earlier gram sabha resolution of Amelia village allowing mining, which residents …

Niyamgiri, in bits and pieces

As Odisha government confines the claims of Dongria Kondh to small patches of forests around their hamlets, the second palli sabha at Kesarpadi …

Another Maharashtra village demands community forest rights

Tribal village Pachgaon to follow Mendha Lekha; to hold bamboo sale as protest to gain community forest rights

Forest depts as nodal agency for community forest resources: A political blunder

The Chhattisgarh government issued an order on May 31, making the state forest department the nodal agency for Community Forest Resource Rights 

Mahan coal block dispute before green tribunal

After two-year-long protests, demanding settlement of forest rights prior to mining, residents of Waidhan forest range approach National Green …