National Forestry Research Plan to focus on climate change

A blueprint for scientific research in forestry, the plan is made every 20 years and was formulated last in 2000

Need to focus on stable forests for climate change mitigation: Study

The research reveals that saving stable forests is more important than just preventing deforestation

At least 420 million hectares forest lost since 1990: Survey

Impact of agricultural expansion on global deforestation almost 90%, says FRA remote-sensing survey

Ripe for a green economy

Forests are home, say women of Kodalpali, Sinduria and neighbouring villages in Odisha’s Nayagarh; they can build the economy of the future

Will India lose one of its last patches of Jurassic forest?

Kathalekan, in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, is a relic forest with Myristica swamp ecosystem. It has remained unchanged for over 100 …

Uttarakhand: 4 arrested for starting fires, policeman dies fighting flames

More than 2,900 hectares of forest have been razed in last three months, and the fires have killed at least four people so far

Streamlining forest protection law

States are complaining that project clearance delays are turning out to be the worst fallout of the Forest Conservation Act, which has otherwise …

Hellfires in the hills

Pauri Garwhal became ghost territory as villagers and the forest department virtually ignored unprecedented forest fires

A Gujjar's tale

COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT IN PROTECTED AREAS·Avdhash Kaushal· Natraj Publishers 1997

Roots of change: Seed (Udaipur, Rajasthan)

A true product of Bhoodan movement • Rights over grazing land led to self-rule • Fights panchayat dominance

Farms, cities eat up 148 million hectares of biodiversity hotspots in 24 years: Study

The largest losses, mostly in forests, occurred in the Sundaland, Indo-Burma and Mesoamerica hotspots, all in developing countries

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 …

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

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

Right of forest inhabitants for claims against eviction not limited to Adivasi, backward communities: Supreme Court

Forest communities do not only consist of people from recognised Adivasi and other backward communities, but also other groups residing in the …

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

‘Review 150,000 forest rights claims rejected without reason’

Procedures violated; Rights body demands findings reports for Scheduled Tribe, Other Traditional Forest Dwellers claims

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 

Revising an antiquated legislation

The environment ministry is updating the Indian Forest Act, but getting all the states to agree to it may prove to be tricky.

The woods are lovely

The conservation of forests and Natural Ecosystems Bill, sponsored by the ministry of environment and forests, seeks to weed out an obsolete …

US puts a price on Sri Lanka's forests

The US congress has reportedly approved a $5-million waiver, thereby quantifying the debt-for-nature swap offer made to Sri Lanka more than two …

Forest Rights Act: Are state govts the real land mafias?

State governments want to divert forest land for industrial expansion. That's why they reject claims of forest dwellers

SC vacates Madras HC order staying issue of pattas to forest dwellers

The Madras High Court had passed an interim order in April 2008 staying the issue of pattas in Tamil Nadu without its permission

World’s forests continue shrinking, but at a slower pace: FAO report

Countries now have more knowledge of their forest resources and indicators reveal positive progress in forest management

Forest titles only on paper

Officials deny tribal village its forest management rights