Curb on mining in Western Ghats
MoEF accepts Kasturirangan report; will declare one-third of the range ecologically sensitive
Mining sans social consent
Andhra Pradesh coal firm’s plan to convert underground mine to open cast will affect people of eight villages
Centre uses SC order to turn forest land into revenue land
11-year-old order for relocating three Maharashtra villages used for conversion in 18 states
‘Review 150,000 forest rights claims rejected without reason’
Procedures violated; Rights body demands findings reports for Scheduled Tribe, Other Traditional Forest Dwellers claims
No land for tribals displaced by Maoist-Salwa Judum conflict: Centre
Activists say that the displacement occurred because Chhattisgarh supported the Salwa Judum; Union minister Arjun Munda says Centre trying to …
Chhattisgarh: Adivasis say FRA violated, as forest department marks trees for felling in 3 districts
Villagers now have the legal right to protect, regenerate, conserve and manage these lands
The Indian Forest Act’s proposed amendment is dangerous and fanciful
Like other policies in the recent past, this one also shows the complete unwillingness of the forest bureaucracy in accepting a different role
CJI Bench sends fresh petition on FRA to Arun Mishra Bench
Since a similar matter is before the Mishra Bench, the CJI Bench has sent the new petition to it
Forest Rights Act: Evicting the gaps
To protect traditional forest dwellers, the Forest Rights Act, 2006, needs to be enforced properly and not be used against them
SC on FRA: 11.8 lakh forest dwellers can 'stay' put
The apex court has asked states to file affidavits describing process followed to reject tribals’ claims to traditional forestlands
The Simlipal quandary: Tribals or tigers, who should take precedence?
After fire sweeps through village of tribespeople relocated for wildlife’s sake, questions are being asked
Jharkhand govt doesn’t have legal rights over 38% of its forest
The state forest department has not issued final notifications to convert 7.33 lakh hectares of forest land, rendering this land legally …
Andhra government should immediately compensate tribals displaced by Polavaram project
Scientific assessment of ecosystem services should be carried out for quantifying the compensation
Let the Van Gujjars remain nomadic
The attitudes of the forest department towards the Van Gujjars’ nomadism must change in order to view it as a matter of right for …
MoEF&CC takes back advisory to avoid honeycombing of forest land under FRA
An official from the environment ministry says the advisory was withdrawn as there is no provision under the Forest Rights Act to club land together
How accurate are government’s claims on forest rights in Odisha
A review by the Centre recently found Odisha to be the best performing state in forest rights implementation
Odisha tribals to sell kendu leaves and exercise their forest rights
The state’s forest department has not allowed sale of the leaves to anyone other than the goverment
Odisha villagers, forest department at loggerheads over rights to sell kendu leaves
Can Odisha government deregulate kendu leaf trade with support mechanisms to facilitate private trade beneficial to communities?
Desperate to relocate
Chetty communities living in the core area of Mudumalai Tiger Reserve have been demanding that they be shifted out of the forest for three decades.…
Half-way to autonomy
Decisions by Maharashtra’s top forest official can empower gram sabhas prepare plans to revive their forests, but a policy is awaited
Violence at POSCO site
Clashes erupt as government resumes construction of coastal road at Jagatsinghpur in Odisha
Uttarakhand Van Gujjars allege forest officials assaulted women; probe underway
Rajaji National Park area villagers allege they tried to lodge two FIRs, but police did not register them
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
UP forest dept cites stayed SC order for eviction
Although activists and forest dwellers could resist this attempt, the notice that came a day after still didn’t have any mention of the stay
A decade on, only 40% of FRA claims approved
The latest status report of the FRA says most claims were rejected by either gram sabhas or district committees