Conservation as tool for assertion: How Banni pastoralists took matters in own hands
The Maldhari community of the area used various sections of forest rights act to regain livelihood options
In Photos: Canopy bridge comes up in Odisha to avoid roadkills
The bridge provides safe passage to monkeys and squirrels in the forest, who would often be hit by trucks carrying iron ore
Forest Survey Report 2021: 11 states have lost forest cover; 21 have lost good forests
India’s forest cover has increased by just 1,540 sq km in two years, mostly due to plantation and agroforestry
Proposed changes to Forest Conservation Act a larceny of village resources
Proposed amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, are a blunder arising out of ignorance towards constitutionally and legally-bound …
World Environment Day: How our greed for palm oil is destroying tropical rainforests
The rapid expansion of palm oil plantations has led to the destruction of huge areas of Indonesia and Malaysia’s tropical rainforests, …
Parliamentary panel underlines lack of quality data on air pollution in smaller cities
Panel suggested prioritising funds to install systems for monitoring air quality in smaller cities and towns; called for transparency in …
The Dangs: How a remote part of Gujarat has suffered over 200 years on forest rights
Having suffered under both, the British and post-independence governments, even the Forest Rights Act 2006 has been partially and messily …
Wildlife recall: Manas National Park's experiment with former poachers
Once in the grip of armed insurgency, a national park has lessons in wildlife management
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
Reconsider green clearance mechanism for small-scale mining: NGT to Centre
It says district-level authorities do not have the expertise to assess environmental impacts of mining projects
Court digest: Major environment hearings of the week (December 3-7)
Down To Earth brings you the top environmental cases heard in the Supreme Court, the high courts and the National Green Tribunal
Polavaram project: Public hearings remain distant dream as Centre, states play blame game
On December 3, the Centre backtracked on its submission to appoint an independent agency to hold public hearings in Odisha and Chhatisgarh
Building norms bent for better ease of doing business rankings
The latest notification has eased green norms for builders to facilitate urban development
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
In carbon negative Sikkim, emissions are on the rise
A preliminary report by the Sikkim government suggests the green state is carbon-negative, but emissions are on the rise
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
Top 10 stories of the week that was (July 29-August 4)
Down To Earth recaps the primary environment, health and developmental news from the week just gone by
Study unravels how ocean warming impacts early development of Giant Kelp, can aid conservation
At higher temperatures, spore release increased but other reproductive processes were hindered
Chhattisgarh Assembly passes resolution against Hasdeo coal mining
State’s lawmakers urge Union government to cancel coal blocks allocated in forests; Echo long-standing opposition by tribals, activists
Web-GIS platform created in Chhattisgarh to resolve conflict while filing CFR claims
Creators admit shortcomings in the platform but say they are not final authority on land rights and boundaries
Why Union Budget 2022-23 is not good in environmental terms
By slashing allocation for environmental organisations, regulatory boards and introducing infrastructure development schemes, the Centre has sent …
Forest Survey Report 2021: Overall decadal decline in forest cover in India’s 52 tiger reserves, Gir
Tiger reserves in India have lost 22.62 sq km of forest over the last decade while Gir has lost 33.43 sq km
A third of India’s coastline underwent erosion in 28 years, Bengal worst affected
27% of coastline expanded between 1990 and 2018, according to a report by Union Ministry of Earth Sciences
Similipal fire serves as lesson on human activity within protected areas, say experts
With reports citing Mahuli flower collection as the cause of the fire, experts advise caution for those who enter PAs
Weak governance escalating deforestation in Tanzania: FAO report
Of the total land area (88.3 mn hectares) in the African country, 55% is under forest cover. According to 2017 estimates, deforestation occurred …